Porter-Cable Reviews

I agree, it's a great deal. It's small, so it doesn't take up much space, and it's relatively easy to carry from one spot to another (just a little awkward). The brad nailer and finish nailer seem well-made and sturdy; the on-off switch seems a little flimsy, though.

But good God, is it loud. The first time I used it, I just had it in the garage; I used it for a while, with earplugs, then went to the end of the driveway with it filling its tank, and man, it was still loud. I apologized to my neighbor for all the racket.

I ended up putting it in a room behind my garage, and drilling a hole in the wall for the hose. It's inconvenient to have to go back there to turn it on, but I don't have to worry as much about shattering the neighborhood calm. Of course, everyone in the house can hear it when it cycles on--and it has a pretty small tank, so it cycles often. So I don't really it that often because I don't want to drive myself and everyone else nuts.

It doesn't have enough capacity to drive many pneumatic devices--the brad and finish nailers work fine, and hey, it's great for airing up tires. I also use it for final cleanup of woodwork before I apply a stain or finish--with an air-gun attachment, it's great for blowing out sanding dust in corners and joints (and from my clothes and hair). I haven't tried anything else, but based on how frequently it cycles during these tasks, I doubt that you could use it with a sprayer, for example. The sprayers I've seen are pretty clear that you need more air than this one can provide.

I think if are going to use this thing outside, in an unenclosed space, then the noise might not be as bad (but you'll still tick off anyone within a a couple houses' distance). If you're planning on using it in a garage...hmmn. I wish I knew if other compressors, even larger ones, were quieter. Anyone?

A quality product for odd jobs around the house. A winner in my book.

I absolutely love this set. Yeah, the compressor is small and a bit noisy (it kicks on more frequently). BUT, I mostly use it for finish woodworking, so it generally only kicks on a couple of times during use. I only use it once a month for that purpose, so it doesn't bother me (given the incredible price). The quality of the nailers is top notch (read the 5 star reviews of the nailers, and I'd agree). They also fair well in reviews by woodworking magazines. I got it when they were throwing in the free Crown stapler....hold out for that deal (or a $50 off).

Overall, Excellent nailers, decent compressor, EXCELLENT price= BUY IT!!!

I own quite a few sanders, and in my opinion this is one of the best, although not _the best_.

Other reviewers have done an excellent job on focusing on all the positives, so I won't waste time restating what they wrote.

For the price there are a few things that could be improved on:

1.) The old 330 has a metal housing, where as this one is plastic. Granted, on a cold day the plastic is probably more friendly, but I like the feel of the metal housing better.

2.) The new 330 isn't made in the U.S.A., where as the old one is. For the price, it should be made here.

3.) The new 330 is rated at 14,000 RPM, where as the old one is 15,000. This probably makes the brushes and bearings last longer, although the brushes don't seem to be the same quality as on the older unit. Either way, the extra 1,000 RPM helped a lot when trying to avoid swirl marks with a course grit. The 340 is also 14,000 RPM, but 1/2 the price.

4.) The new 330 isn't counter-balanced as well as the old, perhaps because of the lighter plastic case.

5.) The 330 doesn't have a dust collection system, unlike the 340. Granted, if you buy a 330 you probably have a downdraft table and don't want the drag of the vacuum hose to interfere with the feedback of the sander, but it would still be nice.

6.) You pretty much need the tool to install the sandpaper. Everyone I know (including me) who has a 330 uses PSA paper because of this. Bosch has an ideal setup on their 1297DK, which is also a nice sander, but 12,000 RPM.

With that said, this is still the best unit available for purchase that I've found. The hand grip is very comfortable, it's fairly quiet, and the vibration is low enough to not cause numbness after extended periods of sanding. Because of the price I'm giving the new 330 4 stars, although I'd have given it 5 if they kept everything the same from the old 330.

I purchased one of these 14 years ago and have used it commercially in a sign shop for the same length of time. I believe the motor might be finally giving out but I will replace it with the same one. I wet sand my signs with it. That means I spray water all over the sign and use wet/dry sandpaper to sand it. This little sander has withstood years of abuse, water, and paint. I highly recommend one of these. I have a bunch of DeWalt tools most of which have failed on me.

I bought my first one of these sanders about 9 years ago. I use it all the time. It does an excellent job, is solidly built, and above all it doesn't make my hand and arm tired. I have a small wood working business on the side and I'm in the garage working usually every other weekend. I eventually wore my first sander out; I think it was the bearings that started to go. I contemplated changing them out but for $89.00 it's almost disposable at that point. I did however hang on to it just in case I wanted to have it rebuilt as a back up. My second one is still going strong. The reason I went with the Porter cable in the first place is because I'm still using the 1/2 pad sander my father purchased in 1952. For the most part you can't beat a Porter Cable.

I have owned this pack for a few years. The compressor and nailer have worked without problems. When considering this combo, be sure that this is the right nailer for the task you have in mind. This combo pack is great for a beginner pack. I have added several other nailers to my collection.

This combo pack is ideal! I had never owned a Porter Cable product until my father gave this to me as a Christmas gift. My initial attempt at installing crown molding was daunting. Well, after the first piece I was a pro. I have never experienced a tool that has allowed me to raise my DIY skills to such a high level. I feel like a professional. I am now removing the original crown molding that was poorly installed when I bought my house. I plan on replacing all of the crown molding utilizing my Porter Cable Finish Nailer and Pancake Compressor combo and my DeWalt 12" Combo miter Saw. Two indispensible tools for anyone. Spend the money and finally enjoy projects rather than dreading them. This unit will save you an incredible amount of time. You may want to keep a nail set and a hammer around though as I have had occasional nail heads stick up. However, this only happens about 1 in 50 nails that I've driven.

I remodeled my basement a while back and this is the compressor I used to do the framing. It kept up ok with the framing nailer that I borrowed. I also used the finish nailer to put up my trim boards. The compressor wasn't able to keep up with my die grinder though. I used the die grinder to prepare my gutters on my house for painting, and I would have to stop quite often to let the compressor catch up. For little jobs like what I used mine for, however, this compressor will work just fine.

This is a great tool. Has different heads to drive common nails, finish nails, and roofing nails. This kit also includes a hammer face to do anything you can do with a traditional hammer, without the arm fatigue. Drives nails quickly and I had no problem with bent nails, even driving them at angles. Kit includes a plastic case and all the wrenches to change heads and maintain tool.

I've only used this little critter for driving 10d and 16d nails, so I can't remark much on its versatility, but after renovating a 22x24 garage into a shop, including constructing a center beam to suport the attic floor above, and triple-sistering all the joists of that floor (1974 construction is exciting to bring up to code), I really like it.

My Campbell Hausfeld HL5501 8-gal air compressor powered it pretty easily. The compressor cycled often, but didn't need any catch-up time; I could keep nailing at 100psi until I finished the joist I was working on without any noticeable decrease in performance. It put 16d nails through frozen, ice-caked 2x6 (construction work in the Sierra in February is chilly) with no problem at all.

It's small and light enough that it wasn't any bother to carry around. Putting up collar ties, it just hung by its hose over my shoulder while I, atop the ladder, got the collar tie into position and leveled. Sistering joists, the palm nailer fit easily into the spaces between floor joists, even an inch above the ceiling drywall where I wouldn't have had any room to swing a hammer. I could wriggle it around and hold it from any weird angle I needed to get the nail driven.

I learned, however, that it didn't have the oomph to spring a warped 2x6 flat against the 2x6 I was nailing to. I'd have to drive in the nails to set the new 2x6 into place, then go back and whack it into place with a hammer. I don't think this is any fault of the nailer so much as my inexperience combined with the crummy, corkscrewed 2x6s I was working with. Anyway, on the 2x6s that weren't warped, it sure set them into place well.

The work went quickly principally because the nailer worked beautifully. I look forward to using it on more delicate projects, and can recommend it --for ease of use and general utility-- unreservedly.

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this thing, but have but have since become very attached to this pint-sized powerhouse. It's surely not as fast as a framing nailer on bump mode, but it's much faster than anybody pounding away with a hammmer. Plus, you have a levelent of control that you don't obtain with either of the other methods of burying nails. Sort of makes you feel like you're Superman just pushing nails into the wood with your hand.

I have enjoyed it so much that I recently picked up a second one to keep from having to change heads so often. Now I can use the finishing nail head to get everying in place, then come along with the hammer head attachment and my nail set to countersink everything. It actually makes countersinking nails fun, while reducing the chances or marring your work with an errant hammer blow (watch you fingers though - one little tap on the nail set creates a powerful whack from this thing).

Unless you frame or run trim for a living, this nailer is probably most of what you'll need in pneumatic nailers. Versatility and delightfully compact dimensions make this thing a pleasure to own. Now if they'd come out with a "hoseless" version...

I think that you really cannot beat this saw for the money. It has 10 amps of power. All the other comparably priced reciprocating saws are 6-8 amps. That's a big difference. To get comparable power, you're going to have to spend 150-170 on another brand. Is it just me or does PC always have the most power at a lower price?
Anyway, the saw does what it needs to do. With the appropriate blade, it will cut through just about anything. I got it because I was renovating an old barn and it is about the only tool that can cut off a 4x4 or 6x6 that is still nailed into the wall. Also cuts through nails w/o a problem. That's a big time saver if you're renovating.
Only negatives are that it is very loud and vibrated pretty bad. Also seems a bit heavy. But who cares? Reciprocating saws are pretty specialized tools. When you need one, it is the only thing that will do, but you just don't use them that often. So get this one. It does everything you want it too at a cheap price. Use the cash you save to buy a nicer drill or miter saw.

Awesome tool! Read about different recip saws before buying and got this at substantial discount. Have been working on a church building and renovating project for several months now and the only reason the other guys have used another saw (cordless) is because of extension cord availability. This has got the power and durability to make any job easier...walls, 100 year old (real!) 2x4s that are iron-hard, floors, oversized beams. Demo is fast and easy with the orbital cuts...fine work is pretty controlled with the straight cuts.

Best flexible recip we've had so far. Professional (or almost) at hobbyist price - you can't go wrong with this saw.

My wife has been using it for rough cutting a carousel animal she's been working on with very long blades and it worked great for the initial "rounding" of the animal (now...is it a tiger or a bear? - only time will tell).

I'd buy it again or another if I burn this one out!

Before i borrowed a "Reciprocating Saw" (Sawzall is technically a registered trademark) from a relative, i had no idea how easy it made demoliton. I was able to go in and surgically remove any offending pipes, nailers, floorboards, basically anything I didn't like. The only thing it seemed like it couldn't do was to cut through a cast iron bathtub, but the twenty pound sledge made quick work of that project. I was greatly dissapointed when I had to return the borrowed tool, but quickly quelled my dissapointment by purchasing my own. (by the way, the saw which i borrowed was a DeWalt 18 volt XRP cordless, great tool, if you have a higher budget)
When i went to my local home store, i was torn over what model to purchase. This model looked like an acceptable upgrade to the lower-end corded DeWalt model. It was only ten bucks more, but had three more amps and a bigger stroke length. Porter-Cable makes another great tool. (and as a final plus, the're made right here in the good ol' us of a.)

It is excellent tool never jamed and made you like a pro hardwood floor installer.

I really enjoyed using this tool. Since I've never put down a hardwood floor,I didn't know what to expect. I layed over 400 sq.ft. of Bamboo flooring and the tool performed great. Although the Bamboo is 5/8" thick and the nailer is designed for 3/4", I noticed two indentions on the flooring caused by the slight angle of the nailer, so I taped a piece of cardboard to the bottom to level it out and that took care of the problem. If the tool is supposed to work on 1/2" to 3/4" flooring, it should come with interchangeable pads to make it level when nailing. I had read other reviews about the nailer so all I had to do was make sure I didn't run out of nails and it worked great.

Have had no trouble with this nailer; it is best, however, to load a fresh clip of nails before completely running out, as often the last nail will fall out or not drive correctly.

If you've read my other reviews, you know I own a lot of sanders (more than I've been able to review, actually), and this is one of them.

This sander has been around for years and does a great job. The old version was made in the U.S.A., but the new version is made in Mexico, NOT the U.S. as the information on Amazon states. There are more plastic parts on the newer model, but nothing to worry about.

The new model also has variable speed and dust collection, although it does NOT have an included template for punching PSA sheets, or an included PSA pad, for that matter. I think it's because P-C markets the unit as a polisher, and hook-and-loop polishing pads work great, while PSA polishing pads wouldn't work so well if they were available. Talking about "not available," there is no punch for this machine; you have to make your own out of a block of wood and some bolts.

This unit is now incorrectly labeled a "random orbit" sander, when it's really a "dual action" sander, meaning the orbits aren't really random, and regular swirl marks exist. However, dual action sanders leave much less noticeable marks, and produce a much better finish than orbital sanders.

Variable speed is a great feature for not melting varnish when sanding it, and for not taking off a load of stock instantly. Being a bigger guy I can use the sander with one hand, but be aware it is a monster at full speed and will consume wood quickly.

The sander is relatively light for this type of sander, pretty quiet, and relatively vibration free. Realize this is a lot of sander, so it's not exactly light, quiet, or completely vibration free, but it's the best sander you can buy in its class. It's also much more controllable than a 6" sander, and when combined with the variable speed it can handle most any sanding or polishing job well.

I immediately bought the PSA pad (for keeping edges square) and contoured PSA pad (for rounded edges). PSA paper is about 1/2 the price of hook-and-loop, and a torn piece of PSA won't immediately ruin the PSA pad, unlike hook-and-loop.

The case is huge, as another reviewer put it, but not large enough to store boxed pads. You can fit two unboxed pads in two corners, the handle in the third corner, and the fourth corner is molded for the vacuum adapter.

The results from this sander are the best I've found for a dual-action, and the sander is built well. Buy it; you'll probably love it.

If it came with a both hook-and-loop and pressure sensitive adhesive pads, and a hole punch plate, I'd give it 5 stars, even if the box couldn't hold boxed pads.

Great price. Arrived in perfect condition and on time. BTW - paid for Amazon's two day shipping for the year and it has been a good deal, have bought many tools, etc., and if the right size, they always come on the second day.

Very fine machine. Buy it with the dust removal kit - worth the price and then some.

I make furniture in a basement shop, so dust removal is a matter of concern, so, this machine delighted me. I hooked it up through my Festool vacuum system (with has an automatic swtich)(the hose in the sander box connects perfectly with the adaptor provided) and have sanded many square feet of white oak and hard maple with grits ranging from 80 to 220. I think it is a better at nearly finish work than stock removal. I am very satisfied with this machine - the variable speeds are key depending upon the grit used and whether the wood is rough or not.

It is a manageable tool and a sturdy one. The cord is a good length and so is the dust hose. The Festool RO Sander may be better at stock removal, but it is twice the price.

Norm Abrams recommends sanding across the grain first, than diagonally, and then with the grain. This method works great with this Porter Cable sander.

Great sander, quite aggressive, so select your #grit carefully. Gets heavy after a while, but it does the business.

The dust collection system on this is pretty good. hooked up to a shopvac, the only escaping dust is when you first put the sander to the surface.

I would recommend a few careful adjustments so as not to over heat the shop vac though - the 2" hose supplied is less than half the size of my shopvac hose. This cuts down airflow to the shopvac, making the thing work overtime and will burn the motor out fast.

I drilled a couple of holes in the adapter, to increase airflow, the shopvac stopped whining so badly and there was no perceived change in cleanup...

I really like this tool. The plunge release/lock mechanism is th ebest around. MUCH nicer than dewalt's or PorterCable's. The motor is smooth and the micro-adjust mechanism works beautifully. My only complaint is that the top is not flat and bit changes are a little less convenient as a result. Pretty minor compared to the tool's overall performance.

It was either this one or the Dewalt DW621, the two best routers in this class. For the readers sake I will compare its features to the Dewalt. Both machines are 2HP, both have a smooth plunge but the Dewalt wins in this respect. They both have dust extraction, Bosch via an attachment and the Dewalt built into one of the plunge posts. If you do not hook up the Dewalt's dust extraction you will inhale the dust and eat the chips. They both employ Soft Start and are variable speed with constant speed technology. As for motor noise the Bosch certainly wins, it has half the noise of the Dewalt, and is comfortable to operate without hearing protection. Both machines have micro adjustment knobs, the Bosch's can be adjusted while the plunge is locked, the Dewalt's cannot. The micro gauge reading on the Bosch is much easier to understand than on the Dewalt. I like the 1/8 step graduations on the depth stop rather than the three post adjustable on the Dewalt. This feature is a user preference you can make your own assumption. The base on the Bosch is larger and more conventional than the Dewalt's. As for quality you can't go wrong with either, time will tell. Bosch makes an excellent product, take the quality for the best and study the features you need.

It was either this one or the Dewalt DW621, the two best routers in this class. For the readers sake I will compare its features to the Dewalt. Both machines are 2HP, both have a smooth plunge but the Dewalt wins in this respect. They both have dust extraction, Bosch via an attachment and the Dewalt built into one of the plunge posts. If you do not hook up the Dewalt's dust extraction you will inhale the dust and eat the chips. They both employ Soft Start and are variable speed with constant speed technology. As for motor noise the Bosch certainly wins, it has half the noise of the Dewalt, and is comfortable to operate without hearing protection. Both machines have micro adjustment knobs, the Bosch's can be adjusted while the plunge is locked, the Dewalt's cannot. The micro gauge reading on the Bosch is much easier to understand than on the Dewalt. I like the 1/8 step graduations on the depth stop rather than the three post adjustable on the Dewalt. This feature is a user preference you can make your own assumption. The base on the Bosch is larger and more conventional than the Dewalt's. As for quality you can't go wrong with either, time will tell. Bosch makes an excellent product, take the quality for the best and study the features you need.

I have found this saw to be very dependable and comfortable for professional everyday use. The only problem is with the toolless quick-change blade system. This may be fine for homeowner use, but for a professional tool which I use every day, I would prefer the old-fashioned bolt and wrench.

The reason I selected this saw is that I had decided to get a circular saw and router precision guide system for my home shop. I have so little room that table tools are a problem. Anyway, while looking at the precision guide systems, I noticed that every single vendor pictured their guide system being used with this saw. I asked a couple of them about that and was told that the precision, power, ability to plunge cut and dust collection (if you hook it to a vacuum) rivals the Festool at less than half the price. So I got one and I am extremely pleased with it.

After my last Black and Decker toy bit the dust -- in the middle of a small backyard fence job -- I swore that I had finally learned my lesson with cheap, 3-month wonder immitation power tools.

So after shopping around for a quality replacement, I finally settled on the Porter-Cable. The fact that I didn't have to pay a quality price for it on Amazon was an added bonus. I can't believe how much saw just a little more money can buy.

After using this lightweight, well-balanced, powerhouse for the first time last weekend, I'm already spending more time looking around the ranch for new projects than I was previously in avoiding them.

One of the problems I'd always had with the cheap saws was the even cheaper blades that came with them. After only a few uses, it was usually used up. Ripping a board was always a hit-or-miss exercise in frustration. Until now. This P-C made me look good the first time out with a line so true it appeared as if I did it on a table saw. And as for power, I sliced right through a pressurized 4x6 like a hot knife through butter. Sweet.

I didn't buy this saw for the blade-change system, but it's nice to know that when the time -- or the right job -- comes around it will be a snap to swap it out. To me, that's just another example of the well-planned design that went into this outstanding American-made product.

I am a professional remodeler and recently took on a job where I was residing a house. This tool performs like a champ. This will be the only way I cut Hardiboard siding in the future. It is too hard on your saw and your lungs not to justify buying these shears, even if you are only doing one house. Not to mention, the circular saw blade you are supposed to use for Hardi is about $50 and the special dust collecting saws are usually over $400. I rented an old pair of shears for this job I was doing and was getting pretty frustrated with them. They cut very slow and with a great deal of effort. I would have been much better off if I had bought this tool at the beginning of the job since they cut about five times faster. Don't waste your time with any other method.

I am not a contractor but have done plenty of DIY projects on many homes with family members who are. We bought this product to side a 2500 sq foot house and were able to do so in about 3-4 weekends with 3 people on the job. We tried cutting a few boards using a chop saw but the dust was pretty substantial. This tool does slow down the cutting a bit but is more maneuverable if you're cutting on the fly and also reduces dust substantially. This is important because the John Hardie website even contains warnings about the harmful effects of the carcinogenic silica dust in the products. The tool is heavy duty and tore consistent, clean lines through the fiber cement like it was butter. Blade showed no signs of wear by the end of the job. I will be using it to side my own home next year, most likely.

If you work with any type of fiber cement siding product, you absolutely must have this tool. It will make your life soo much easier when it's time to cut fiber cement. Don't bother buying special circular saw blades or large shears, this tool will do it all with no or very little dust and cuts quickly. The jaws are reversible so when one side gets worn, just flip them over and you have a new set of jaws.

Worth every penny!!!