Porter Cable Tradesman Line

[kartracer23]

I just got a flyer from Lowe's about these cordless tools. Has anyone seen them yet? I normally buy PC for sanders / polishers, but I don't know that I've seen their cordless tools before. In one set, they had an 18v drill, circular saw, battery and bag for $109 (or a set minus the saw for $99). Not a bad price if it's halfway decent. I wouldn't expect them to perform on the same level as some of the more expensive sets, but for where I'm thinking of using them, they might be okay. Any feedback?

 

[NAYLOR]

I saw them at Lowe's the other day. An 18v cordless drill (like the one you mentioned in the set) is $99. The quality looks top notch and the price is good. I was actually thinking about picking on up.

 

[Coach James]

Norm uses their cordless drills all the time and they seem to do fine for him. I don't know anything about their cordless saws though.

Coach

 

[Givl Reggin]

These Porter-Cable tools are not of the quality you've come to expect from them - previously Porter-Cable tools were made in the USA and marketed to professionals - However, the line of tools now offered at Lowes is geared for the homeowner and made in China. These new tools are targeted to compete with Home Depot's house brand of Ryobi line of tools in both set components and price points.

The parent company of Porter-Cable also owns the names Black&Decker, Dewalt & Delta and this is just one more example where they chose to lower the quality on a well known brand and ruin another good name all for the sake of proffit.

 

[kartracer23]

These Porter-Cable tools are not of the quality you've come to expect from them - previously Porter-Cable tools were made in the USA and marketed to professionals - However, the line of tools now offered at Lowes is geared for the homeowner and made in China. These new tools are targeted to compete with Home Depot's house brand of Ryobi line of tools in both set components and price points.

The parent company of Porter-Cable also owns the names Black&Decker, Dewalt & Delta and this is just one more example where they chose to lower the quality on a well known brand and ruin another good name all for the sake of proffit.

Yeah - i assume that's why the 'Tradesman' name. The blurb in the catalog points out that they're 'designed for professionals', but I figure at that price point, they probably aren't. One of the reasons I have a lot of Porter Cable tools is the quality. Rarely the cheapest, but they've always done well by me. I've got 4 PC sanders that have been dropped / abused / bogged for years that still work perfect. Where I need a drill is more of a homeowner vs. professional / every day application anyway, so I may give them a whirl just to see what I think. And honestly, maybe I'm just easy on tools, but I can think of only one cordless power tool I've ever had 'go bad' and that was a Craftsman drill. I've always upgraded before they went completely south.

 

[sharon333]

I have always trusted Craftsman over the years, but their quality has been lacking recently.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

These Porter-Cable tools are not of the quality you've come to expect from them - previously Porter-Cable tools were made in the USA and marketed to professionals - However, the line of tools now offered at Lowes is geared for the homeowner and made in China. These new tools are targeted to compete with Home Depot's house brand of Ryobi line of tools in both set components and price points.

The parent company of Porter-Cable also owns the names Black&Decker, Dewalt & Delta and this is just one more example where they chose to lower the quality on a well known brand and ruin another good name all for the sake of proffit.

I would like to take this a bit further. There WAS quite a bit of overlap between Dewalt and Porter Cable, as they use to compete. Now being under the same ownership, things are changing (try finding the old Dewalt DW618 three base router kit now). On the woodworking boards, several have been told that they are now going to a tiered stage, where PC is the homeowner targeted, the Dewalt targets contractors, and Delta the woodworkers, where some tools that two or more used to sell, may now only be carried by one.

We (woodworkers) are kind of waiting to see, as people seemed to like EITHER pc or dewalt routers, but rarely both, so neither is happy.

 

[Jay H 237]

That ***** if they are going to cheapen the Porter-Cable product line and ruin the name. I have many PC tools that I bought back in the mid-late 90s when I was doing woodworking. I guess I was lucky to buy them when I did. I considered them right up there with Milwaukee and DeWalt.

I thought Black + Decker was for the homeowner line of DeWalt, if they move PC into that territory it doesn't make sense to me.

 

[kartracer23]

Went to Lowe's today. They didn't have any out, but there were a couple of boxes stuck under one of the pallet racks. Great way to introduce a new line of tools. Boxes looked pretty. Didn't want to open one up to see....scared I might buy it.

 

[ledzep045]

These may be "el cheapo" made in China tools, but for the money they are very reliable. I've had the drill, circular saw and reciprocating saw for a little over a year and used them to remodel our house. I've put them through some severe usage, well, let's just say the drill can survive a 2-story fall.... The only complaints I have are that the reciprocating saw eats batteries for lunch, and even on speed one, the drill is a bit too fast for driving screws. Just thought I'd give you guys a little heads up on them.

 

[Broncoman]

I bought the PC 1/2 hammer drill several months ago before finding out that this was a cheaper homeowners line(And I thought I was just getting a good price). Felt a little bit raped for a while, FWIW the thing has performed fine, just wish I had seen the made in china stamp when I got it.

 

[Skyvet]

While I realize I am responding to a very old post, I have to agree that PORTER CABLE has gone down hill in terms of quality. I recently purchased an air compressor from HOME DEPOT. The end of the air hose did not have a clamp on it (and I failed to notice ) When I plugged the air line in, the coupler shot off and hit me in the head and then broke my window. Multiple attempts at a resolution with both HOME DEPOT and PORTER CABLE have failed and I have been met with nothing but hostility from PORTER CABLE. You can see the pictures and emails at
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2780604271681.2145782.1155407705&type=3&l=629b80d319 and http://rosedalevet.com/porter-cable-home-depot/.

 

[HandyManny]

These Porter-Cable tools are not of the quality you've come to expect from them - previously Porter-Cable tools were made in the USA and marketed to professionals - However, the line of tools now offered at Lowes is geared for the homeowner and made in China. These new tools are targeted to compete with Home Depot's house brand of Ryobi line of tools in both set components and price points.

The parent company of Porter-Cable also owns the names Black&Decker, Dewalt & Delta and this is just one more example where they chose to lower the quality on a well known brand and ruin another good name all for the sake of proffit.

Much like what many claim happened to DeWalt. Right?

Not sure that I totally agree though. Porter Cable has simply expanded their lines of tools, offering tools they never had in the past.

Truth be told, most tradespeople in the building trade actually purchase many of their tools from large home centers like Lowes and Home Depot these days. It's the most practical way for them to supply themselves. So I'm not quite sure what to make of it when people say that the stuff at home centers is marketed towards the DIYer. I don't think that's entirely true. Truh be told brands like Porter Cable, DeWalt, Bosch, Hilti, Milwuakee, and Bostitch are simply making their products more readily available to the masses these days, that includes to people like the professional, the DIYer, and the armchair folks as well. I've heard some good stuff about the newer Porter Cable line of power tools.