Porter-Cable Reviews

I cant say enough about this flashlight. Its simple, the head swivels up and down, and it has an off on switch. With the battery installed, it is very stable too. I wont go on and on, but if you have an extra battery, this is where you should be keeping it, on the bottom of this awesome flashlight!

I love this flashlight. I am an electrician so I use a flashlight quite often. As I already own a Porter Cable 14.4 volt drill, the convinience of having a battery at the ready for the flashlight is awesome. My favorite feature on the flashlight is the swivle head. I can put the light down and aim it at the target easily and not have to use an extra hand to hold the light. Usually lasts about 2 hours on a fully charged battery.

This thing comes in handy. Powerful, light-weight, and stands and pivots the beam to where you need it. Seems pretty easy on the battery power as well...one charge lasts quite a while.

This is a good combo, but don't believe Amazon's pitch that this is a $472 package. We bought ours from Lowes at less than Amazon's price.

After shopping around and comparing nailers and compressors, I decidede to purchase this combo kit. I recently retired and gone into my woodworking hobby more seriously. This kit arrived well packed and easily put into service. The nailers are easy to use and have functioned flawlessly. I have installed base board moldings and built some cabinets for my garage shop. I highly recommend Porter-Cable products.

Not only did I receive my order for this combo pack 2 days earlier than expected, but I could not be more pleased with the quality and performance for the money. This is an older and proven compressor design that I was well familiar with. The brad nailer has also proven itself to be a very reliable and easy to use tool. I would highly recommend this kit as an invaluable necessity for professioanl trim work. I can't imagine not having it. Keep up the good work Porter-Cable. Thanks.

First off, let me say that this is an absolutely great tool. As all previous reviewers have mentioned, a coil nailer has a greater capacity which reduces reloading time. If you want to shoot and go, this is the tool to use for framing.

The only negative thing I have to say about the tool, isn't even about the tool itself, but the availability of nails. The tool manufacturer claims the gun accepts 1-1/2" to 3-1/2" nails. However, the availability of nails less than 2-3/8" is nonexistent.

A variety of nail sizes would make this a good all around nailer, but with the limited type of nails available, its use is limited. Want to put up a fence using inch-and-a-half galvanized nails? You'll have to use a different nailer.

For nails less than 2-3/8", you'll have to use a roofing nailer or other stick nailer. As a homeowner, I'd rather not have to have 4-5 nailers in my arsenal if I can get by with 2 or 3.

Again, it's an excellent tool, but with the limited nails available for this gun, think twice about making the purchase. If all you do is house-type framing, then this is the tool for you.

If you want a nailer that can use various length nails, holds quite a few nails, and does not have the long nail holder that gets in the way then this is the one. Go on line and order nails the same time you order this nailer as you will not find nails in most if not all stores in your area. You can always call Porter Cable at 888-848-5175 and order nails. I found they were cheaper and easier to deal with than others.

Ordered a porter cable coil 350 framing nailer on a tuesday and
received it on a friday morning, the B&C Eagle 2 3/8 plain shank framing nails came on thursday. I was very impressed with the shipping time as well as the condition in which it arrived. Some of the customer reviews I read stated long delays. Not so in my case, very pleased.

The compressor is very easy to set up and use. The instructions are very clear. I am very pleased with the purchase. From my research, everyone told me that bigger is better. However, I don't have much space so a dedicated unit was out of the question. The space-saving vertical design and wheels works great for me. The 5.1 SCFM at 90 PSI should be sufficient for my needs; although a little more power would have been welcome. The compressor has a very solid feel and is very heavy. There is no way I could load it into the back of my truck by myself. The wheels are a little small and appear to be made of a hard plastic. They are adequate for moving the compressor around the garage, but would not work well on stairs or outside. Another small gripe is that the drain plug is only 3/4" off the floor. Therefore, you have to get on your belly to open and close it. It is rather awkward, especially if you have a container underneath to catch the water. Obviously the container has to be very flat. In my opinion the compressor is loud, particularly if you are in a closed room. However the rumble of the motor is much more tolerable than the high pitched whine of some of the other compressors I checked out. I have not experienced any electrical problems with breakers in my old house. In addition, buying from Amazon, instead of Grizzly is great because of the free shipping. It was delivered to my house by a freight company and I saw the invoice to Amazon was over $100. I don't think I would trust the shipment to UPS because the unit is heavy and some parts could be easily damaged. Unfortunately, it looks like Amazon has increased the price by $85 since I bought it.

I recently bought one of these, and have been quite pleased so far. The two-stage compressor means that it is quieter than a single-stage unit, and should mean better reliability as well.

The owner's manual suggests that it should be the only thing operating on a 15 amp circuit. They warn that it could trip the breakers if you turn on anything else, because it pulls close to 15 amps all by itself. I use it on a 20 amp circuit, and have had no trouble.

I've used some fairly demanding air tools with it, such as air drills and die grinders. The motor comes on early and stays on under continuous air drill usage, but it manages to keep up.

You can probably get this cheaper at a local store if it is available and if you have a vehicle that can haul it around, because Amazon has to cover the cost of shipping. However, if you live somewhere remote then it is probably worth it to have Amazon ship it to you. It definitely takes two people to lift it up into a truck bed.

It comes with a universal-style female quick disconnect.

The only thing I don't like about it is the process for depressurizing the tank. You have to pull open the spring-loaded safety valve. This is very loud. Also, since the spring must be set for 175 psi, it becomes very hard to keep open as the pressure drops down below 100 psi or so. And the drain valve is hard to open and hard to seal. It is also easy to damage if it is over-tightened.

The good news is that the drain valve can be removed. I replaced it with some tubing and a manual ball valve. For about $20 of hardware, this is a big improvement.

I PURCHASED THIS COMPRESSOR ABOUT TO WEEKS AGO AND HAVE USED IT A LOT IN MY ONE MAN WOODWORKING, IT WORKS MY AIR TOOLS LIKE A DREAM. IT REPLACED,A SMALL PANCAKE COMPRESSER THAT I WAS USEING TO RUN MY NAIL GUNS I WOOD RECOMMEND THIS COMPRESSOR TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS A COMPRESSOR THAT WILL GIVE YOU ALOT OF BANG FOR YOU BUCK.

I have no idea what Mr.John P. Wolfe is talking about...

We have over 20 of these and have never had one single problem as Mr. Wolfe says he did......
We shoot UP! DOWN! SIDEWAYS! EVERYWAY you can think of...
And use both the NS100A and the NS150A guns.

The #1 problem any owner will have will occure when sawdust, and other harsh grit is left in and around the gun.

The #2 problem is caused by NOT oiling the gun! 20 drops per 1000 staples or brads for that matter is a good starting point.

The #3 problem is caused by not enough air pressure. 50 lbs is a good safe point to use.

The #4 problem is not using PORTER CABLE BRAND staples, nails or brads.... and this can be a big one for some off brand nails!

This is a very good gun! Porter Cable only puts out GOOD GUNS!
In fact I have to say that 75% of all complaints people have with these guns are due to one of the above reasons!

*Porter Cable* 100 years and still #1 in the industry!

ShowCase Cabinet & Door Co.
"Quality At Every Angle"
Since 1976

This pneumatic stapler was an unexpected new advance for me,coming free as a bonus after buying a Porter-Cable compressor/finish nailer/brad nailer package. At first, I didn't know where you use a stapler instead of a nailer. I didn't even know why they call it a "crown" stapler-it's not used for crown molding. It sat unused for several months.

Then one day I saw some professionals putting up stucco wire-a chore I'd always hated-with a stapler. Bingo. As soon as I started using this stapler instead of a hammer and roofing nails, the time consumed dropped by about 75%. And the job was actually fun, instead of a thing that elicited curses and involuntary procrastination. You put the wire up on the wall, and after a very satisfying bam bam bam, it's done.

I'm sure the pros use a wider staple, or a staple with a wider "crown", so to speak. With this unit, you have to take a couple seconds each time to center the nose on the wire because the staple is only a quarter of an inch wide. Aside from that, it's a dream tool for a nightmare job. I actually look for stuff to use it on (soffits, cedar shingles) because it's such a pleasure to use.

I have had this stapler for three years. Every time I pick it up it delivers. I pull the trigger, it drives the staple. I have driven thousands of staples and no jams so far!!! I oil the tool regularly and filter the air. I treat it correctly. As far as I'm concerned, if you treat this tool right, it will treat you right. You don't have to BABY it but just treat it at least like you like it. It will perform for you in kind! I haven't had any problems finding staples. When I recently needed a framing nailer I didn't look far. The Porter-Cable framing nailer was what I got. It's great too... that affirms my assumption: Porter Cable makes great products!!!

Get it before it's too late!!!

If you buy this, make sure it fits. I assumed it would work on my new Cole-Porter circular saw - I don't think it does. I did not open it because it did not look like it would fit. More importantly, the numbers on the package did not correspond to my saw model number. So it should work only on "some" Cole Porter saws. I could be wrong, but I'm going with my Cole Porter vacuum extension - that does work with my saw.

Nothing wrong with this item, it works great!

I've been using this jewel for two years on and off. I don't know what I'd do without it now. I agree with the other reviewers on the features.

Only complaint is that it some times gets in the way and when it is full it drags.

I use it with my 743 circular saw and have also used it with a PC belt sander.

It is a universal dust bag that works on all PC tools with the dust port. We owe Porter Cable great thanks for this innovation.

This sander has one serious limitation--you cannot sand vertical surfaces with it. The owner's manual warns that the gears will wear out quickly if the sander is used on anything but horizontal surfaces. This is because this sander is oil-lubricated (you must keep a check on the oil level) with 90 wt. gear oil.

I'm sure this sander is very good for sanding horizontal surfaces, but Amazon should really have mentioned that it cannot sand vertical surfaces in the description.

the absolute best heavyduty sander ever made, please let me know when they become available again. (...)

I've inherited this one and prior to which I used 2 different PC sanders. I didn't think that I could justify the purchase of this and really didn't understand what this could do that another sander couldn't do.

The first time I used this I immediately noticed its balance and ability to get an even surface quickly. Its motor sits evenly across its entire length from front to back distributing that weight evenly across it's entire platen in each direction.

The motor on one of my lower-end PC sanders is heavy to one side. You could feel it and see it by holding it up balancing it between the knob and handle and that unbalance translated right to the wood so I had to try to compensate by adjusting pressure. This is something I had to train myself to compensate for.

You can let this 503 sander help you do the work. It's ment to sand flat, and it's heavy so you're working with gravity and balance. I had no trouble getting things even side to side and front to back in short order.

This sander has been relatively unchanged for 50 years. It hasn't fallen victim to planned obsolescence and it's readily servicable. I heard good things from a tool repair specialist. This is one sander that should last a lifetime.

These wood biscuits work really well while joining your frames together. They help to stablize and strenghten your wood frames without the awkwardness of doweling and within moments the strength of the biscuit and glue create a lasting bond.

For years I have been using these P-C biscuits for building tabletops and panels in various furniture projects. Since I work with alot of 3/4" - 5/4" wood, I use these #20 biscuits more than the smaller #10 and #00.

I have not had any significant amount of "bad" biscuits from Porter-Cable. There is an occasional thick one - meaning it either didn't get compressed as it should have or it swelled from moisture - but these are few and far between.

Basically, I have had nothing but good luck with these so I highly recommend them!

I purchased this box of 1,000 biscuits which came in 4 bags. I used to buy them at Home Depot and Lowes in the clear cylinder. This 1,000 pack is a much better buy and I don't have to be as conservative with them. This pack has lasted me a long time and prove to provide the strongest joint. I read in the reviews that someone wasn't satisfied about the quality of the biscuits, so I inspected them for defects and didn't find any. I am certain that these are the best buy for cost effectiveness and quality.

Recently, while in the middle of a hardwood flooring project, I purchased this model sander at a local supplier. After considerable use, here's my assessment.
Positive observations:
- It's build like a tank and will probably run forever.
- It's well-balanced and offers smooth sanding capabilities
Negative observations:
- The metal baseplate or "shoe" that came with the unit started warping after 1-2 hours of hard use, due to excessive heat. Fortunately, I had taken the advice of another reviewer and purchased the graphite impregnated shoe and was able to replace the original shoe without losing time on the job.
- At 12.0 amps, it's still significanly underpowered. It almost stalls with a 50 grit belt and heavy pressure.
- It's dust collection capabilities are mediocre, at best. Even when connected to a large shop vac, it clogs continuously during heavy sanding. Repeated clearing with an air hose is necessary.
- The machining on the housing is poor, especially in the area around the dust collection opening near the back of the belt. The mating surfaces don't align, which adds to the dust collection problems since the dust collects in the misaligned joint. I was able to improve this some with a small file but access is limited unless you remove the rear roller.
- The label on this machine says "Whisper Seriers". I don't know what Porter Cable's definition of "whisper" is, but it's obviously much different than mine. Ear plugs are absolutely essential for the operator and anyone else within "whisper" distance.
Overall, I would have to say that there are better choices than this sander. I own numerous Porter Cable tools and have been satisfied with most but this one leaves me disappointed.

This has to be be the best power tool I have bought in recent years. I had bought a power planer for quickly reducing thickness of rough cut wood. However the planer is not really suitable for final finishing as it tends to leave deep gouges in the material.. I had a conventional palm sander, but that took too long to achieve results. So taking up the 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and checking out other manufacturers, I opted for the PC 362.

It was absolute charm to setup and use. You change belts by flipping a lever. You adjust the "trim" of the belt with a small wheel while the machine is turned on. With 50 grit, it quickly removes 1/16 inch in a couple of passes. So start with 80 and don't apply any pressure - let the tool just glide. Its 15lb and far more sturdy than bosch or dewalt competitors. However the weight is actually a plus, because it means you don't have to force it down to remove material. The dust bag actually works very well at removing the sawdust.

The main consideration was the price. However, don't think you'll get good results if you go for a sub- [$] unit. This is a tool any professional will use again and again.

I was facing the daunting task of sanding a 34 X 72 quarter-sawn white oak table top I had glued up, and knew using my Makita 3 X 21 would challenge my somewhat fragile emotional state. I looked at the Bosch and liked it, but am somewhat partial to PC, and also saw the extra weight as an advantage, not a negative. I started out with 80-grit, but just was taking too long, so I switched to 50-grit, then graduated to 80, then 120. What a beautiful job this tool does: smooth, powerful, and well balanced. The key to using a belt-sander is to use a light touch, letting the machine do the work, and to make your transitions in direction (fore & aft) as imperceptively as possible. Try not to concentrate on "problem areas" and sand the entire piece uniformly & methodically. Think of the machine as "floating" over the work. This is a big unit that prduces first rate results. Oh, by the way, don't bother with variable speed, it just is not neccessary...

I purchased this router to replace a 15 year old Black and Decker Quantum plunge base router. I thought I was purchasing a high quality router that would serve me well for another 15 years. But I find this product unusable as a plunge router. The plunge movement grabs and sticks so much that depth adjustments are impossible to predict. The worst issue is the excessive play between the router bit and the base - 0.024". Try routing with a 0.125" router bit with 0.024" side play.

After 10 years I had to replace the old PC 690 router. Bought this new model and love it! The action is smooth, speed control is easy and working with it is a breeze. I enjoy feeding in hardwood and hearing the speed ramp up to match the load being imposed.

A definite thumbs up to PC on this router!

Jim

I needed a router with a bit more Horsepower - my old 1-1/2HP machine was just getting worked too hard. I should mention that I already owned 3 routers - 2 at 1-1/2 HP, and a small "trimmer" type that I use a lot - more as a router than as a trimmer.

I used one of the old routers in my router table, with an accessory variable speed control. I had already decided that a plunge base was in my future, because there were just times when nothing else was a better option. I decided to order the new Porter Cable 893PK, which, at 2-1/4 HP was a significant boost in horsepower. It included the plunge base at a better price than buying things separately. It has electronic variable speed, and a "soft start" feature that is wonderful - very little torque at start up. I was amazed at how much more quiet this machine is, than my old ones. Motors and mechanical things rotating at more than 20,000 rpm's tend to generate high frequency noise. Porter Cable has done a great job of minimizing the noise - the usual high pitched whine is gone.

I mounted the fixed base to my router table and keep the plunge base for other jobs. Of course, I still own all the other routers, so there are options aplenty.

I cannot say enough good things about the design of this tool. The depth adjustment in the fixed base is just fabulous - you just move the lever and make large or coarse adjustments. Fine adjustments are precise, quick and easy, and can be easily reached under my router table. Both the fixed and plunge bases lock or release instantly with the movement of a finger. The variable speed is smooth and maintains the power, even at the slower speeds. In fact, you need to carefully listen and look at the cut when using larger bits - the electronic control keeps a constant speed, so when you begin to really "work" this tool, it is not easy to tell - no telltale slowing down as in the past, just an instinctive feel that you are stressing the tool.

It has a spindle lock, so only one wrench is needed. The clever collet design eliminates the old "sticking" issues - you simply loosen the nut and the bit and collet comes away easily. I cannot think of a single thing that I would offer as an improvement to this design. Five stars might not be enough.
Ron Owens