| Review by Tony | posted 1161 days ago | 14811 views | 3 times favorited | 40 comments |  |
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- Porter-Cable 14-inch 2-speed bandsaw
- Brand: Porter-Cable | Category: Bandsaws
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Although I used industrial grade bandsaws in Jr and Sr High Shop Class, the only bandsaw I’ve owned is a Craftsman 10” bench top model. I’ve had it about 20 years, and it has been used for many model airplane and craft projects, but I’ve never been able to get it to cut anything over 1/4” reliably. I’ve been hoping to find a used 14” bandsaw around here, but they are scarce, or I’ve just been looking in the wrong place. I’ve done a lot of Internet window shopping, but just couldn’t bring myself to pull the trigger on one of the pricier models.
Enter Lowe’s and Porter-Cable. After first seeing this saw, I decided to do some checking to see what others thought of it. I found zero reviews. There were some people who had seen this saw in the stores, and expressed their opinions based on visual inspection, or based on their views toward Porter-Cable, but not one hands-on review of the saw. So I decided to be the guinea pig. Photos are at the end of the write-up.
After struggling to get the heavy box in place in my garage, I opened the box and actually read the manual. I also read Michael Fortune’s excellent essay on tuning a bandsaw. The first pieces to go together were the base. They seemed pretty heavy during assembly, but once the main unit is mounted, they didn’t seem so heavy. In fact, the saw seemed top heavy to me, so I opened the door to the cabinet and added 30 pounds or so of extra weight in the form of a giant bucket of paint.
Assembly went fairly quickly. I didn’t make a single modification to the saw, but assembled it stock. It took me a little over 2 hours to assemble and tune the saw. The instructions said blade tracking had been done at the factory. Ummmmm . . . no. Tracking was way off. After taking care of that, I used Mr. Fortune’s method of adjusting the blocks and bearing guide. Time for a test drive.
The saw is surprisingly quiet – more so even than my 10” bench top model. Vibration wasn’t bad, either. The saw seemed to track fine during test cuts. The blade that comes with it is adequate. I’ll probably eventually replace it. I didn’t try changing the speed, so I can’t say how hard that operation might be.
I’m not an expert by any stretch, so take my comments with a grain of salt. If I was going to be doing heavy-duty furniture work or had a professional shop, I would have gone with a higher end model. But for my weekend warrior, garage setup, I think it will be fine. In short:
PROs: Thorough instruction book, quiet operation, easy setup.
CONs: Top-heavy, blade is OK but not great.
Tony Turley
The box:
The journey begins:
One hour later:
Even with our strong son, this was a beast to get on the stand:
After a few test cuts:
40 comments so far
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1843 days
#1 posted 1161 days ago
Congrats on your new bandsaw.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
bigike
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4023 posts in 1458 days
#2 posted 1161 days ago
very nice
-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com
308Gap
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322 posts in 1173 days
#3 posted 1161 days ago
Cool keep us up to speed as you use it. I pawed it lowes also, it was right next to the last delta, they looked almost the same. Congrats on the new toy….......I mean tool.
-- Thank You Veterans!
thiel
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361 posts in 1462 days
#4 posted 1161 days ago
You know it’s funny you mention not finding any reviews of this saw… because when I saw your posting I thought to myself: “Wow… I don’t think I’ve EVER seen a floorstanding PorterCable tool.”
Looks solid… and I suspect it’s nearly identical to the Delta of the same size…
Congrats!
-- Laziness minus Apathy equals Efficiency
Abbott
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2570 posts in 1474 days
#5 posted 1161 days ago
I believe that is the same saw that used to carry the Delta name. I bet you can bring up reviews for it. I looked them over at Lowe’s when they were discontinuing the Delta saw and they looked identical.
I have read that Black and Decker (DeWalt), Delta, Porter Cable the German tool manufacturer ELU are all the same conglomerate. I believe they also just acquired Hitachi tools.
Delta-PorterCable
-- Ohh mann...pancakes and boobies...I'll bet that's what Heaven is like! ♣ ♣ ♣ ♣
a1Jim
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87234 posts in 1747 days
#6 posted 1161 days ago
Congrats on your new saw. Most band saws are top heavy and blades included with saws are seldom any good
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
richgreer
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4474 posts in 1244 days
#7 posted 1161 days ago
Congratulations!
Like thiel, I do not recall ever previously seeing a floorstanding PorterCable tool. Delta, PorterCable, DeWalt & B&D all have common ownership and it looks like they are tinkering with the brand names. I’m sure this PorterCable is based on, or identical to, the Delta saw.
-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.
Rick Boyett
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167 posts in 1382 days
#8 posted 1161 days ago
I really am not impressed with the re-branding of Delta tools as Porter Cable.
So when do we get the Porter Cable Unisaw?
Todd A. Clippinger
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8654 posts in 2269 days
#9 posted 1161 days ago
Congrats on the purchase, I look forward to seeing what you make with it.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com
PurpLev
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7757 posts in 1818 days
#10 posted 1161 days ago
interesting, so this goes hand in hand with the delta benchtop jointer that lowes used to carry that is now sponsoring the PC brand instead. seems like they are rebranding everything consumer level as PC, and making Delta only the heavier duty tools (Unisaw, new Lathes, etc)
regardless – congrats on your new saw, it looks like a good performer. I wouldn’t worry about the blade, as the factory supplied blade is NEVER any good. this would (read should) be your first upgrade and will significantly improve the performance of your saw and your cuts.
enjoy
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
lilredweldingrod
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2498 posts in 1277 days
#11 posted 1160 days ago
Nice saw! Waiting to see what you do on it. If it is as good as my old Rockwell, you have at least 30 years of satisfaction coming. Have fun. RAnd
dbhost
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4748 posts in 1402 days
#12 posted 1160 days ago
“I have read that Black and Decker (DeWalt), Delta, Porter Cable the German tool manufacturer ELU are all the same conglomerate. I believe they also just acquired Hitachi tools.”
Ugh…. Now THAT is BAD news… I really like Hitachi…
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
Tim29
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307 posts in 1320 days
#13 posted 1160 days ago
congrats on the new saw.
-- Tim, Nevada MO
308Gap
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322 posts in 1173 days
#14 posted 1160 days ago
Strange I cant find the saw on any site except lowes, I wanted to see if a spacer was available or not.
-- Thank You Veterans!
Tony
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56 posts in 1525 days
#15 posted 1160 days ago
www.deltaportercable.com lists a Riser Block package for a 14” bandsaw, but it says “For Delta bandsaws only”. Hmmm . . . might fit the PC, might not.
Tony
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