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PORTER-CABLE 6-Inch Random Orbit Sander with Polishing Pad

By PORTER-CABLE · Orbital Sanders · Power Tools

  • 4.5 Amp motor
  • 2,500-6,800 OPM variable speed
  • 6-inch pad size
  • Weight 6 lbs
  • 3-year limited warranty

Lowest price seen
$179.00
from $179.00 at Toolmarts · Checked Oct 12, 2026

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Summary

A corded 4.5-amp 6-inch random orbit sander and polisher for automotive and marine finishing and light sanding, sold with a polishing pad and a PSA sanding setup. Check your dust control needs before buying: the 7346SP has no dust collection and its sanding pad is adhesive rather than hook-and-loop.

Strengths

  • Ships with both a polishing pad and a sanding disc, so it polishes and sands out of the box.
  • Owners report polishing automotive paint without burning it and running for hours without hand numbness.
  • Low vibration for a budget tool, helped by the 6-inch counterbalance.
  • OEM parts are sold at retail, from backing pads to gear shafts and gearcases.
  • A 3-year limited warranty with a year of free service.
  • The 8 mm short throw suits polishing and finish sanding.

Weaknesses

  • No dust collection at all; only related models and an optional accessory kit offer it.
  • The included sanding pad is PSA adhesive, which owners find less convenient and less flexible on curves than hook-and-loop.
  • Auto-detailing owners describe the Porter-Cable polisher family as noisy, rattly and easy to break.
  • One owner called the power disappointing, and 4.5 amps is modest beside premium dual-action polishers.
  • Counterweights are a wear item, sold specifically for units that vibrate more than they should.
  • No independent lab test of this model exists, so vibration, noise and cut rate are unverified.

Verified specifications

Model7346SP, UPC 885911064460.
Power120 V AC only, 4.5 A, brushed motor.
Speedelectronic variable-speed dial, 2,500–6,800 OPM.
Orbit / throw8 mm short throw.
Pad6 in, accepts 5/16–24 spindle thread accessories.
Weight6 lbs claimed by the manufacturer; the 7346 variant is listed at 5-1/2 lbs and retailers at 7.0 lbs assembled.
Bearings100% ball and roller bearing construction.
Counterbalanceproprietary 6-inch counterbalance, included and pre-installed.
Includedpolishing pad, PSA pad, sanding disc, two-position side handle and wrench.
Cord length10 ft.
Dimensions11.5 in L × 10.5 in W × 6 in H.
OriginMexico.
Warranty3-year limited, 1-year free service, 90-day satisfaction guarantee.
CertificationCSA listed; a California Prop 65 warning applies.
Full research notes and sources

What it is and who it fits

The 7346SP is a long-running budget 6-inch random orbit sander and polisher. The 4.5-amp AC motor drives a 2,500–6,800 OPM dial and an 8 mm short throw, which suits polishing and finish sanding more than heavy stock removal. It comes with a rigid polishing pad, a PSA sanding pad, a sanding disc, a removable side handle and a wrench, so it covers polishing and light sanding out of the box. Owners use it for automotive and marine work; one report says it polishes without burning paint and runs for hours without the hand numbness smaller sanders cause.

Sanding pad and dust

Two things surprise buyers. The included sanding pad is PSA, an adhesive pad rather than hook-and-loop, and owners say it is less convenient to change and flexes less on curves than a dedicated backing plate; a hook-and-loop plate and foam pads are a common upgrade. The 7346SP also has no dust collection, unlike the related 7424XP, and only a dust hood accessory kit on the parts list. If you sand wood, plan for a vacuum setup elsewhere or pick a different tool.

Parts, repairs and running costs

Support is the tool’s strongest case. A published parts list covers the Type 2 revision, and OEM parts are sold at retail: backing pad A14387, counterweight 874011, gear shaft 699937, plus the armature and gearcase. That makes it more repairable than most budget sanders. Routine wear items are the brushes, counterweight and gear set. Beyond that, the running costs are sanding and polishing discs, compound and the occasional replacement backing pad, which sells separately.

What owners report

Owner comments are mixed. On a Subaru Forester forum, an owner confirms the 7346SP is the same unit as the 7424SP with a 6-inch sanding pad added and calls it a good buy. On r/AutoDetailing, a detailer comparing Porter-Cable polishers to a Rupes dual-action says the Porter-Cable units rattle, make noise and break easily. These are anecdotes, not a failure rate.

Retail pricing for new units is high. Acme Tools and Woodcraft list it at $179.00, Summit Racing, McGuckin and Tool Nut at $179.99 or $179.00, and the industrial distributor AFT Fasteners at $284.79; Tool Nut showed it out of stock. Older marketplace snapshots put it at $71 to $97, which reflects past promotions rather than a consistent street level. Under about $80 it is a strong budget pick for polishing and light sanding; at $81 to $110 it is still good value, especially where the included polishing pad matters; at $111 to $150 it is fair against newer Bosch, DeWalt and Makita kits with dust collection; at $151 to $180 it is weak for a new unit unless the exact polishing-pad bundle and parts availability are decisive; above $180 it is hard to justify for a sander with no dust collection.

Which model this is

This page covers the PORTER-CABLE 7346SP, 6-inch variable-speed random orbit sander with polishing pad, UPC 885911064460. It shares its motor and platform with the 7346, which lacks the polishing pad and is lighter, and it is often described as a 7424SP with a 6-inch sanding pad added. Do not confuse it with the 7424XP polisher family, which adds dust collection, or the 7336 and 97366 sanders that share backing pads. Type 1 and Type 2 revisions exist, the parts list covers Type 2, and a 7346SPR designation appears in some listings. The US listing is ASIN B002EQ96MG.

Sources

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Owner reports:

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Parts:

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