Toolbox: Dustless Drywall Sander

Porter-Cable’s new drywall sander is one of the most innovative tools to come along in years. It combines a rotary electric sander with a powerful vacuum to take all the misery out of sanding drywall. I recently used one to sand out a new kitchen ceiling and a two-story hallway. Here’s what I found. Rotary Power This sander has a small motor in line with a long, 21/2-inch-diameter aluminum tube. The tube hooks up to a standard 11/4-inch vacuum hose, while the motor turns a 9-inch sanding disk. The disk — a foam-backed abrasive wheel — revolves inside a plastic shroud at the end of an articulating head. This head is surprisingly maneuverable. While sanding, you can easily move