DeWalt or Porter Cable?

[mikejennens]

I'm looking to buy a table saw and have narrowed it down to either a DeWalt http://www.dewalt.com/tools/machiner...s-dw745_2.aspx or Porter Cable http://www.portercable.com/products/...roductID=24026. My biggest concern between the two is the quality of the rip fence. One potential advantage the PC has is the 24.5 inch rip capacity compared to the DW only having 16 inch. However, I don't know if I'd ever need more than 16 and I wonder about the stability with the extensions out that far. I have some tools made by each company and no complaints about either.
Anyone have any comments about either or maybe another in the same price range to look into or to stay away from?
I'd like to get a large older Craftsman with a belt driven blade, but finding one could be tough and I really don't have the room.
Thanks,
Mike

[[email protected]]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

mike, i have had the pc saw for several years and like it alot. that looks like a newer version with a better rip fence. mine did not come with that stand either. looks like the pc might have a little bigger surface.

[johnastockman]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

The fence is the most important part, so make sure the fence rails are solid and stay aligned when clamped and unclamped. My Delta appeared to have quality fence/rails, but after a few cuts, I realized the fence wouldn't stay aligned. I had to re-align it after every cut. Also direct-drive saws aren't easy to align the blade to the miter slots/fence, so go with a belt-drive model if possible. Those have the adjustable trunnion to make sure the blade stays where you put it. An older cabinet saw or cabinet hybrid can be a good find, like a Powermatic, General, Grizzly or Jet. Much quieter and better dust collection abilities, but you need space for those, so if you're looking at a portable style, maybe not an option. I think the major woodworking mags/websites rate the DeWalt as having better dust collection. I haven't checked lately, but if you can look at and get a feel for the fence and it's ability to stay aligned, that's a good indication of the saw's overall quality. Let us know what you end up with and your impressions.


John A.

[donradick]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

I got that exact Dewalt TS about 2 years ago, and I like it a lot.
Random musings - I usually get 2' x 4' pieces from Home Depot, and I wish I'd spent a little
more and got the model with larger rip capacity. The fence seems pretty good -
(I'm no fence expert), nice adjustment to < 1/16, but does not have a "micro-adjust" capability.
Dust collection is pretty good. Saw is very loud.

[MagicO309d]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

I have this one. Despite the fact that it does have some issues, I can still recommend it: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-profe...p-00921829000P

Of the two that you are looking at, I like the PC more. Greater rip capacity is nice and having a rectangular blade opening will make it much easier for you to crank out your own zero clearance and dado blade opening inserts.

[Face]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

I have this one. Despite the fact that it does have some issues, I can still recommend it: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-profe...p-00921829000P

Other than the fence, it's a great saw.

[mikejennens]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

Other than the fence, it's a great saw.

What's wrong with the fence on this one Chuck? The fence is my biggest concern for any saw I get.
Mike

[jinjuku]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

I would look on Craigslist with your $400 budget. I picked up a Jet Table saw for $350 in like new shape delivered.

[jcandy]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

I'm looking to buy a table saw and have narrowed it down to either a DeWalt http://www.dewalt.com/tools/machiner...s-dw745_2.aspx or Porter Cable http://www.portercable.com/products/...roductID=24026. My biggest concern between the two is the quality of the rip fence. One potential advantage the PC has is the 24.5 inch rip capacity compared to the DW only having 16 inch. However, I don't know if I'd ever need more than 16 and I wonder about the stability with the extensions out that far.

I have that DeWalt and like it very much. Portable but accurate. 45 degree cuts are dead-on. However, there are numerous circumstances where I would have liked greater rip capacity. For ripping larger sheets I use a Festool track saw, but that's significantly more labor-intensive than the table saw.

[bolland83]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

I have the bigger version of that Dewalt, and like it a lot. I've only had to adjust it once in the past year of owning it, and I use it quite a bit. It comes from the factory already aligned, I double checked it when I first got it and it was dead on. The fence is great, it's no Bismeyer, but in this price range it's tough to beat. If space is an issue, the Dewalt is a winner in that department too. Even the larger model like the one I have, will be only as wide as the table top when the fence is not extended. With most other contractor style saws, the fence rails will still stick out, or you have an extension that's attached. Dust collection is pretty good, I just hook the shop vac to it and that gets the majority of the dust. The top is pretty nice, it has regular 3/4" miter gauge slots instead of T-slots, so you can easily make your own jigs or a sled. The coating on it is pretty durable and fairly slick, some automotive spray wax will really make it slick though, just spray it on and buff it with a rag and you're good to go. The insert isn't that hard to make if you want a zero clearance or dado insert, 1/2" MDF is perfect thickness, I just used a flush trim bit with the router to match the round ends of the factory insert. You could trace it and use a jigsaw, then sand it to fit, not hard either way. It is loud, but that's to be expected with any direct drive saw, so plan on some good earmuffs.

Here's what I did with mine, and why I like that it's rather compact: http://techtalk.parts-express.com/sh...-saw-workbench
With fence rails or table extensions sticking out, this wouldn't quite work so well unless I made the whole thing wider.

[Face]

What's wrong with the fence on this one Chuck? The fence is my biggest concern for any saw I get.
Mike

Its cocked easily, you have to measure in the front and rear of blade to ensure its straight.

Who's Chuck?

[Ron_E]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

I really like the Bosch I bought my wife. ;) http://www.boschtools.com/Products/T....aspx?pid=4100 This is a newer model and may be more money than you want to spend. I think the fence is decent for a portable saw and the extensions are solid. They make some optional table extensions and I use them for bigger pieces.

Ron

[Jbarnes]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

FWIW, the dewalt 745 now has a 20.5'' rip capacity. They must have changed this recently because none of the specs online reflect the change. You may even want to check the saw you pick up (says on the box). My wife bought me one for Christmas and it said 20.5'' on the box. This confused me because I had looked at the saw quite a few times online.

This is my first table saw and I haven't used it yet so I can't offer much of a review. Mine was not straight out of the box like bolland's. I had to square it to the slots first. Squaring it to slots required more work than the manual eluded to. Normally just the rear trunnion might need a slight adjustment, mine hit the limits of adjustment and was still pinching towards the fence (bad news I'm pretty sure). So I adjusted the front a little first, then the rear. Then had to adjust the 0* stop cuz messing with the front mount throws it way off. Not a big deal cuz I would have perfected the 0* stop anyway. I also adjusted the fence to the blade cuz it was a hair off (very easy). The fence locks down squarely every time because of the design. After you calibrate the scale, the fence can be set with great repeatability. All in all, the adjustments were not very hard even for a first timer like me.

I think the draw to the dewalt is the no brainer square fence, and the repeatability when setting and resetting the fence. I think I will also eventually build mine into a table for a bigger surface. Bummer the dewalts were just on sale for $299, seems to have went up a bit.

First post and I contributed?? Don't worry, it will be all questions after this one.

Jay

[mikejennens]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

Its cocked easily, you have to measure in the front and rear of blade to ensure its straight.

Who's Chuck?

Oops. I was thinking I was responding to iseagle. But thanks for the info on the rip fence.
Mike

[mikejennens]

Re: DeWalt or Porter Cable?

I would look on Craigslist with your $400 budget. I picked up a Jet Table saw for $350 in like new shape delivered.

Yep, been there, done that. North Dakota isn't a hotbed of Craigslist activity for good used power tools at a decent price. The closest one I saw that was of possible interest was 200+ miles away. But thanks for the suggestion.
Mike