DeWalt VS Porter-Cable

[n1cklus]

Hi All,

This is my first post on here. I had a topic I was looking for some input on.

I currently own a DeWalt 18V drill/driver and impact driver combo (the lithium ion version) DCK265L.

I have been thinking about selling the combo in favor of the 20V max line from porter-cable. I have owned the dewalt kit for about two years and haven't used it much. I got into woodworking about a year ago and I was looking to buy the cordless jigsaw, circular saw and recip saw that use the same batteries as the dewalt. After looking online each tool is about 100 bucks. Compared to porter-cable which is about 60 dollars a tool. The specs seem to be about the same. I'm just not sure about the quality/longevity

I would mostly be using it for woodworking and some remodeling that may be coming up. I would be very interested in everyone's opinion regarding the subject. Thanks!

 

[wild cowboy]

Well it is not really a fair comparison, as you are comparing older DeWalt which are used and the batteries could be nearly shot - to new Porter Cable.

Batteries and cordless tools have made big gains in recent years.

If the choice is between new DeWalt and new similar-priced Porter Cable, I would take the DeWalt

However if we are comparing older used DeWalt to new Porter Cable, I would likely take the Porter Cable.

 

[Voi]

I currently own a DeWalt 18V drill/driver and impact driver combo (the lithium ion version) DCK265L.

I have been thinking about selling the combo in favor of the 20V max line from porter-cable. I have owned the dewalt kit for about two years and haven't used it much. I got into woodworking about a year ago and I was looking to buy the cordless jigsaw, circular saw and recip saw that use the same batteries as the dewalt.

I would recommend looking for a Bosch 1587 or 1590, especially since you're into woodworking. Or is there a reason why a cordless jigsaw appeals to you? Don't get me wrong, if there was a brushless/cordless jigsaw as good as my 1587 I'd love to have it and get the cord out of the way but I do think it's one of those tools where generally cordless is not a huge advantage save for contractors on jobsites without electricity.

Now a reciprocating saw I can see an advantage to cordless, even though it would be a battery hog. But I'd make sure to get a brushless one and I'm not sure if Dewalt or Porter Cable make a brushless one.

I have a similar view on a cordless circular saw as I do a jig saw. Not a huge advantage to cordless although there have been a few times I would have used on in the parking lot of a Lowes or Menards to break down sheet goods to fit in my vehicle. Like the reciprocating saw, I'd much prefer a brushless one.

So with all that said, if you're dead set on all three of those tools in cordless I'd make sure you're getting them in a brushless format (especially the reciprocating and circular saws). If neither company makes them then I'd use your current drill and impact as long as possible until they do or you find another company that does (Milwaukee and I'm guessing Makita already do. Maybe Dewalt as well).

 

[Noland]

I just bought a new porter-cable 20vmax drill/driver because my cman C3 drill/driver burnt up. I was impressed with it for the price seems decent has a 1/2" chuck which is what I wanted.

 

[rharman]

I have a PC corded jigsaw and a Dewalt 18v cordless. For quickie jobs, I grab the cordless. If it's a decent sized job, I go for the corded.

I'd be hard pressed to give up either one but I do like the feel of the PC corded model better. Probably the weight of the battery makes me dislike the cordless a bit - not much though.

I have the Dewalt cordless circular saw and recip saw. Those have a very nice feel to them.

Pick one and standardize. Personally, for cordless, I prefer the Dewalt stuff. For corded, I lean towards PC.

 

[kctyphoon]

the real question here is how much use will these tools see.. i dont care about your batteries, cause you can always buy new ones if you want to.. they are not cheap, weather you buy the old 18v lithium stick packs or the 20v max slide packs.. but thats another conversation, and you asked about the tools, so thats what ill write about..
if youre a hobbist and only plan on occasional use for smaller projects then id say the porter cable will deliver whatever you need. if you are planning on any type of heavy of more frequent use then the dewalt might be a better investment for you.
the difference here is this - dewalt is designed for the professional contractor/ prosumer type of buyer - meaning these tools will survive prolonged use, and will survive a work enviornment that asks for them to work every day for hours a time. porter cable on the other hand (has become) more of a homeowner line of power tools, (think craftsman) designed for less demanding use and ill wager on saying delivers less peak torque and power when compared to the comperable dewalt tool..
so my opinion would be such - if you plan on asking these tools to work a few times a week - then go with dewalt.. if you plan on asking them to work a few times a month - porter cable will be fine for you.. but if you just want to know which is better - it will definately be dewalt, every time, between the two...

 

[7th Kahuna]

I have been using DeWalt 18 volt for 12 or 14 years and upgraded to lithium maybe 3 years ago. I have not been as happy with the newer models as my older DeWalts. (They were a Lowes 'special purchase' so maybe cheaper components??? ) Next time around I will be looking at Bosch and Milwaukee Fuel in addition to DeWalt.

You might want to take a look at the latest issue (Jan / Feb 2015) of Fine Woodworking. They offer a pretty thorough review of drills and drivers. They suggest that woodworkers may want to consider 12 volt. Their argument is that as the technology has improved, power has improved in step, to the point that today's 12 volt systems offer the same power as earlier 18 volt systems.

 

[kctyphoon]

he already owns a drill driver combo, batteries and charger.. if he sold them and went with another premium brand - he would wind up with exactly what he has now - just newer.. he wants to expand.. and dont even think of going 12 volt unluess its the m12 fuel which is even more expensive.. ( and not something you want for a big remodeling project)

go on ebay - and buy the bare tools of what you want. as a matter of fact - i might even have the sawzall / circular saw you want that id be willing to sell you - and my stuff is in pristine conditon.. you want the 18v stick pack stuff right?? i just bought a new milwaukee sawzall, and im about the order a new corless circular saw..

 

[kctyphoon]

Is this what you want?


DC385 & DC390

 

[7th Kahuna]

In either case, they put the batteries through a series of tests, and the Porter Cable didn't fare as well as the DeWalt. Whether or not you can extrapolate anything from that I don't know.

 

[kctyphoon]

After quick wipe down...

 

[kctyphoon]

Still has the original Dewalt blade.

 

[n1cklus]

Thank you for your reply. I have not used the drill driver much over the last 2 years. I've maybe charged the batteries 10 times each.

 

[n1cklus]

My need for cordless is because currently most of my woodworking is done in the yard as I have no real shop space. I feel if I could get more work done faster if I wasn't constantly switching out power cords.

 

[n1cklus]

I'm going to be buying a house soon. My sister is also in the process of buying a house and I have agreed to help her out with renovating. So I will have potentially 2 houses that I will be doing work on. Having said that money is a little tight. I have also been considering the Ryobi one + system as an option.

 

[Moose364]

To me just keep the Dewalt, you have the drill and the impact and just need a couple of more tool's to do what you need to do, and the Dewalt is a contractor line of tool's, and the 18v stuff has stood the test of time, I have friends with 10 y/o batteries still going, so look on ebay and make some pawn shop's to pick up the other Dewalt tool's you need, pawn shop's are loaded with it. I think switching to porter cable or Ryobi your going to a lessor line of tool's than what you have.

 

[Voi]

Thank you for your reply. I have not used the drill driver much over the last 2 years. I've maybe charged the batteries 10 times each.

As you get more and more into home renovations you'll use both a drill and an impact driver. I would encourage you to keep the current drill and impact and battery system (since it's lithium ion) and for now and carefully pick what tools you want next and figure out what company provides you the best option for those tools.

I just don't think you'll recoup much from a two year old set. When the current batteries die then replace those specific tools with whatever system you buy into next. By then you can also figure out how much you really use the drill or impact. For what it is worth, two friends of mine own a custom cabinet business and they don't use their impacts much either when installing. Instead they have a few cordless drills ready to go. One for pre-drilling, one for counter sinking and another for driving. The just prefer the clutch on the drill.

My need for cordless is because currently most of my woodworking is done in the yard as I have no real shop space. I feel if I could get more work done faster if I wasn't constantly switching out power cords.

I remember those days. I know you have a budget in mind but I'd still encourage you to get at least the circular saw in brushless form for the better battery life.

 

[n1cklus]

I think I am going to keep the dewalt for now. I have the corded versions of all the tools I mentioned.

I went to lowes and home depot today to look at the porter-cable and Ryobi. The Ryobi feels like a toy. While the porter-cable feels better built than Ryobi it doesn't have the cordless tool selection that dewalt has.

 

[mike528]

I asked a contractor here in town about pc before I bought my set, he said he had switched to pc the year before when someone broke into the job site and stole all of his dewalt tools. He got depriciated value so replaced with pc and said he wouldn't go back

 

[Loscaldazar]

I love my PC 20V max stuff. Very cheap, but built well (metal chucks, durable plastic shell, etc). Had them for about two years now and they have held up very well.