A cheap tool in a pinch. That’s what I considered my Porter-Cable FR350A when I bought it in 2005. Since then it has proven to be a solid performer despite it’s awkwardly large frame.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Description:

• 2-inch to 3-1/2-inch round head pneumatic framing nailer with 64 nail capacity magazine
• Selectable trigger — restrictive or contact actuation mode
• 70-120 PSI operating pressure
• Measures 19-1/2 inches long and 14 inches tall; Weighs 8 pounds
• Includes carrying case, 1/4-inch air fitting with dust cover, and oil

Experience:

With my Bostitch Framing Gun in need of repair I bought the cheapest stick nailer I could get my hands on within an hour’s time. Since then I have used my Porter-Cable FR350A for the heavy demands of house framing. Maybe it’s because it came with a carry bag that my P-C FR350 looks so clean and new but it’s hammered home a bunch of nails.

I don’t really know what to say about this Framing Nailer other than:

1. It wasn’t expensive
2. I don’t prefer this to others
3. It’s big and heavy and unwieldy.
4. It works!

Here’s a picture of it next to a full sized 23oz framing hammer. It’s a big nail gun.

Links:

Porter-Cable FR350A at DeltaPorterCable.com (Product Data)

Porter-Cable FR350A Round Head 2-Inch to 3-1/2-Inch Framing Nailer at Amazon.com
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Rating: 3.25 out of 5 stars

Features:

• 5 Amp Porter-Cable motor
• Belt-Drive instead of helical gear
• 8,000 RPM

Experience:
I have used this Porter-Cable Joiner extensively, whether I liked it or not, it’s mine. I’m not the kind of person to put a tool up for sale and go buy a better one. It’s never really been in my budget to buy any tool whenever, so I stuck with this one and even modified it a bit.
With the Porter-Cable 555 I have biscuit joined countless interior trims from crown to casings to paneling. In the shop I have glued up planks large and small. I’ve even done a few boxes with biscuited 45º joints. For stand-up work on the bench the 555 is actually a comfortable design to use but leaning over a long piece of crown is another story.

Comments:

I’m pretty sure I’ve only laughed at this joiner and never with it. The worst component has to be the fixed allen screws that secure the fence adjustment. You have to have a hex key to change the height of the fence. Never lose the key, have two just in case. A pain in the ass but accurate. I bought some thumbscrews which make nice adjustable knobs but they stick out so as to interfere with angle work which is a pretty decent feature on this particular joiner. The 555 is an older design, but even so when it was made there were much more favorable joiners on the market. I’ve used other designs on my jobs and for certain applications I preferred to use my Porter Cable Model 555 but if I needed this tool more than occasionally, I would choose another. Though it’s reputedly a smooth belt-drive, I don’t consider this tool smooth. It’s coarse and loud and doesn’t have any dust management. It’s a pain to adjust but my Porter-Cable 555 is still working, so until I can afford the Festool or Lamello, I’m still using it.

Links:

Porter-Cable 557 7.5 Amp Plate Joiner – The current PC joiner!

Lamello 101252 Classic C3 5 Amp Plate Joiner – The standard

Lamello S3 4 Amp Plate Joiner – The choice of wealthy professionals.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Specifications:

• 2.4 Amps, AC only
• For 5″ hook & loop abrasives (5 hole)
• 3/32″ orbit
• 12,000 OPM
• SANDTRAP® dust collection canister
• Dust canister rotates 360° around sander
• 1″ O.D. vacuum ready
• 100% ball bearings
• Pad control feature prevents pad spin-up when tool is lifted off work
• Special S.A.P.A. (Self Aligning Paper Applicator) feature built into the case

Experience:

I have quite an assortment of Random Orbit Sanders. I started with a quality AEG variable speed motor with an R.O. attachment in 1989 and it still works. These Porter-Cable sanders were picked up a few years ago for a lot of mahogany sanding. I put them to use quite a bit but since retired them to ‘employee use only’. I personally favor a few others to these but for the money, the 333VS has been a good R.O. sander.

Comments:

I have a couple of comments on the Porter-Cable 333 and 333VS. First of all something trivial and incredibly frustrating. The sander comes in a formed plastic case. When you set the sander into the case you MUST align the 5 holes in the sanding pad with little nubs formed in the bottom of the case. It’s not easy to do and if you don’t do it, the case won’t shut. WTF? They call this a Self-Aligning Paper Applicator. Which came first; The faulty storage case or the faulty excuse for the nubs?

A few of these P-C 333 sanders quit on the job. If you want a real job performer I recommend the right-angle kind. The single speed one vibrated itself to death. Even so, one of my variable speed sanders has a mind of it’s own and increases or decreases speed unpredictably.

Links:

Porter-Cable 333VS 5-Inch Quicksand Variable Speed Random Orbit Finishing Sander (Product Data)

Below are the current Porter-Cable R.O. Sanders at Amazon.com,

Porter-Cable 343K 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander Kit – Hook & Loop Pad Single Speed

Porter-Cable 343VSK 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander – Hook & Loop Pad Variable Speed

Porter-Cable 7336 6-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander Only Much better!

My Porter-Cable Laminate Trimmer is a combination of the 3102 HD Power Unit matched with the 3101 Laminate Trimmer Base. Although it’s called a “Laminate Trimmer”, and I’ve used it frequently for over a decade, I am not sure I’ve ever trimmed laminate with this mini router.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Description:

• 115v, 3.8Amp motor
• 27,500 RPM

Experience:

The reason this tool is not in my truck is because in haste to extract it from the bottom of a toolbag, I broke the baseplate and brought it inside to make another. I replaced the original baseplate with a square one that would ride along a custom jig. Like I mentioned, I may have never trimmed laminate, instead I use this mini-router for quick fixes and hinges. I don’t carry a 1-1/2hp router with me all the time but I have carried this little Porter-Cable Laminate Trimmer with me to every job for the last ten years. It’s very handy! With 27,500rpm it’s a wicked fast little router for double fluted straight router bits. Here is a picture of a jig I use with this trimmer for 3 1/2″ round-corner hinges.

Comments: The Porter-Cable 3102 & 3101 together are a better laminate trimmer than their current model for my uses. Functioning primarily as a small router I am pleased with it’s design. This tool has proven it’s reliability and once again lends credit to Porter-Cable. I never realized I owned so many Porter-Cable tools until I started writing this blog. I have no outright complaints with my Laminate Trimmer. Still rippin’ it up.

Links: The 3102, 3101 are discontinued products. Try these:

Porter-Cable 7310 5.6 Amp 3/4-Horsepower Laminate Trim Router at Amazon.com

Bosch PR20EVSK Colt Palm Grip 5.7 Amp 1-HP Fixed Base VS Router at Amazon.com

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Experience:
My Contractor-grade Porter-Cable Jig Saw has been part of my everyday toolbox for more than a decade. I still use this jigsaw on a regular basis and it performs ideally. I have cut curves in everything from plywood to Azek to laminate, even thin metal. On a 2008 project, I cut 60+ arches from 5/4 oak ranging up to 6′ in length. Doing siding jobs regularly my Porter-Cable Jig Saw is most often used for cutting shapes in thin clapboard or shingles to fit around the odd shapes of fixtures, outlets and trim. This saw replaced my first jigsaw, the Bosch 3238VS.

Comments:
I have used this saw without fail for so long it would be hard to complain just based on it’s quality and service. Being very picky about my tools, I never regretted buying the Porter-Cable over the Bosch and am still happy with my choice. I have no complaints with this tool. It’s accurate, takes two different shanked blades, has a great base plate and runs with Porter-Cable reliability.

Links:

Porter-Cable 9543 Jig Saw on Amazon.com

Porter-Cable 7549 on ToolPartsDirect.com

The Porter-Cable 878? That’s what’s printed on the side of my drill/driver despite the fact several searches at Porter-Cable come up: “No pages were found.” Still, this 14.4v Porter-Cable Cordless Drill/Driver continues to serve me well.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

FEATURES

• 14.4 Volt, 1.3 Amp-hour batteries
• 1/2″ keyless chuck with 310 in./lbs. maximum torque
• 21 position clutch plus solid lock-up/drill mode
• 2-speed gear box (0-475 & 0-1,450 RPM)
• Standard Equipment: Drill, two battery packs, diagnostic charger, carrying case, double-ended bit tip, and operating manual

Experience:
I received this Porter-Cable Drill/Driver as a gift and immediately put it to use as my ‘work’ screwgun. For a few years I operated exclusively with this 14.4v driver. I’ve left it under a house for 6 months, left it out in the rain, worked in sub-zero temps and 100ºF sweat-drenching days and it’s none-the-worse.

I have 14.4v, 15.6v, 18v and 24v cordless drill/drivers. I prefer the smaller lighter tools like this 14.4v Porter-Cable to the weighty 24v Rigid I’ve added to my box.

Comments:
On the positive side, This screwgun still seems to give 100% and it’s still using the original batteries. (I’ve been through three Apple Powerbook batteries in less time.) The chuck on the Porter-Cable 878 is outdated by current standards, being the kind requiring two hands to adjust. There’s nothing super special about this Porter-Cable drill except that it’s been through so much and it’s still driving in decking screws. It beats my Dewalt hands down for durability and performance but it’s not as smooth or precise as my Panasonic.

DeltaPorterCable.com (Manufacturer’s website)
Porter-Cable 9824 14.4-Volt Cordless Drill/Driver

Even though it’s the only router table set up in my shop at the moment the Porter-Cable 698 has a few drawbacks. The fence altogether sucks. It’s held in place by two really long thumbscrews threaded into the table top. If you don’t immediately cut them down to 1″ you’ll be twisting for 20 minutes to get the fence off. You’ll need to take the fence off because it’s limited to a very small range of movement.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

• Portable, adjustable table accommodates 3-1/2-inch router bits
• Split fence with two independent sections
• Made of lightweight, durable machined-aluminum
• Dimensions: 19.75-by-16.75-inches; 1-year warranty
• Comes with table and miter gauge

Experience:
In my shop you’ll find the Porter-Cable Router Table mounted to legs and stashed in the corner. I’ve pushed this little table to it’s limits on both size of material and size of cut, but it serves best for edge details, that is, after you fix the fence.

Comments:
Mentioned twice already, the fence system on this is the worst. It’s two thin pieces of wood bolted to a metal frame, that frame is what the long thumbscrews hold down. The factory wood is adjustable in every direction via little screws here and there. It’s a simple fix though and my preferred method even on costly fences: Screw a very flat piece of 3/4″ wood to the factory fence. Make it taller, longer, flat and straight and fasten it to the two multi-directional pieces. I use the bit itself to cut the bottom of the new fence but a bearing-guided bit may require a notch in the new fence.

The switch on mine busted a few years ago and I haven’t bothered to find out why yet, opting for the power switch on the router. [Don't get me started on dangerous! I forgot to tighten in the router once and it dropped out spitting chunks of aluminum, steel and carbide bit on it's way to the floor spinning wildly and scaring the hell out of me - unscathed but more conscious!]

Note: The Rousseau table saw stand I wrote about earlier with attached Router Extension Table provides the great Rousseau fence for my 3 1/2h.p. router but the tubular steel edge is rounded at the bottom relegating this to larger material.

For it’s intended purpose, which is “bench top” router table (sounds very handy-homeownerish to me) the Porter-Cable 698 Router Table will get the job done. If you need to spend hours each week on a router table, look for a better system unless you’re prepared to make a few jigs and a new fence for cuts more than a few inches from the edge.

Porter-Cable 698 Router Table at Delta.com (Product Data)
Porter-Cable 698 Bench Top Router Table at Amazon.com

Cabinetmakers take notice, It doesn’t matter if you can’t afford the Grex P635 Pinner, you should have a 23 gauge nailer in your shop.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Description:

• Uses 23 Ga. micro pin nails from 1/2″ to 1″ long similar to Senco® models
• Tool automatically adjusts for different fastener lengths. Easier loading and less problems with pins out of spec
• Rear exhaust port channels air and tool oil/condensation away from work
• Bottom load magazine holds 170 pin micro nails
• Dual trigger feature
• Nail reload indicator
• Rubber comfort grip on tool handle

Experience:
The 23 gauge pin nailer is a relatively new tool in my collection. I needed one to install some prefinished kitchen moulding. Now it’s part of most of my glue-ups. A single pin can hold a corner while you set-up for a larger fastener and they are tiny enough that you can still manipulate the joint for adjustments. That is until you shoot ten pins into a glued miter. They are nearly invisible in wood. I alternate between the 1″ and 5/8″ pins constantly.

If you’ve ever done cabinets supplied with pre-finished trim then you’ll appreciate the 23 gauge nailer. Most often it’s shoot and leave it. No touch up necessary.

Comments:
I love this tiny nailer and have since kind of forgotten about my brad nailer which leaves remarkable holes in comparison. The oil supplied in the carrying case leaked. The nails in the case got oil on them and when shot in dry wood leave a spot. Even with new ‘dry’ pins I am still getting a spot of oil marking the otherwise nearly invisible hole. I don’t know if this is unique to the P-C tool since this is the 1st and only 23 gauge pin nailer I own.

Links:
PIN100 at Porter-Cable.com (Product Data)
Porter-Cable PIN100 23-Gauge Pin Nailer at Amazon.com (Better price than I paid!)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Experience: I have used a saw boss for over 20 years. I can’t remember when I purchased the 6″ Porter-Cable saw I have these days but it’s cut a lot of plywood. This little saw excels at ripping sheets of 1/2″ for roofing or sheathing and I keep it for just such an application. My Porter-Cable 345 Saw Boss has ripped countless pieces of plywood and the occasional 2x.

Comments: It’s been around for a long time and that should say something for the P-C Saw Boss. Mine doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. The fence is a good one. I’m not a fan of circular saws. I was raised on the wormdrive Skilsaw but I can still drive this little Porter-Cable accurately.

Links:
Model 345 at Porter-Cable (Product Data)

Porter-Cable 345 Saw Boss at Amazon.com (good pricing)
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