PRICE: $60 (bare tool), tested with a 4.0-Ah battery ($89) and a charger ($40)
WEIGHT: 7 lb. 7 oz.
MAX BEVEL: 50°
MAX DEPTH: 2-1/8 in.
RPM: 4000
LIGHT: None
10 CUTS THROUGH 2X12: 75 seconds
LINEAR FT. OF PLYWOOD: 115
FEATURES: The Porter-Cable is a light little saw that could be used all day with hardly any wear and tear on the arm. One unique feature is that the depth-of-cut gauge is on the blade guard. This took some getting used to, but in the end, I preferred it to having the markings on the slide rail. The front kerf notch on the Porter-Cable is deep, allowing for easy cut alignment, but it’s 1/8 in. off from the actual path of the blade. FLAWS: The locking lever for the depth-of-cut adjustment is poorly calibrated, so for cuts deeper than 1-1/2 in., the lever extends below the baseplate. It’s also not a very powerful saw and bound up often in the 2×12. It scored toward the bottom for battery life. The thin metal baseplate seems delicate, and the saw had the most vibration of those tested. Changing the blade is also difficult because there’s very little clearance between the blade and the guard.
BOTTOM LINE: Although the Porter-Cable is the least expensive saw tested, I think it’s worth upgrading to a better performer.
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