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I’ve been reading some old threads and there are some comments about PC quality control these days. Anyone purchase any PC products lately. Have they held up or has it had any *quirks* in it. Don’t want to buy a product on a proven name only to find out times have changed.
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Have gotten comments from others that nearly 10% of new hard drives of 3G and over fail during warranty. Both self and son have had one crap out.
Maybe I shouldn't have taken it apart to "clean" it? <:)).
*Iwas wondering, is it personal computer? or porter cable?
*porter cable
*Porter Cable like Milwaukee and other manufacturers make a variety of products - and there are some machines that are lower end than others. I stick with the tried and true designs from the manufacturers - Milwaukee SawZall, Porter Cable 690 and 310 routers and 503 belt sander and Skil worm drive saws. However, reading many of the posts here and other places, builders/carpenters go more for glitz and price, not mature product lines with a history. How many trim carpenters do you know who use a Porter Cable 314 trim saw? It's an industry standard, built like a tank with worm drive, yet is light, easy to use. But the $150 price tag stops a lot of folks - they'll go for some new machine with no history like DeWalt (and pay top dollar) and then wonder why it doesn't last more than a few years. Tools today are like any other product - you have to be an informed purchaser and many builders/carpenters are not.
*Well said, Ed!
*I like what Ed Gregg says and I buy tools like he does. I'm loyal to specific brands for specific tools. But there are lemons in each batch of tools that come out.One of the guys here bought that PC router kit that has the 690 with the 691 D handle and the plunge base. Great kit for a great price. However, the D handle came with a break in the casting. Not good.Porter Cable hasn't gone down hill as far as I can tell, but there are good tools and bad within each manufacturer.Ed.
*Just bought there 3 1/2" planer(not the dedicated door planer) got some doors to do came with a fence does a good job. No complaints about that tool.
*I bought their 4" VS belt sander not long ago, its a fine tool.
*I LOVE my 314 trim saw. Light, strong, accurate....did I really pay $150 for it? Was a good deal if I did! I've worn out a few 691's, I use them for framing to cut out windows and doors, when they go south, I get the 690, and put it in the 691's D-handle(therefore I have 4 regular bases brand new, if anyone needs one)
*All I know is I have a whole lot of gray tools and not one of them has ever let me down. Sidewinder, recip, routers, drilldrivers, beltsander, orbital sanders and I think every single nailgun they make. I just bougth the roofing nailer last week. I can't complain.
*I own a left handed sidewinder, recip saw, and just got the cement siding shears. Love all three.James DuHamel
*I am sold on PC and Milwaukee myself and for example have purchased a PC orbital sander and a Mil cordless drill more than a year ago and thru constant use-both are still going strong. (Un)fortunately I have too many other brand tools that are still going strong due to: proper maintenance, cleaning, the occasional cord replacement, few if any roof drops and a "don't ask to borrow" policy. But if you want to pick up on PC for example, you've made a good choice.
*Ed is on the money. IMHO, the best way to learn about tools is to work in an established shop. A large room full of carpenters who are free of financial responsibility for the tools they use will quickly destroy all but the best. That's how I became a convert to all the tools Ed mentions, as well as the Bosch jigsaw and Makita cordles driver drill. I have recently purchased PC's 14 volt corldess hammer drill, and while either it is too heavy or I'm too old, it has been nice to go nearly all day without recharging. I work on the East Coast and fasten a lot of things to masory, and having the hammer drill one click over on the chuck, rather than at the bottom of the ladder is worth the wait for me.
*I just picked up an 18 gauge brad nailer yesterday.
*Just bought the PC biscuit joiner; it's fine...I prefer my dewalt, and the little mini biscuits are stupid, but it seems well built. Between my shop and my school shop, I've got lots of PC tools. I like them and haven't noticed a big drop in quality.I have noticed it's getting harder to find a pistol grip cordless drill from anybody.
*Adrian, Hasn't anyone informed you that pistol grips are passe ! RFPS I was looking @ the PC website the other day and quite marvelled that their new line of c'lees still included pistol gripsPSS OOPS ! I went back for a link and sure as they don't have a pistol grip anymore. Must have been an old link in my bookmarks
*Love all my PC tools. Good tools for a fair price. DeWalt quality seems to be going down a little though.As for hard drives, never had one fail.
*I sure hope some tool designers are listening. Hey guys!---where have all the pistol grips gone? I recently needed to replace my 12v Bosch pistol grip which is no longer made and settled for a 12v Panasonic T-handle, which is a great light weight and powerful drill but not exactly what I wanted. Only a few pistol grip cordless drills are available but they are big drill-hammers. You need to really get behind and push a hammer-drill so the pistol grip works best. I need to get behind my smaller drill and push most of the time so why can't I find a pistol grip in a smaller size? I guess I am going to have to revive my old Makita 12v. I find it most comfoftable (least painful) to put the end of a pistol grip in the palm of my hand with my ring finger on the trigger and push. The T-handle design rocks my wrist back. Please designers!---are you lidtening?
*Ross: DeWalt still has a 12v one. Tool Crib and others should have it. Whether or not you like yellow tools, mine is still my favorite cordless.
*i would like to here some comments on the fein right angle sander
*Why don't you just buy the 6902 bare motor and put it into your old base ?
*I like thew pistol grips and it took forever to get used to my t-handles .ButThey stand up by themselvesWith the more powerful batteries being heavier, they balance better as a t-handle than a pistle
*Hi guys,Grey tools rule, I also like Milwaukee, Bosch also, and some Dewalt.Concerning PC: I own a mod. 333 speedblock, a 690 commemorative router (would like to have the plunge and d-handle bases to optimize its use). My model 853 12volt cordless (black beauty) is still going strong, do'nt use it every day though. Tiger saw orbital sawzall.None of these tools has ever let me down I am considering buying the new plunge router and two 12volt drills for my shop. My tactic is more drills cheaper batteries, and less arm fatigue. Would like to have a 24 volt Bosch but I can get a 12 volt PC for the price of the Bosch's battery. I am currently using a 14.4 Bosch. I wish PC would make a right angle drill like the cordless Dewalt.C
*In the past year I've bought the 7518 and 7529 routers and I love both of them. After work today, I'm buying the new BN200V12 cordless brad nailer. I backed off on the Bammer nailer, the darn thing literally stinks and made a co-worker sick from the fumes when he was working in a confined space. I wouldn't be surprised to see it discontinued soon. A biscuit jointer or belt sander are probably next on the list and they will both be PC. Jet is my choice for stationary tools, contractors saw, drill press, bench grinder, bench vise and soon a 14" band saw to replace my 12" Craftsman. My 11 year old 9 volt Makita still has it's place but I've recently added a 14.4 Dewalt to add a little more versatility. For portable planers and fixed based sanders, I still like the Delta's.
*How's that funky cordless brad nailer working for you? I held one recently; seemed like the balance would be terrible with that big battery and mini-compressor stuck on the back end.did
*did, It's is definitely a cool tool. It's no harder to get used to than a 14.4 driver drill. Actually, the weight and balance are not much different than having a hose hanging off of it. I practiced a lot with it last night, burning up the freebe nails. It takes a bit longer to pressurize with the longer nails but no more than 1 second. You do notice it when your banging away rapidly. The shorter nails just fire right along at just about any speed you want to go. No jambs yet but I'm still using the nails that came with it. I haven't run the battery down completely yet, I'll try and do that this weekend and count the shots as I go.
*Don Wood is right. The is no better way to test tools than in a shop full of intermediate and experienced carpenters. I have noticed that the well designed, well built tools last. The poorly made but well designed tools get used but die quickly. The poorly designed and poorly made get left alone, rarely used and break quickly. This said, I own several Porter Cable tools. Every shop I have worked in, they get used and never fail. I am currently building an addition to my own house with a PC air compressor, frame and finish nailers, only 2 misfires. The addition is approx. 1000 sq ft and includes a bigger workshop for all my PC tools.
*Ed and Keith hit the nail on the head regarding the 314 trim saw.I was at an auction (tool supply store went belly up) and the bidding on a brand new Porter Cable 314 was stalling at $60 so I bid $65 and got it. Wasn't really looking to add this tool to my collection, however two weeks latter I found myself up two stories on some scaffolding puttingup some rough sawn plywood soffits on some 3 foot hip overhangs. First chance to use my new saw, worked great; light, safe, lot of power.Now I wonder why in the hell didn't I buy this tool soner.DJ