Dewalt Vs. PorterCable

[arcdawg]

Okay so im in the market for some 18v power tools. I would prefer to just get the combo kit but im not sure of what brand to go with. My old boss swore by Porter Cable and they were very well made and never let us down, yet on the other hand the Dewalt stuff we had was okay but didnt seem to be as good as the P.C. stuff.

Yet here is my question why is the Dewalt 4 piece combo 299.00 and the Portercable combo 159.00 ? I was under the impression that PC was more geared for industrual use while Dewalt was meant for home owner light duty.

Here are the part #s (at LOWES)

Dewalt-DC4CPKA -299.00

PorterCable -PC418C-2 -159.00

Is PC making cheaper stuff for Lowes or just cheap stuff now ?

[MAC702]

when I sold my kit a couple of years ago, I had most 18V tools that DeWalt made. I worked them hard and was pleased with their performance. I would have had no trouble buying them again if I hadn't upgraded to Li-Ion this time around, in which case Makita has the best variety of tools out there right now, so I went with that.

I know of several industrial shops that are using DeWalt tools, including their cordless. I've never viewed them as "homeowner" quality as I do Ryobi or the modern Black & Decker (and B&D now owns DeWalt).

I've no experience with Porter-Cable, except I had an old chop saw of theirs which was very nice before it was stolen, and aren't they the tools used by Norm Abrams?

[ace4059]

I have some of the Dewalt products, and they have never let me down. I now like milwaukee a little better, followed by makita. The dewalt tools in Lowes, I think are being made cheaper and cheaper. I dont think dewalt is made today, like it was before B&D bought them. Which lead me to buying Milwaukee tools. I just dont think dewalt is built as good as it use to be.

[IamVince]

DeWalt for me,I have about every 18v they make.The sds cordless is one of my favorites.My coworkers use makita another great brand but I didn't want our tools getting mixed up.I didn't know B&D bought them

[Wyoming]

I might be wrong, but I believe B & D has owned DeWalt since the outset of their battery tool line going into production. Most of the tool brands are owned by either Black & Decker or Skil. Ryobi, or the corporation that owns it, owns Milwaukee as well.

[Glurg]

Check this site out. It will tell you a little about a companies history, and who owns what company. ie, Milwaukee is now owned by a Hong Kong company.

http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/manufacturers/

[Glurg]

Also. Here is a break down of who makes what for Sears.

http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/manufacturers/craftsman-power-tool-company/sears-and-craftsman-source-product-code/

[MichaelP]

I'll skip. I just don't want to get upset.

[Sberry]

That isnt the only model Porter Cable makes, you could be comparing apples to oranges, they make top of the line as well as tools for the box store market.

[JimDon]

Porter Cable

IIRC, Porter Cable is now owned by Black & Decker. B&D quality has fallen off dramatically in recent years compared to what they were like back in the late 1960s and 1970s. B & D in those days made corded power tools darn near as good as what Milwaukee was cranking out then. TTI has bought up a bunch of stuff including Milwaukee, Ryobi, Ridgid, etc. Oh, Oh, I can feel a China-made crap rant welling up inside me, I must, I must I must resist t h e
u r g e !!!!
Ah, that's better.
Jim

[Woodshed]

Mac, Norn Abrams uses a lot of Delta woodworking power tools. He doesn't back any line and cover up labels and doesn't endorse any line of tools. If I rember right D&D, Dewalt, Porter Cable, stantly tools, and another line is own by the same company.

[Zrexxer]

I dont think dewalt is made today, like it was before B&D bought them.

Black and Decker corporation has owned the DeWalt name since 1960, and has been manufacturing portable power tools under the DeWalt name since 1992. There WERE no DeWalt portable power tools prior to B&D; all previous manufacturing was stationary power tools, especially radial arm saws.

So unless you're saying DeWalt radial arm saws were better than DeWalt cordless drills, your statement doesn't hold water.

[metalmeltr]

when I sold my kit a couple of years ago, I had most 18V tools that DeWalt made. I worked them hard and was pleased with their performance. I would have had no trouble buying them again if I hadn't upgraded to Li-Ion this time around, in which case Makita has the best variety of tools out there right now, so I went with that.

I know of several industrial shops that are using DeWalt tools, including their cordless. I've never viewed them as "homeowner" quality as I do Ryobi or the modern Black & Decker (and B&D now owns DeWalt).

I've no experience with Porter-Cable, except I had an old chop saw of theirs which was very nice before it was stolen, and aren't they the tools used by Norm Abrams?

Norm uses delta and porter cable alot so does scott philips.

[hankj]

I have a bunch of corded Porter-Cable tools that were all bought before Porter-Cable was acquired. They are excelent, well made tools.

As for cordless stuff, I have Makita, Milwaukee, and De Walt. I look at them as the one that will run the longest on a battery charge is the one I grab up first, and right now the yellow one wins hands down. They all seem about equal in power and durability, though.

Hank

[Sberry]

It just depends on how much you want to spend. I have used a corded drill about twice in the last 5 years. Batteries are 120$ for these but worth 2 of the old style. I bought 3 drills for a job and they worked so well I bought another one. I tossed all the old drills, had a couple 14.4's that worked pretty well until the batteries started taking a dive and we really worked them too hard, the battery more than the drills. They lasted long time for my mechanic bud who use them occasionally but this new generation really delivers and recharges fast. Screwing roofing on steel building they go about an hour and a half as hard as a guy can work, sheeting sidewalls a battery goes all day.