Porter-Cable Reviews

I love my new porter-cable cordless drill. It has the power I need, and is light weight. I had been useing dewalt, this new drill out performs an is more user friendly.

Thank You; Jerry DBA Burnet heating & Air.

So far it has been great working with this drill. I had no previous experience with drills , - so cannot compare to other products. But I must say that for the novice like me using Porter-Cable 9820 was a very easy and exciting experience. Double gear is a very nice feature when you work on drilling different types of surfaces and using this as a screwdriver.

One con: comes with no drills - need to buy the set yourself.

I've had a steady stream of low cost cordless drills over the last fifteen years and when the built-in battery in my most recent one finally died I decided it was time to spend a bit more and get a much better drill. After much looking around I settled on the Porter-Cable 9820 as it appeared to be a great combination of power, features, modest weight, price, and included accessories. I also wasn't interested in spending $50-100 to get something that was really only just a bit better than all the $35 ones I'd bought and discarded over the years.

I've had the Porter-Cable 9820 just about a month now and have used it for several jobs, ranging from numerous household projects to rebuilding a redwood fence crushed by a 25' limb in a recent storm. It has proven to be everything I was looking for. I am particularly pleased to have two interchangable batteries, a fast and hefty charger, two selectable drill speeds, broad range adjustable clutch, controls that are very conveniently placed, and what seems to me to be a perfect combination of high power and yet comfortably handleable weight. I'm no power tool expert, but it seems very well made -- everything about it has a good, solid feel. And all at what I consider a very reasonable price.

Highly recommended.

Router works fine. The only caveat is that these are now made in Mexico. Porter Cable 690-series routers were among the last American-made power tools of which I was aware, and that was in large part why I bought this kit.

But, since all the other brands are now made overseas, I guess it really doesn't matter. I would still get this model; it has just lost some serious bonus points.

I have been using this router for the past year and half and have been very pleased with its operation. The variable speed control allows you to fine tune the speed of the bit to prevent tear out and burning of the wood. I recently helped make a platform bed frame for a friend and we were unable to make a rabbit on the table saw because the side support boards were nearly 7' long. With a chucked up a ½" rabbit bit we were able to plow out rabbits on the end of the boars that were nearly 1 ½ " deep with only two passes. I was humbly surprised at the quality of the cut the Porter Cable left behind. I have not used the plunge base yet, but have a few projects anxiously awaiting this great router! I have had absolutely no problems with this router at all. I would consider getting a different base because some 1/2" bits will end up hitting the sides of the base when fully extended. For the price on Amazon.com you can't beat it!!!

Great router for it's designed purpose, easy to use.

If you ever try to use a drill and nail in the quarter round that will take you a long time, and you will see the heads of the nail still showing and the work is not as clean. And this took me about 3 minutes per nail + getting hit with the hammer by the thumb.

My neighbor suggested to use his BN125A, and this will make the job easier and cleaner. And to my surprise, I was done in less than 10 minutes, and you can barely see the head of the nail showing. Unless you look at a distance of 2 feet.

I've also used this for installing my hardwood floors. They suggested to drill a hole and patch it, then sand it. If you are using finished hardwood like bamboo there is no way you will be you will be drilling and and sanding. I'm not saying use this for your hardwood floors. Use it to start, which would be your sacrifical boards I would say every 3 inches.

This is an easier touch up versus drilling a hole to a wood and patching it up.

I teach woodshop. This is my fourth Porter Cable brad nailer. They all still work, they are safe, and I have never had one jam. Incredible? I think so too. Regarding nailers, I'll never buy anything except Porter Cable.

This is an excellent product for finish carpentry, this is the only gun I carry with me. Excellent product from porter cable

I bought a 7116 omnijig and a adjustable through dovetail template from Tool Crib and the first one came to me with a grossly deformed aluminum casting. I don't know how it ever made it past quality control because I noticed the defect as soon as I opened the box. I called Tool Crib and they had UPS come and pick it up at no expence to me. Fed EX delivered the second one and a look at the box had me worried. It was badly damaged, and upon opening it I saw that the styrofoam packing was completly destroyed. Luckly there was no damage to the omnijig.
I watched the video (it seemed intimidating) but I started to play with it and get familiar with it. After about 4 hours of set up and making test cuts I made 8 drawers.They came out OK for my first attempt. I think if I buy some good measuring instruments to make set up more precise and easier and after getting more familiar with this jig it will become easy to use and will produce quality joinery.

The Porter Cable OmniJig is simple in it's design, and is substantially made. The dovetail template is a fixed design. The spacing of the dovetails, are not adjustable. If you have a drawer that is 5 3/8" tall, you will have an odd spaced pin. The ideal are pins that are balanced on the top and bottom. Preferably a half pin top and bottom. With the Porter Cable jig, you could have a tail instead of a pin at one end, or odd balanced pins. The Leigh D4 dovetail jig on the other hand gives you infinite spacing capabilities. That kind of adjustability comes with a price for additional set up time. I want complete adjustability, so I can make the outside pins perfectly matched, and then balance the interior pins and tails to whatever spacing I choose. Additionally I have complete control over the size of the pins and tails themselves. It also accepts specific yet different degree angle dovetail bits.
I'm not a yeah this, and a boo that. I like the speed of the omnijig, and the adjustability of the D4. If I was building drawers in a production shop, and time is of the essence, then the PC is the choice. If I was building a custom order, with choice woods, and an even choosier customer, the Leigh would be my choice.
The Omnijig is a well made heavyweight piece, designed to do half blind joints. Through dovetails require a different optional, and expensive jig. Still not with adjustable capabilities. The Leigh D4 is lighter and also well made, comes with through, half blind, and sliding dovetail capabilties right out of the box, all at the price of the base Omnijig unit.
The PC dovetail machine was proudly pictured on the front page of the October 2002 Woodworkers Journal magazine announcing their ultimate guide. They reviewed the different jigs. With the Omnijig, they mentioned, that like, almost all half blind jigs, they are designed around a 14 degree dovetail. In order to get the depth of cut needed at that angle, the jig uses a 3/4" bit. The reviewer stated, "To me, the resulting dovetail looks rather coarse". On the other hand WJ magazine, states, " The jigs that go both ways, especially the super flexible Leigh jig, earn a space in my shop."
Myself, I bought the Leigh D4 with a complete 15 piece set of Leigh factory special router bits, that are custom designed for dovetailing (many different sizes and lengths, and shaft size) for less money than the cost of the PC Omni and optional PC Through Jig. I would also strongly advise you to get their 8mm and 1/2" collet set, instead of the 1/4" and 1/2" shaft size bits, because of the substantially increased strength, yet giving you the capabilities of the smaller pins. You will need an optional 8MM collet for your router to use them. Smaller tighter joints requires slimmer bits, and instead of 1/4" bits with more vibration, which is solved with 8mm bits that give you substantially more shaft size, while still maintaning a small enough size for the smaller template, yielding tighter spacing, and smoother cuts. That is why the international standard for the smaller shaft size is 8mm instead of 1/4". Back to the OmniJig.
If my needs grow to production standards, I will be adding the PC Omnijig to my arsenal. Quite simply the advantage to the OmniJig is that you can take your project and put it in the jig, and put out evenly spaced dovetails pre set to the restricted size of the template, without having to run sample cuts to set up the machine. If your running odd lots all day long, that is a major speed difference.
If you making large lots of the same size, the initial set up for the Leigh is no longer important, and will result in a balanced job, without the loss of time.
I really like my Porter Cable equipment, it is well made, I just think that something as relevant as the contained information should be explained, in addition to the well deserved 5 star reviews.

This jig is great. It cuts perfect dovetails. However, it does take some time to set it up. Unlike others who say they were making perfect dovetails in 15 minutes, it took me about three hours. I consider myself an intermediate woodworker, but had never used (let alone, seen one up close)a dovetail jug before this. Definitely watch the complimentary video PC includes. The manual doesn't come close to the value of the VHS tape. In fact, I watched certain sections 5 or 6 times and kept going in and out of the shop between viewings ! Everytime I had it about perfect, I'd screw it up by fine tuning it some more ! My biggest problem was getting the left & right side the same (template & router depth adjustments). Backing in/out the 9/16" nut spacer is a little bit like a guessing game. However, after about 10 test cuts I got it just right. Simple tip: It's true that you might need several scrap pieces for test cuts, but it's easy to simply use 2 approx. 16" long stock and keep cutting off an inch of unwanted/non-fiting test cuts and repeat the process.

It is also important to remember that your stock must be in increments of 7/8ths to have a half pin on top and bottom of your joint. While others here have expressed regret over this restriction/requirement, I don't see any problem with it. You just have to remember this before you design your project.

The cam locks work great. They are easy to adjust. After spending a few "quality" hours with this jig I feel like I've been using it for years. It would be great for mass production jobs.

The best thing happened when I found this 12-Volt Battery Pack on Amazon.com. Then my batteries went south and never came back I needed new batteries for the best little driver I ever had and did not want to lose it. I hope Porter Cable keeps these batteries on the market, by my serial number there's over 190,000 of the drills out there.

I like my old 12v Porter Cable drill. But, the batteries were having a hard time keeping a charge. So, it's time for new batteries. The new batteries should hold me for another 5 years.

My son gave me this set, drill and flashlight, five or six years ago and I have had few problems. My kids got the flashlight and somehow twisted it and broke the contact plate inside the light. Called PC and got another one and replaced it and back to lighting up the night.

The driver was used to help build our house. We used dry wall screws to secure 2X framing for pouring concrete into foam blocks. The contractor would build the frames, pour the concrete, and I would remove the screws and forms for the next pour. I have driven and removed thousands of drywall screws with no problem. The contractor used DeWalt drivers and I used his several times. The PC model has a better drive speed. Seems to have more torque and a more controlable speed.

The driver has spit out a couple pieces of white plastic over the years but works without whatever they were. I only broke one philips bit and that was operator error. I have had no problems with corrosion. The battery posts are as clean as they were new. I keep one battery in the driver and the other in the light all the time.

The only serious problem I have had is leaving the light outside one night and it froze. The battery has lost a LOT of it's strength. It still works but not for long. Again, operator error.

I have used the driver to bore holes into concrete for bolts and anchors but decided to save that chore for a corded drill. I have also used it some with grinding wheels and brushes on metal but that was for convienence - no cords to drag around.

The only complaint I have with PC is the change in battery shape. I can't be the only one "stuck" with the old type. It would have been nice of them to offer an adaptor so we could use the new battery with the old tools and charger. I REALLY hate to pitch (or replace) good tools just to get the new model.

With all I have done with this 12v model, I can't imagine needing one with higher voltage. The 12v battery also comes in handy for checking 12v lights and circuits. Haven't tried to jump start the Jeep with them.

Very solid product, I don't suggest leaving the batteries where they can freeze. I would buy another one.

I was, and am, so impressed with this product that I have bought many other PC tools. They all do what I want and have held up well.

I have now run 10,000 (B&C 7/16" x 2") staples through this tool without a SINGLE jam! It's my favorite tool. I haven't used a hammer in two years :-)

In the first few months of MS200 stapler ownership, it was used to drive 17,000 2" staples. Not a single jam. (So, I can't comment on jam fixes, but it is easy to remove the nosepiece, without tools.) This nailer has a slight "recoil". If it isn't pushed into the work AND the wood is fairly hard, the staple won't go in all the way. This is because part of the drive force is spent pushing the tool away from the staple. I had that problem in awkward places where good force couldn't be applied to the nailer while pulling the trigger; e.g., lying on my side in an attic with low ceiling space, stapling plywood "gussets" (e.g., 0.5" x 9" x 8') onto 2x10's to stiffen them. (This would be a non-issue for roof or floor sheathing.) The same thing would probably happen with any large stapler. For the most part, the staple head is about flush with the surface, and of course, power is adjustable via the regulator.

Overall, the productivity gained by using this powerhouse is incredible. My speed was about 1 staple per second, but I took my time. Although one hand control is workable, I used both hands most of the time, in order to ensure the staple was fully driven home.

I also bought the 7/16" x 2" staples from Amazon, and they stay in. In fact, be sure you're driving staples where you won't change your mind. In the cases where a staple had to be removed, I couldn't pull them out. Wound up cutting the tops off. Almost like driving a double nail with each trigger pull. That's holding power.

The carrying case is one of those molded types, with two plastic clasps. Seems fine. Fits the tool perfectly, and provides great protection - with a small bit of staple & oil storage.

This staple gun is great. It's exactly what I needed and it has been very reliable.

This saw quickly spoils you with its versatility.

Fresh out of the box, I needed it to cut a 3/8" diameter steel spike. I mounted the right saw blade and set to work. The work was near the ground, so I sat, held the saw firmly, and started cutting. But then I realized that my trigger hand was in an awkward position. I thought, "Hey, I've got this variable angle saw. What am I doing flexing my wrist this way?" So I made the necessary adjustment, and finished the cut in no time.

Not only can this saw help you reach difficult places, but it even makes ordinary jobs totally painless. I'm completely spoiled.

I got my new Tiger Claw for Christmas and immediately took it out in my shop and chopped up some 2"X 12" white oak joists from an old building deconstruction project. The saw has more than enough power to take the cut as fast as I could force the blade into the beam. It seems to be built for extreme action and is "hell for stout" as my dad used to say. The angled gear boxes are fairly easy to adjust once you get the hang of the rather smallish recessed release buttons. What I have noticed in the few times I have used it is that it does vibrate more than the Milwaukee 11 amp sawzall, so a pair of light leather gloves help dampen it when cutting. It is also heavier, i am assuming because of all the extra gearing. I wouldn't want to spend hours at a time working with it over my head. I am going to mainly use it to trim up and dimension said white oak planks for use in furniture projects. I have lots of nails in this old lumber that are too deeply imbedded to remove, so cutting on my table saw or with a circular saw are too dangerous and damaging to the blades until I get the metal contaminated sections cut out. Perfect job for a heavy sawzall. With being able to turn the blade 90 degrees to the body, I can pull it through the lumber like a big jig saw, thus reducing the effort and fatigue a regular sawzall would cause. Other than the higher level of vibration than the Milwaukee, the only other detraction I could come up with is that the adjustable shoe has too little adjustment. I would like to see at least two more notches added to the three it currently has. This would give more options for cutting thin materials and varying where the blade wears in use. Bottom line: After all the shopping and comparing I did, and finally getting my hands on it, I would definitely recommend this saw to anyone needing a really heavy duty and flexible sawzall.

I am building my first home. I bought this saw because my yellow and black brand 24volt saw does not last long on a charge. The tiger claw has preformed with out a flaw. The features are unbelivable. Do not pass this one by.

I have used this gun for about 2 years now and it's the smartest tool purchase I've ever made. It works extremely well and stands up to my abuse.

It's connivance is a definite time and money saver. Rather than pulling out a large and heavy compressor, plugging it in (hopefully without the need of an extension cord), and an awkward air hose; this gun is out of the case and working in seconds. Ready to nail up any base, case and/or molding anywhere without dragging around a clumsy pneumatic hose.

There are only two small draw backs. First is its size makes it hard to fit in small spaces like nailing an under cabinet kick plate. But that doesn't really matter because the minimum brad length is to long to nail up thin skins anyway. So you'll need a conventional air for those job , and you'll be able to get at that kick plate too.

Accepting no tool can do it all, the Porter-Cable Cordless Brad Nailer's advantages out way these faults.

I would recommend buying a PC 12 volt drill for two extra batteries and an other charger. Its cheaper than buying separately and you get a very nice, light weight drill out of it.

I HAVE OWNED A PORTER CABLE NAIL GUN FOR APPROX. 6 MONTHS AND HAVE USED IT CONSIDERABLY IN THE REMODELING OF MY DAUGHTER'S HOME. PRIOR TO USING, I WILL PLACE DROPS OF OIL AS RECOMMENDED AND, IN MOST INSTANCES, THE GUN WILL WORK FINE IN THE INTERNAL POWER MODE. LATELY HOWEVER, I BEEN EXPERIENCING A MALFUNCTION IN THAT THE GUN WILL NOT SHOOT OUT A NAIL. THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, THE COMPRESSOR ENGAGES, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH A NAIL HAS BEEN EXPENDED, AN INDENTATION IS MADE IN THE WOOD BUT NO SIGN OF A NAIL. I READ THE MANUAL'S TROUBLE SHOOTING SECTION, BUT FAILED TO FIND AN ANSWER. IF ANY USER OF THE PORTER CABLE NAIL GUN HAS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM OR CAN PROVIDE AN REMEDY, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE. OTHER THAN MY RECENT PROBLEM, IT IS A GREAT TOOL FOR THE HOMEOWNER.

This is NOT a faulty design. I've used this unit for many months now and I've NEVER had a problem. It's cheaper than buying a nailer and compressor! Plus, it's portable and comes with enough brads to last you for a long time! The second battery is an absolute must though! It shoots about 100 brads on a charge. If you oil the unit as you're instructed to (which I do), then I think it will work for a very long time before it needs to have any gasket replacement, etc. If I had the money, I would buy one of these for everyone I know for Xmas! It's really worth it!

I've come back to edit this review after a year with this saw. I still like its positive traits...light weight, power, comfort, and smooth operation. It has plently of power to rip and crosscut pressure-treated wood and hardwoods. The saw is well-balanced, has a convenient stored blade wrench, and I like the adjustable dust nozzle. My gripes are also reinforced. I think they could do a better job of designing the cut depth adjustment to make the depth measurements and lever visible and accessible wihout having to peer through or around the handle. One of the DeWalt models does this. The bevel adjustment holds well and is reasonably accurate. I do wish they'd get away from the notched cutting guide on the front edge of the base...it isn't particularly accurate. The magnesium base construction is very light, durable, and acts as a very stable platform. They should also try to design in a couple cord hooks on the saw to make wrapping up the cord easier...after all the average upright vacuum has them. All-in-all an excellent saw that...thus far...is performing very well.

I have owned this saw for several years, and really like it. It is very powerful and runs smooth. I like the feature that the saw blade has a brake, and just doesn't just keep running.

Am I impressed or what? This is my first PorterCable product and based on its performance, this brand has won my loyalty. The first job for this tool was to cut up some 2X12 treated lumber from old bleachers into 8" souvenir sized pieces. I made more than 100 cuts in 2 hours. Although some of the boards which were damp offered slight resistance, this saw sang right through that wood with little effort and noise. It was light and easy to manuver. It made clean, smooth, consistant cuts, and the motor was barely warm when I finished. The job would probably have been a bit much for my 10 amp, 15 year old Black and Decker saw. This PorterCable saw with 15 amps of power made doing this big job a real pleasure! And its reasonably priced, too. Now, I have a quality framing tool. It's a must have for anyone with big sawing jobs to do. Thank's Amazon!

I love cordless tools; this is the 15th cordless tool that I bought and it is really handy when it comes the time to trim a little edge off or drill a hole for a hinge. I am not a carpenter or any expert when it comes to woodworking, but I believe there is a purpose for each tool, and this router, after owning for just 1 week, helped me installed a pet door out of the wall on the sunroom. It chewed up the plywood fast and easy, saved me from chiseling. Good tool! Wish I had it when I installed my new door lock...

i bought this router about 6 months ago based upon the reviews. it works great. if you hang doors you can carry it in the house and use it to rout out the lockset on the side of the door etc. I have used it to hang about 17 doors so far and it will usually do 7 doors without recharging the battery. I bought the 19.2 drill from porter cable, so I have 2 more batteries. I know have about 23 drills, because the cost of 2 batteries seperatly is only about 30-60 bucks less than a whole kit.

use this router with the collet for the door jigs and you will be happy.

kreg
the Honey-do Handyman

I bought this router to perform one function. To route a 3/8 roundover on cypress table tops. I simply wanted to eliminate another power cord from being in the way or getting caught on the workbench. What I did not realize is that the router weighs a lot less than the the 690 I have been using. That was a pleasure to discover. Another thing I like is that when the battery dies, it does so quickly. Not a lot of run time at a low rpm. A great tool for my application and it was my 8th Porter Cable tool purchase.