Porter-Cable Scroll Saw

[AldeanFan]

anyone have experience with a Porter Cable scroll saw?
I’m looking at one that’s on sale,
I’ve never owned a Porter cable tool but have heard good things about them.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have never owned a scroll saw, let alone a Porter Cable one, but the old PC line of tools was very well built and well respected .
I have routers and even an old circular saw that won't die

 

[AldeanFan]

I have never owned a scroll saw, let alone a Porter Cable one, but the old PC line of tools was very well built and well respected .
I have routers and even an old circular saw that won't die

Thanks, I know Porter Cable was great stuff years ago, but haven’t heard much lately.

 

[dnschmidt]

Prior to SBD they were right up there with the very best. The only caveat with the PC scroll saws was that they used a unique blade that had a hook on the end of it. I don't know if these are still available or not as all modern saws use the Bosch T-shank blades. The blade problem might be a deal breaker.

 

[neophyte]

Prior to SBD they were right up there with the very best. The only caveat with the PC scroll saws was that they used a unique blade that had a hook on the end of it. I don't know if these are still available or not as all modern saws use the Bosch T-shank blades. The blade problem might be a deal breaker.

If the blades are the ones with pins on the ends, they still should be available, since “pinned” blades were a standard thing.
Technically, the non-pinned blades would give wider versatility, with a much wider variety of options available, but whether that is necessary, depends on how the scroll saw is being used.

 

[driftpin]

I'm not familiar w/the PC scroll saw, but I have a Tiger Saw which is a reciprocating saw w/a front that has two swivel adjustments to configure the blade into many useful positions for confined-space work. I bought it new. I also have a PC portable band saw which works well.

Porter Cable 9750 Tiger Claw Reciprocating Saw - Concord Carpenter

Porter Cable 9750 Tiger Claw Reciprocating Saw Review By Ethan Bickford First Impression: I picked up the Porter Cable 9750 Tiger Claw as my first professional grade reciprocating saw a few years ago. This saw has been out for a while but I haven’t seen it around much which is frankly...

www.aconcordcarpenter.com

Porter Cable 9750 Tiger Claw Versatility:​

What makes the Porter Cable 9750 Tiger Claw so versatile is some smart engineering that allows the tool to be adapted to fit into some very odd and or tight spaces for a saw of its size and power.

The entire front end of the saw is on a joint that is also the front gear housing and allows about half of the saw to be oriented within a 180 degree arc relative to the handle of the saw with 13 positive stop locations.

​

In addition to this the very front portion of the saw which holds the blade and shoe can rotate 360 degrees with 12 positive stops.

This allows for some pretty amazing configurations. I don’t have any specific situations I can recall where this saw has saved my bacon because there have been so many of them since I got it!

[end]

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[dnschmidt]

This is what the P-C scroll saw blades look like: https://www.portercable.com/product/12379-5/hook-shank-blades?tid=576331

 

[Steve_P]

I realize that decades ago PC used to be a well-respected brand that pros used- like Skil; but it seems like a dead brand now, like Skil. Yes, they still exist in name, so maybe they're both zombie brands, along with B&D power tools, but I personally wouldn't by anything by either brand today; they seem to mostly be living off their 1970s reputation that mainly only people 50+ years old know about because their dad used them.

 

[MoonRise]

Porter-Cable tools were good, ~50 years ago.

Now? Not so much. IMNSHO. With some possible exceptions.

Next, those hook end blades are JIGSAW blades.

Jigsaw and scroll saw are different tools.

The predominant Jigsaw blades nowadays are T-shank blades. Some old jigsaws used U-shank blades.

Scroll saw blades come in plain-end and pin-end configurations, to match the appropriate blade clamps on the scroll saw.

A Jigsaw is a handheld power tool, a scroll saw is a bench mounted power tool.

Some old-timers called a Jigsaw a scroll saw, but that's not the current terminology (for maybe ~50 years or so).

Jigsaws come in two main configurations, top handle and barrel configurations.

Go to the Bosch or Dewalt websites and look up pictures and options for Jigsaws and scroll saws (among other sites as well, heck you can go to Harbor Freight and look them up too).

The Dewalt 20" scroll saw used to be a top rated option, don't know if that is still true or not.

Bosch Jigsaws used to be top rated, and are still at or near the top AFAIK.

Just what tool are you considering?

 

[AldeanFan]

This is the saw I looking at,
For context it is to replace a cheap Ryobi saw that Ive worn out over the past 25 years of hobby use , so I’m not used to the best.

I can buy this saw for $150 on sale locally,
The current model Ryobi is $240 and a dewalt is $660,
So the Porter cable seems like a great deal but only if it is a serviceable tool.

 

[strength_and_power]

I see a lot of scroll saws on FB marketplace. Might be an option to look at.

 

[MoonRise]

That's a scroll saw.

No quick tension relief, have to unscrew the tension knob and then retighten it. Every time. Ugh.

Have to completely unscrew the tension knob in order to change blades. Ugh.

Made to use pin end blades. Can use plain end blades with the included blade adapters, but you will have to line up the blade and the two clamp adapters in the slots in the frame and then tighten everything, then take that blade and adapters assembly and install it into the actual blade holders. Ugh. And repeat the entire sequence every time you need to change or replace or thread a plain end through a starter hole. Double Ugh.

No included light. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but something to consider.

Single bevel only.

It might meet your needs, but I see operational annoyances and limitations.

No, I don't have that nice looking 20" Dewalt. LoL. I might like to have the 20" Dewalt though. Grin

 

[dnschmidt]

I do have the DeWalt (bought it 20 years ago at least) and as far as I know it's still one of the best. The Canadian Excalibur was considered the top of the heap back then but I don't know if their still in business. That stated the DeWalt is very good.

 

[Cruzan80]

Not sure if it is the same DeWalt version, but the ones we had in our HS shop (couple of years ago) had a bad issue of the top locking pin for the blade stripping out the plastic knob. Students would over tighten, and since it was basically a hex molded into a paddle, the "head" would strip it out into round and just spin.

 

[MoonRise]

Canadian Excalibur is now the Canadian Excelsior.

Excelsior XL-21/100 21" Professional Scroll Saw with Foot Switch – Wooden Edge Tools & Machinery https://share.google/5Jj0HwBnWrpukA7sK

Tilt head, that package includes a foot pedal switch. Shipping not included.

2x the price of the Dewalt DW788.