Being one of the last to the oscillating tool party has had its advantages for Porter Cable and their new PC250MTK ($104, Amazon) Multi-Tool. To start with they bumped up the horse power to a larger 2.5 amp motor and added a 10’ corded for better worksite maneuverability. The feel of the unit also seems a little more thought out and comfortable, like they laid out all the competitors and said how can we do this better. Check out this detailed Video from WoodCraft blog:

Continue reading "Porter Cable 2.5amp Oscillating Multi-Tool PC250MTK Review" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 09:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just last week Porter Cable announced a low profile cordless drill which really seems to be targeting more professional users and then this week they are announcing the launch of a cordless tire inflator. Interesting mix of products and both have their place certainly but we are curious what the master plan is for the Porter Cable 18V cordless. Price for the inflator will be less than $50 and should be available soon.

Continue reading "Porter-Cable Launches 18V Cordless High Pressure Tire Inflator" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 04:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

 
Information on this drill was just released today and it looks like it could be a very handy addition for many plumbers, electrician or anyone who finds them themselves in tight situations. The projected cost for the bare tool would be $79 at any Lowes or online at Amazon. It does not look like there is going to be a kit with batteries and charger available at launch in November but our guess is it would not be far behind.      

Continue reading "PORTER-CABLE 18 Volt, Two-Speed Close Quarters Drill PCC520B" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 01:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Several months ago Porter Cable launched this new compact router as a fixed base unit 450 ($99, Amazon) as well as with a fixed/plunge base combo kit 450PK ($162, Amazon). The unit is designed to compete with other palm routers in a heavy duty production environments, so while it is compact and inexpensive it also needs to stand up to all day abuse. At the same time the lower price and versatility do make it an attractive purchase for the DIY users as a starter router.

The Porter Cable vs DeWalt Compact Router Kit

Just prior to the Porter Cable launch, DeWalt launched the almost identical looking compact router kit DW611PK ($179, Amazon), which you can read more on in a post we did here. There are some differences in the two brands and we think this was really handled pretty nicely. The Porter Cable has the lower price but also loses a few of the bells and whistles including the LED lights on the base and variable speed control. In terms of motor, soft start, digital speed control, etc the units are pretty much the same and should perform equally well however we have only seen the DeWalt and have not given it a full test drive.

Continue reading "Porter Cable 1.25HP Compact Router Combo 450PK Review" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the interest of full disclosure this is the first time we really have spend any significant amount of time with a pin nailer. Previously we had thought of an 18ga brad nailer more as the go to finishing tool for molding, trims and regular finishing. The pin nailer, in our head, seemed more for decorative accents or craft projects.

After some research and using the Porter Cable PIN138 ($136, Amazon) a couple of times we are starting to feel pretty stupid for that kind of thinking. Similar to how we felt the first few times we used an impact driver instead of a traditional drill several years back. Now we are curious just what all this little pinner is capable of, in chatting with some folks in different construction forums they were discussing techniques of using liquid nail and pins (more to secure while the adhesive dries) to install crown molding. That seems pretty optimistic but they are having success with it and no need to go back and fill holes.

Continue reading "Porter Cable 23ga Nailer PIN138 & Compressor C2004 – Review" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 03:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "Stanley Black & Decker Sells Popular Woodworking Brand Delta" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 08:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Back in April Porter Cable announced a new Heavy Duty 15 Amp 7-1/4in Circular Saw. We were lucky enough to have one sent to us for testing and over the last month we have used it on several basic projects. The unit is intended for serious DIY and professional use with many nice features at a reasonable price.

Continue reading "Porter Cable 7 1/4-in 15 Amp Circular Saw PC15TCSMK" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "International Woodworkers Fair (IWF) 2010 Review & Videos" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

 
It’s no surprise to us that Porter Cable is coming to market with 12 volt tools. This category is the fastest growing segment of new tools and where you will find a lot of new innovation. As battery power gets stronger, tools get smaller and the price comes down many people are looking to add these smaller tools to the arsenal.

The first two Porter Cable 12V tools we saw images of were the 3/8” drill driver and the impact driver. These tools feature the battery in the handle like most of the competition and solid performance numbers but no real innovation. Where they will win is on price, $139 for the kit with both of these tools and 2 batteries is a very solid price. The only feature we really thought was a nice addition was the belt clips which can be added to either tool.

Continue reading "Porter Cable 12V Max Launches with 3 New Tools" »

Posted by Jay Amstutz at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)