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Porter Cable Restorer, a Multi-Surface Restoration Tool & Sander

33 Comments

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This is the new Porter Cable Restorer, described as a multi-surface restoration tool.

It’s kind of like a belt sander, if you shortened the tool and only had one roller. Or you could think of it as a horizontal belt sander.

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But it’s not just a sander. All kinds of accessories are planned for this tool, such as wire wheels, flap wheels, felt polishing wheels, and different styles of sanding drums.

The Restorer seems to have been borne from a collaboration between an inventor at Wellington Tool, and Stanley Black & Decker. Formerly, the tool was called the Rolabrader.

Above is the Porter Cable Restorer, but the Wellington Tool website shows that there will (might?) also be a Black & Decker Restorer.

There’s not much information out there about the Porter Cable Restorer restoration tool, so I’m actively trying to find out more.

One thing I’m glad to see is that Porter Cable built a dust collection port into the Restorer tool. Even if it doesn’t collect everything, some dust pickup is better than nothing.

Here is an early promo videos by the inventor, showing some quick sanding drum abusive testing:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwV3a5fuui8

There are many numerous sanding, finishing, and refinishing tools out there. Will this one be special?

I think the beauty is in how ergonomic the saw looks to be, not to mention easy to use.

We don’t know the price yet, but if I had to guess, I’d say we’re looking at a sub-$99 price. Maybe the Black & Decker will be positioned at a slightly lower price, perhaps with slightly lower speeds or features.

I’ve seen some Porter Cable Restorer accessories at online retailers, mainly sanding sleeves, which indicates that it’s definitely hitting the market, and probably quite soon.

Thanks to mizzourob for the heads-up about this new tool!

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33 Comments

  1. This doesn’t seem to be a new concept, so much and a reconfiguration of a burnishing kit, which itself is usually just a modified grinder. The “Restorer” does have the benefit of better guard safety, but I can’t see it being as powerful, or as easy to change out inserts, but likely would be more suitable for the handy hobbyist.

    https://www.metabo.com/us/enus/tools/cutting-sanding-milling/stainless-steel/burnishing-machines/se-12-115-set-602115620-burnishing-machine.html

    Reply

    • Great comparison! I don’t know why I didn’t think of comparing it to a burnished.

      From the looks of it, accessory and wheel changes are quite simple.

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      • Yep. But the Metabo’s motor looks about three times the size of the Restorer’s. How do the power ratings, etc. compare?

        Reply

  2. I posted about this on my Instagram page ‘bricoleur_design_jax’ the other day.

    I have messaged one of the inventors of the tool for more information and came up with.

    Available in store and online October 31st. More accessories will roll out after that. Price is $99 for the tool and a starter set of sanding drums.

    3.5amp motor with Variable speed dial

    What separates this from the burnishers and the Makita tool of the same likeness is the dust collection, if it works halfway decent.

    I will be picking one up immediately to check out. We will see if the motor holds up.

    Reply

  3. Glad to see PC, is still designing new stuff. Would love to see this cordless. Also, since I’m dreaming how about a plainer with knives, that also has a 330 grit sanding drum on the back, finish everything with one fell swoop.

    Reply

  4. I like the idea. While not in my wheelhouse, it seems perfect for the DIY/Milk Paint crowd. Seems like it’s going to be going up against cheap belt-sanders like the Ryobi.

    My only concern is with how quickly those sanding drums are going to wear out. You’ll probably only get a minute or two of heavy work, and it’ll take longer to switch paper out than a ROS, or a belt sander. A flap-wheel seems like it would be more practical.

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  5. Thanks for the hat tip! You can find some of the accessories on Lowe’s website already. I’m not sure I’m on the bandwagon for it, but find the bigger picture fascinating…as in SBD /Porter Cable picked up a tool from a small innovator (?) and is taking it to the mass market. This may open the door for other tool designers outside of the big companies to get products launched. I cans come up with much that this can do that a belt dander cannot, and I worry about gouging a workpiece with too much pressure on the roller. Perhaps more videos of it in use might sway me but for blow it is in my mental file if a need arises not solved by other tools I already own.

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  7. Looks like a tool for rough work. Doubt I’d use it to refinish a piano. Not so sure I’d even swap it for my orbital and 80 grit paper. Might give it a go knocking barnacles off a boat’s hull though.

    Reply

  8. No comparison to the versatility, power, and price of an angle grinder. These gimmicky tools are for people who don’t use tools on a regular basis.

    Reply

    • Can you use an angle grinder to strip a deck?

      This is likely aimed at DIYers, but calling it a gimmick seems a little unfair.

      Reply

  9. Everyone is comparing this to other sanding tools. I’m sure as a stand alone sander, there is much better. But this isn’t just for sanding. It has other abilities that take multiple other tools. I’m not saying this thing is amazing either. But look at it for what it is, not just one aspect of what it is.

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  10. Compared to the Metabo, Fein, or Makita, it’s the $99 price point that got my attention… but in the same breath it makes me question the durability. I’ll buy it as a backup tool *if* the flap wheels (and other accessories) aren’t some high-priced rubbish which only work with the Porter-Cable. If they’re interchangeable with other brands, count me in.

    Remember the Porter-Cable Profile Sander? Probably not– it was a decently built tool that nobody asked for, and they probably only sold a couple thousand at a sky-high price point. [Now they sit unsold at $25 on ebay, new in the box.] I foolishly bought one in ~1995 and found it to be a HUGE disapopintment. The main tool body’s build quality was what one expected from Porter-Cable back then, so I couldn’t kill it, but the accessories were flimsy, the PC adhesive-backed roll paper SUCKED and was vastly overpriced, and finally: the tool just didn’t DO all that much.

    Why do I bring up the PC Profile Sander? My first glance of the Restorer made me think of that useless thing. And I can’t help but think this will be yet another tool that starts to gather dust long before PC stops selling accessories for it.

    Reply

  11. I’m not surprised that TTI chose Porter cable for its brand of choice. That way if it sells they can make a cheaper version (black and Decker) and a high end priced (Milwaukee) version. BRILLIANT! I like that they ran with a product that a commoner came up with. Cudos!!

    Reply

    • Not sure of your reference to TTI and Porter Cable (owned by Stanley-Black&Decker – not TTI)

      I believe TTI brands include Milwaukee, Ridgid, Ryobi, AEG and Homelite for power tools – plus vacuum cleaner brands: Hoover, Oreck, DirtDevil, Vax – and hand tool brands: Empire, Hart, and Stiletto

      Reply

  12. I know it would double the price. But if it were set up like a planer, with front and rear shoe, both adjustable as on an edger, it would be a much more useful tool.

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  13. Why do tool makers produce these stupid tools-of-mass-dustruction? I can’t imagine any woodworking, metalworking, or construction project where this would be an improvement over traditional power tools. The dust level in the video is ridiculously unacceptable. Has Porter Cable never heard of lead base paint or asbestos? Without any plate frame this drum sander will leave deep sanding divots that will be very difficult to get smooth. An angle grinder or rotary sander can feather out surface imperfections but this tool will make even more.

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      • Sorry, Robert, but your videos only prove my point. Too much dust even with the dust port. I can see that any hesitation or twist on this rotary sander will eat through a veneer or dig into an edge. No way will it work on that table’s legs or cabinet. The size of the tool also prevents getting close to any adjacent molding or perpendicular surface. I had not thought of using it for deck cleaning which may be one potential practical application, but your video looks little better than how sailors in ancient times used a holystone to scrub decks. Disc and belt sanders still offer better advantages than this tool.

        Reply

  15. Back in the mid 80’s Porter Cable had the model 320 abrasive plane.

    Reply

  17. This seems very similar to the festool rustofix that has been out for a while. Nothing new or innovative about it.

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    • Thats funny that you think these two tools are comparable.

      Reply

  19. The restorer is out in Lowes now. It also has a vacuum port the accessories are about 1/4 of the cost of burnisher accessories

    Reply

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