Product Description

Porter Cable 362VSK 4" x 24" Belt Sander Variable Speed ... Read more

Features

• Powerful 12.0 amp motor provides 20% more power than before
• Motor is located directly over platen for maximum performance and perfect balance
• Variable speed dial is conveniently placed on the handle allowing belt speed adjustment from 1,000 to 1,500 SFPM
• Designed for flush sanding up to vertical surfaces

Reviews (3)

almost good
I've owned this sander for a couple years, but not being a big fan of belt sanders it has spent much of that time wishing I would notice it. Sporadic use made me feel that it was a worthwhile addition to the toolset, but it wasn't really tested until recently. Retired now, I volunteered to install an unfinished red oak floor in my son's family room, and having the time I decided to use the PC 362VSK for the sanding phase. I consider this a serious use of a belt sander. Here are my thoughts so far:

The tool is heavy (as we all know), so its weight (combined with the proper belt grit) provides the necessary "pushing down" force. Belt change is easy. Belt tracking is also easy to set and even if tracking wanders (not often) the easily-accessible knob makes it a non-issue. The balance seems to be good. After doing the entire floor (3 grits) it was still going strong.

Now for the negative, no stars (not even a glimmer) ratings: the dust collection is pathetic. That useless bag sticking up there getting in the way, coupled to the tool with an ineffective ball thingy that's difficult to use (and has no seal) is..well...pathetic. The dust bag will eventually fill, but this is purely coincidental...not to be confused with a dust collection system that actually works. And as far as I can see the port isn't designed to be connected to a separate vacuum...I duct-taped the hose of my Fein vac to the port and that worked well, but c'mon...duct tape?? (BTW if you take this route also tape the power cord to the vac hose making it essentially one unit...much easier to manage).

The other major issue is the sanding shoe...it warps, as another reviewer reported. Mine became convex, so the sander "rolled around" on the platen digging in and not sanding flat. Some time ago I had purchased some carbon impregnated fabric from Woodworker's Supply that was designed to be used on sander platens, so I took the metal shoe off, fitted a piece of this stuff to the cork shoe, and it worked fine. I wouldn't recommend this machine until PC includes the carbon shoe as standard. If you do buy it get the carbon shoe at the same time and send the metal one to PC with some appropriate suggestion as to what they might do with it.

This tool can do the job, but out of the box I don't consider it ready for a serious sanding project. You have to figure out how to deal with dust collection because Porter Cable hasn't, and you have to get rid of the metal shoe. It's probably one of the best 4x24s out there apart from these issues, but if mine ever goes to the boneyard I'll be tempted to try the Bosch.

High quality
I have had this sander now for 10 years,and have put many hours of use on it. Absolutely no problems with reliability,no problems with the platen.This is a heavy sander,so I use it on larger surfaces; the vac bag really works.If you have a lot of surface to sand down, this will do the job.

Great sander that gets the job done.
Finally decided to buy this sander, was waiting for others to review it first.Bought it at Home depot, since I needed it immediately for subfloor preparation.It does everything that is promised and it definitely has enough power.Although I found myself using it on high speed.Getting the belt tracking takes a bit of practice but stays centered otherwise.I used it all weekend sanding OSB underlayment for our subfloor in preperation for laminate flooring.It did everything I had hoped for.It did not remove material as fast as I though it would even with 60 grit belts, but this is in comparison with a floor sander, so no fault of the product.Only reason why I rated 4 is because of the sanding shoe that comes with it.I read some other posts on similar sanders and some people had problems with the sanding shoe warping.Well I had that exact same problem with this unit.So I highly recommend getting the graphite impregnated sanding shoe along with this sander.Once the shoe cups in the center, it is essentially useless since there is no more contact with the surface, other than the edges.This thing does get very hot quickly, which would explain the shoe cupping so fast.Light work would probably not see this cupping so soon, but since I was sanding floors, it was immediate.The dust extraction works good, it actually sucks the dust into the bag very well, as compared to other sanders.It is heavy as you hear from others, but this comes in handy where the weight may do some of the work for you by staying in one place.I paid the same price for the sander as amazon had listed, but I also had to pay tax.But got a 10% off lowes coupon from ebay and used it since HD takes competitors coupons, so was less than amazon.Overall I am happy with the unit. Just to give you an idea of how powerful this thing is, it was able to drag me across the room while on my kneepads and I'm 160 lbs.It was kind of fun, when I was done sanding one area, I would use the sander to drag myself to the next room and continue working without having to stand up. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here’s huge cutting capacity in a surprising size. This 8-1/2 inch single-bevel miter saw really does cut a 3-inch post in a single pass, just like DeWalt says. And it’s also the only saw its size we’ve seen that will trim 3-1/2-inch crown molding vertically, because of DeWalt’s taller fence. With its smooth slide action, you’ll choose this over your table saw when it comes to cross cutting—-even a 12-inch board. It’s got all the features of the bigger, high-end saws, and then some. Five preset bevel stops zero your blade in at 0, 33.9, 45, 48, and -2 degrees, and there are 11 dead-on accurate miter stops at the most common spots: 0, 15, 22-1/2, 31.6, 45, 50 (left), and 60 (right) degrees. What we like best about this saw is the awesome ergonomic details. Anyone who’s used comparable saws repeatedly will tell you that the vertical handle causes some fatigue, especially on saws with a safety button. But this saw’s got a horizontal handle, keeping your hand and arm in a more natural position, cut after cut. Most saws’ miter adjustment involve turning a knob a few revolutions to lock and then to unlock the miter setting, but this DeWalt has a really nice cam lever lock that eliminates all that twisting and is just as reliable. This saw does throw a lot of dust, but we’ve not seen a saw that doesn’t (even those with dustbags still make a mess). We’d recommend building a little jig to hold your extraction system hose close by. This is a fabulous saw for the contractor. It weighs only 43 pounds and is easy to tote because of the handle. But it’s also the perfect choice for the woodworker. An aside: DeWalt makes a great miter saw stand that fits this saw like a dream.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Includes saw, 30T carbide blade, and blade wrench
• Capacity to vertically cut 3-1/4" base molding and 3-1/2" crown molding nested vertically
• Bevel-stop system with manual override provides five pre-set bevel stops at 0, 33.9, 45, 48, and -2 degrees
• 11 positive miter stops including 0, 15, 22-1/2, 31.6, 45, 50 (left), and 60 (right) degrees
• Push-button miter cam lock for better ergonomics

Reviews (7)

Good but not great
Let me start off by saying that I have yet to find any miter saw that I would rate at five stars(although I do believe I rated the 12" Dewalt slide at 5 stars) because every manufacturer does put profit above product. However, I do like this saw very much. Slide is smooth, fence height good(when will Makita and Hitachi finally get the fence height right and even on both sides), lever action miter lock is awesome(knobs stink), blade deflection is good(it is only a 8-1/2 blade afterall), overall a really good saw. Dust collection complaints are irrelevant, as anyone expecting a slider miter saw to have good dust control lives in the world of clean radial arm saws too. I have yet to figure out what a "material hold down clamp"(or work clamp) is, but if I ever do, it means that I cut off on of my arms/hands and should not by using this saw anyway(we pros dont have time for clamping down wood prior to cutting it[short pieces should be cut from a long one, afterall]). I would buy another one in an instant.

Nice saw for cabinet/furniture makers
I've had this for about 6 months and it's never let me down. It takes a little getting used to if you've never used a sliding miter saw before, as the technique is somewhere between a radial arm saw and a normal fixed miter saw. As a couple of other reviewers pointed out, you have to make sure you slide the saw all the way home or you'll leave a little bit uncut.

One thing I've found is when I'm cutting narrow planks (4" or 6") I've gotten into the habit of pulling the blade toward me past the front edge of the piece, dropping it down, and then sliding it back through the piece - instead of just plunging the blade straight in, as you'd do with a fixed chop saw. This seems to significantly reduce bottom tearout.

It's undeniably a very pleasant tool to use; if you've only used saws that have a vertical handle you won't believe the difference the horizontal handle makes. The switch is well designed, it's not easy to trigger by accident but not fatiguing to hold. The action of the slides is smooth as silk, and setting the miter angles is quick, easy, and very positive. The motor has plenty of power for any kind of wood I've ever sent its way.

The 8 1/2 inch size has some advantages - the blade seems to be more stable, even without a stabilizer, than most 10" blades. Also in my experience 8 1/2" blades are a little cheaper than the equivalent 10" blade. But, it won't cut a 4x4 (or a 2x4 on edge) in one pass - a 10 incher will. Whether or not that matters depends on the kind of work you do.

You'll want to replace the blade that the saw comes with, it's fine for chopping up 2x4s (but if that's all you want to do you don't need this saw) but not good enough for finish work. There aren't a million blades available for this size of saw, but there's a decent selection - although not all the catalogs carry them. My favorite is a 60 tooth DeWalt finish blade that you can find most anywhere for about 50 bucks and does great work for me in all types of hardwood. Freud makes one that's pretty good as well. Forrest makes one of their chopmaster blades in this size, I'm sure it's great but it's $100+ and since I'm happy with my current blade I've never tried it.

Overall fit and finish is very nice - as you generally expect from contemporary Italian manufacture. After taking it out of the box, I went over it completely with my machinist square and couldn't find anything out of alignment. The only quality complaint I have is the crummy screws holding the blade guard on - blade changing is not exactly a snap with this saw and they really don't help.

There's no clamp included, unlike some other manufacturers - since I prefer to keep all 10 of my fingers I bought one - but they soak you on this item - $35!! Actually I bought two but you only need one - you hardly ever use both at once and it takes a second or two to swap it from one side of the saw to the other. Also, while it holds well, it's a screw type and I would prefer some type of cam action - I think that would be faster and easier to use.

But overall if you want a really sweet, pleasant to use saw and you don't normally need to cut large timber, I'd recommend this saw - I'm certainly very happy with it.

dewalt 8-1/2' miter saw
Overall I think this saw is an excellent saw,it cuts smooth and acurate and is lightweight.Ther are a couple of things I was dissapoionted with,first of all the if you are going to do any kind of finish work you need to replace the factory blade which is only good for cutting 2x's and a good blade is going to cost you and extra $100 or so.I was also dissapointed that the saw was not manufactured in the USA,the technical details provided in the review stated it was, and that played a large part in my descision to purchase this saw.Last of all the saw could of least came with dust bag which costs an additional $15.Whith the addition of a new blade and dust collection the performance of this saw is very good.

Nice saw
I picked up the Dewalt 712 to replace my 10" makita. Cuts smooth and was cutting square out of the box. The one thing I found was when you finish the cut, you have to make sure the saw head has been pushed all the way back or else it leaves a small amout of material uncut. They need to push the fence forward a 16th of an inch. Also for $400.00 they should include a dust bag! Overall a good quality saw.

A Really Nice Saw
I got my DeWalt saw a month or so ago for use on job sites. The first project I did with it was to build a 100 square foot sauna with three rows of benches.

The saw was dead on accurate right out of the box. I was immediatly impressed with its light weight and compact size. The saw cuts beautifully and slides nicely on the rails. It is also much quieter than other miter saws I have used. The cutting capacity rivals bigger saws, except you can't cut a 4X4 in one pass (something a trim carpenter/woodworker like myself never does). The horizontal handle is very comfortable to use, even after long days. The depth stop is perfect for jobsite dados.

Dust extraction was good. It does not come with a bag, but I noticed most of the dust escaping through the port. When I hooked the saw up to my Fein vacuum, the dust collection was very good.

The supplied blade is suitable for most carpentry, but is not sufficient for nice trim work. The nice thing about an 81/2 inch blade though is that a new one won't break your wallet like the 12 inch blades will.

Overall, a very nice, light, and compact saw, which exceeded my expectations for the $399.00 price. It is the first saw that I have seen designed for the woodworker or trim carpenter. If portability is important to you, this is an outstanding saw. If you are going to set it up relatively permanently in your shop, then I would suggest a 10 inch slider (Makita makes a nice one). I can't imagine a need for a 12 inch slider. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Arguably the best portable model on the market. To best minimize snipe, Makita came up with an innovative four-column design and fortified it with diagonal cross supports to stabilize the cutterhead while the patented Interna-Lok cutterhead depth adjustment secures the head while cutting. We particularly like how easy it is to adjust the depth scale and gauge. The depth stop makes sure you never overplane multiple pieces. The infeed and outfeed tables are supersized - another little perk we liked. Often, changing planer knives is an ordeal, but Makita's quick-change system and externally accessible brushes minimize your maintenance time and get you back to what you really love doing. The unit is relatively lightweight as these machines go, and at 83 decibels, is among the quietest of its kind. Still, please use ear protection when you're using this little beauty. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Supersize infeed and outfeed tables maximize work support
• Compact and lightweight for easy transporting to the job-site
• 15 amp motor delivers no load speed of 8,500 rpm
• Table size of 13 by 30-3/8 inches
• Patented Interna-Lok automated head clamp minimizes snipe

Reviews (25)

Worth the Money
Much like other reviewers, I have a small shop and make personal furniture and cabinetry. I too agonized over the purchase of a planer. The obvious dilemma is between a floor model 15" and a portable 12". The Makita is more costly than most of the portables, but less than half of the stationary 15" models.

After reading of the trouble others have had with the Delta (and my own negative experiences with Delta) I decided to spring the extra bucks for the Makita quality.

Great decision. This planer performs flawlessly. As long as you keep each pass shallow, snipe is of no concern, and I also agree that you have to cut the ends off the stock anyway. Snipe won't mean a thing if you have a board end check on you after you have completed a project.

I too reserve the other 5th star for longevity, as I have only had the planer for several months. As for the dust hood-I plan to save myself the money and just make my own. Any true woodworker can handle the fabrication necessary for a rectangular plenum with a round outlet-it's held on by a couple of thumb screws.

I say you can't beat this planer.

Well worth the price !!!
I recently read an article in one of the Popular woodworking comparing many of the 12" bench top planers. I had my heart set on a Delta, since my experience so far had been good. Boy did that article change my mind in a hurry. They has only good things to say about this planer. The only downside was the price. They said that they loved the planer, just couldn't justify the price. Well, I could. I'm sick of getting exacty what you pay for. I'm willing to spend a little more and get top quality. If you are too, this is the planer for you. Got it (from the tool-crib BTW) on Sat and spent the next day planing some 4/4 red oak. Beautiful finish !! A fine sanding is all that's required. Also, the stop remembers what your last, final, thick- ness was, which came in handy as I needed another 3/4 board and had already put the planer away. Snipe was a minimum, maybe 2-3 inches on the feed end and, as long as you're careful, none on the back end. Take some advice, get yourself a nice pair or dial calipers. I got a 6" Starrett from the tool crib here and it, in conjunction with the planer will give you the _exact_ thickness that you need. I'm sick of going to the lumber yard and ordering 1/2", and some are a little strong of 1/2" and some a little shy and none of your dados are fit like the test cut did. Another cool feature is the thickness dial on the crank. Using the calipers, you find that you need another 1/32" off the side. Set the 1/32" mark on the thickness dial, turn the crank until the '0' matches up with the mark and it takes off the required amount, no more, no less.

Makita 2012NB 12" Portable Planer
A joy to use. Simple, straight forward and without all the marketing hype of some of the other machines. Stock feeding is a very easy task. Transport is positive without the bother of a lock each time you make a pass. Crank adjustment is very easy to adjust for the smallest of stock removal. The depth stop is easy to use. The unit worked perfectly right out of the box. Read the instructions, plug it in, turn it on and your good to go. Fit and finish is top drawer and it's hard to imagine how it could be better. Unit produced just the smallest amount of snipe at about 1 1/2 inch from the ends. No big deal, a few passes of 220 grit sandpaper and it's gone or , I perfer to just cut it off. I only mention the snipe because it's there, not because it's a problem. Again, not worth taking a star away. This has fast become my favorite power machine, and I have them all. Go buy it. Simple , straight forward and rugged. It's a winner.

Great planer!!!
I am glad that I had bought this planer. I have planned some 10ft long 8/4 mahogany boards with it and the finish was excellent. Sniping was minimal and in most cases nonexistent if I support the board correctly while feeding it in and as it comes out. I did buy it new from Amazon and used it without any need for adjustment. I think the quality is very good and the planer is very quiet comparing to an old portable Delta planner that I had.

A Fine Planer
I bought this planer based on several factors. In no particular order they were: Makita's reputation, the reviews I read at this site, and its claim as being one of the quieter planers. I have never used another planer so I can't give a first-hand comparison. I can say, however, that I have been very happy with this tool. I used it quite heavily for building a workbench from hard maple. It is quiet, as advertised. I found it very easy on the ears. I had no problems with snipe, though I agree with other comments on this site that problems with snipe are overblown. Just trim your boards to finished length after planing. But as I said, I never had any problems. The blades were easy to change, and in general I found the tool accurate and easy to use.

For the most part, the finish was ready for sanding. However, when planing some of the heavily figured maple there was some tear out. I have since found out that this is to be expected and one should not expect a final finish from a planer on figured wood. In fact there is whole time-honored regimen for surfacing figured wood involving high-angled planes and scrapers. Just thought I'd pass that along.

If you've never had a planer before you will probably be surprised at how much of a mess they make. You will most likely want to add dust collection at some point in the future, so if you don't buy the dusthood now plan on buying it at some point down the road. ... Read more

Features

• ASME coded 4-gallon OSHA recognized tank
• 4.5 cfm
• Dual soft start valves assist in cold weather start up
• Cast iron cylinder enhances pump life
• Oil lubricated pump allows for long life

Reviews (30)

DeWalt takes a classic to a new level
As a full time contractor working alone I am always on the lookout for tools that will make the job go faster and easier. Last yearI spent many months researching a replacement for my ailing Campbell-Hausfeld oilless compressor. Originally I figured the CH had a higher air output, needed no oil changes,would work on slopes and start in cold weather. ...After forking over the big bucks and putting it to work for DeWalt's 30 Day trial period I couldn't believe I'd gone so long without this compressor. The unit has loads of features and advantages.
1) First of all the Emglo name on the unit reassured me that I was getting a tool built by the industry leader with a great reputation for tough, dependable compressors. The first day on the job proved it with quick cycling times and ample air at all times. The unit just purrs and runs smoothly.

2) Portability. I do a lot of work in luxury high rises and I've often left the compressor at home rather than drag it down endless corridors. This unit carries like a briefcase (a 60 pound one) with an ergonomic handle and good balance. The unit's flat design makes it easy to bungee tie to a light weight luggage carrier ...It can carry the whole unit with hoses and nail guns. I can't overemphasize how much easier this makes my job. I've paid for the compressor already in labor savings by bringing it to every trim job.

3) Eye candy. Let's face it, this is a sexy looking unit. I've had othe craftsmen come over and ogle the compressor and ask questions about it, but mostly admiring it. Customers have commented on it, how quiet it is and how professional it looks.I am percieved as a serious craftsman based on my setup (along with my Senco SFN-40)which is good for referrals.

In short, this is a serious tool for the professional contractor with loads of power(delivered air), durability, great design and looks. DeWalt took a classic, the Emglo 790, and improved the power output layout and design. My only complaint is the air release lever, an otherwise solid unit mounted on the underside of the tank. The opening is too narrow for your hand and the sharp stream of air can actually cut your skin. In addition the compressor shoots out small chunks of ICE from the tank creating dangerous projectiles that will cut your hand or riccochet into your eye. Don't know why it does that but just beware and open the valve SLOWLY.
Finally, I have a compressor that won't roll around in the back of the truck knocking off gauges and connections as I drive through the city. Hats off to DeWalt and Emglo for a match that combines legendary durability with great design.

it's too much!
This is a great compressor. It's quiet with plenty of power and the portability is great.. plus all the dials are in the right place with easy visibility... however there's the exception of one valve and a reset switch.. There's only an inch or so for clearance for the valve and I could only get to it with a screwdriver. Secondly, the reset switch is located too close to the cylinder housing and cooling system which are about as hot as the sun when the machine is running.. plus the switch itself is a little tiny.. certainly too small for the average construction guy with gorilla hands. I've one additional bad thing to say and that is that DeWalt could use some better paint to go with such a great looking compressor! there's already rust on my cylinder housing and I only purchased the unit a week ago! But overall, I would recommend it highly... namely because it's so dependable, powerful, innovative and the recovery time is great.

A pleasure to own!

Hassle free! I've owned one of these for about a year now and couldn't be more pleased with the purchase.

The biggest complaint I have about other compressors is the portability of them. This unit, although like most, heavy, is designed well for moving from site to site. The sleek design means that parts or not going to get stuck on a pant leg when you pick it up or bash into your kneecap. I have found it most helpful to actually pick up the unit by the handle and then kinda hug the unit, holding it close to the chest. This helps to center the weight to my body and I can then lug the compressor up several flights of stairs without passing out.

The main reason I bought this unit over cheaper compressors was the recommendation to the brand names of DeWalt and Emglo. I now see why others recommend the Dewalt and Emglo brand.

It's not uncommon for someone to come on the job site and drool over this unit. Kinda funny how a guy can fall in love so fast with power tools!

If you need a great unit, this is the one to get! Enjoy!

roofer wayne
I used many compressors in 28 years of roofing. This is my 3rd emglow and 2nd dewalt. My first emglo lasted 12 years. My first dewalt is fine, I just needed another one because of expanding business. The only thing that was wrong with the first dewalt was the air regulator started leaking and had to be replaced. Other then that, it worked every day for two years so far,that with two or three roofing guns going which is like four framing guns and I did not notice it starving for air.This compressor is the best and durable for the Professional.

A nice small compressor
I bought this air compressor to do light construction work. I have used it for finish work all the way up to roofing and framing. I have to say that I was a little skeptical at first about using a small compressor for roofing or framing nailers but I was satisfied after the first time I used it. This compressor has impressed me more than most of my other tools. It runs smoothly and doesn't have to run that often. It recovers very quickly and is very user friendly. The controls are easy to find and use. I am able to carry it with one hand. I have ran the compressor off of 100 foot 12 gauge cord and haven't noticed any problems at all. I have a gas powered Emglo compressor and the quality is outstanding. The only downfall that I can find is that I think the power switch should be located on the front panel instead of on the side and thats just a personal preferance. Other than that it has been a really great compressor and I would recommend this compressor over any other in its class. It may cost a little more but you won't have to replace it like the other compressors. ... Read more

Features

• Includes 1 year limited warranty on parts and accessories
• 11.5 amps, 0-2,900 spm, 1-1/4" stroke
• Keyless clamp and shoe with variable speed trigger
• 180 degree joint adjustment and 360 degree blade rotation
• Includes case

Reviews (2)

Well Designed Tool
I bought this saw a year about a year ago. I needed to cut a 2" cast iron pipe that came up vertically through a 12 inch square concrete hole. The cut had to be in the bottom of the hole and be at a perfect 90 degree angle. Theoretically the same cut could have been made with a modified hacksaw, but it would have taken 50 blades and two days. With this saw it took two blades and 10 minutes. This was the only power tool that could perform this cut, which it did with some effort on my part The important part was that this cut eliminated the need to delay the project for three days to remove a hot water tank and a three foot square area of concrete in order to use a standard reciprocating saw or grinder. Since then I have found this saw to work great as both a standard reciprocating saw and as a special purpose saw.

Most of the time this saw is used like any other reciprocating saw - fully extended and straight. However, the one time that you need to cut something that is not in front of you and perfectly square to you, you will see where this tool shines. The head on this saw can be positioned in many angles and the blade literally spins 360 degrees. This adjustability does two things. First, it effectively makes the saw shorter, which was why it worked where no other could in my plumbing example. Second, the saw can be adjusted to literally fit the angle of the material that you are cutting, no matter where you are in relation to that material. Often, when you use a reciprocating saw in a remodel situation, you don't have the luxury of standing dead square in front of a level cutting surface.

This saw gives you more control by allowing the blade to be adjusted so it is square to the cutting surface when the operator cannot get into that same position. Since, the head on this saw that holds the blades can be positioned at almost any angle relative to the trigger handle, this means that you can get the saw's shoe, into a position that allows the shoe to rest on some part of the project; thus improving control AND safety. For example, with this saw, you can cut fit the saw head (not the whole saw) between 2x4 studs on 16" centers. This allows you to make more precise, square cuts in existing walls (say that have sheet rock on one side that you do not want to disturb) for modifications to the framing. Reciprocating saws have always been good for remodel work, but this saw is amazing. This saw has a system for loading blades that is quick and secure. The saw is smooth running and the variable speed control is .... well.... smooth. You can make cuts with this saw that, until now, were done with handsaws, drills, chisels, brute force and circular saws held in dangerous positons.

I have thought about writing this review since I bought this saw over a year ago and used it on my plumbing project. I have used it many times since and each time I think "I am going to write a review on this saw because people need to know that the extra money spent on this saw is well worth it for the added functionality." I used the saw AGAIN this weekend and I was AGAIN reminded how well designed and built this saw is. If you plan to use this saw for remodeling you will not be dissapointed.

BEST SAW EVER MADE , MOVE OVER MILWAKEE
I HAVE BEEN A CONTRACTOR AND HOME BUILDER FOR 30 YRS AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A MILWAKEE SAWZALL FAN,BUT HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED THE TIGER SAW FOR ITS SHEAR POWER.THEN CAME THE VARIABLE ANGLE TIGER SAW AND I HAD TO HAVE ONE. WELL THE GUY WHO DESIGNED THIS SAW IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MINDS IN TOOL DESIGN. THIS SAW CAN BE ARTICULATED INTO ANY POSITION YOU NEED. IT GOES WHERE NO OTHER SAW WILL GO AND ALLOWS YOU TO HOLD IT IN POSITIONS THAT MAKE IT EASIER AND MUCH LESS DANGEROUS TO THE OPERATOR AND THE POWER IS FANTASTIC, IT CAN'T BE STOPPED. THIS IS NO GIMIC, THIS IS A SAW IN A CLASS ALL BY ITSELF, THERE IS NO BETTER SAW OUT THERE.THIS SAW IS WORTH TWICE THE MONEY,DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY ,ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY AND YOU WILL NEVER BE SORRY. ... Read more

Features

• Limited Warranty
• All-metal ratcheting chuck with carbide jaws for the highest grip torque on bits
• Milwaukee-built motor provides up to 495 in./lbs. of torque
• Up to 50% more run-time than competitive products
• Milwaukee's exclusive reversible battery allows users to adjust balance and get into tight spaces

Reviews (15)

You'll never look at a yellow tool again
I bought this drill after reading several reviews in woodworking magazines and this forum. There just aren't enough adjectives to describe what a work of art and workhorse this drill is. Enough power to satisfy even Tim Allen and yet it doesn't have a bulky, over-weight feel. From the lowest torque settings all the way to the hammer function, the gear action is as smooth as glass and it _never_ feels like it's running out of gas even drilling into hard metal. You can't go wrong with this tool. Once you use it, you'll be a Milwaukee convert for life.

This is what five stars are all about!
What a pleasure to use a very well made tool. Milwaukee's reputation for heavy-duty quality is again backed up by this top-of-the-line cordless. I've been driving screws with it building a shed, and the battery life is really impressive. Grip feel, balance, torque and overall sense of quality are great.

A quick rant about tool cost (and it's not like Milwaukee is particularly expensive in the first place): I'm constantly amazed at people who will pay $25 for a meal, a cab ride or a few drinks without thinking twice, but will balk at paying a bit more for a tool that will last a lifetime! Think long-term: Reward excellence; treat yourself and buy quality -- whatever the brand.

Performance, performance, performance...
If you are looking for a cordless that can, look no further. I bought it primarily on it's performance specifications, and have not been disappointed. A big factor for me was speed. My old model topped out at 1300, and most of the competitors are in the 1400 to 1550 range (other than a yellow 3-speed model). I appreciate a unit that can twist at 1700 rpm but still have plenty of torque when you need it at the low end.

Another important spec for me was the battery life. Haven't had it long enough to judge yet, but I presume the 2.4 ah should need less charging.

In addition to motor & battery performance, I was highly interested in chuck performance. (This is probably the main reason I wanted to relegate my old unit to backup). The Milwaukee chuck has performed wonderfully, gripping shanks of all sizes like a mad pit bull. I also appreciate the reversable battery mount, which amazingly eases the hand strain when you are drilling overhead( By lowering the center of gravity to below your grip).

My only possible reservation about this model is durability. It just doesn't look as rugged as the Bosch model I looked at. I don't plan on dropping it, but you never know when your going to set it down in the wrong place at the wrong time. Another reviewer said he dropped it from a step ladder with no ill effect, however, so maybe it's tougher than it looks.

Simply the best
One of the finest tools i've ever used. reliable with Power to spare. A bit on the expensive side but well worth it. 2 batteries included.

My Hammer Drill can beat up your Hammer Drill...
I bought this beast about a year ago to replace a DeWobble DW959K-2 (please see my review of that, uhh, *worthy* offering). This should have been my first choice but I let a _friend_ talk me into the yellow. This is quite simply the best 18V HD on the market. It's got more torque (495 in/lbs, a little over 40 ft/lbs!!) than many corded drills and as one reviewer already noted, will probably sprain your wrist before it gives up driving. It is a _bit_ on the heavy side but no more than any comparable Bosch or yellow equivalent and the batteries are cheaper to replace and longer lasting than either of those. So far I've used it to build a deck, rennovate two bathrooms, too many woodworking projects to list and I'm still using the original two batteries. I've dropped it numerous times, more than once onto concrete and one time for sure it landed right on the chuck, and it still works/sounds like brand new.

One of the features I really like is the reversible battery pack. They make getting into tighter places (like in between joists) easier. The squeeze buttons on the battery packs do require a bit of finger/thumb strength but they aren't much problem for me and have gotten easier with time. The five year warranty is also nice, I think only Hitachi offers a similar warranty.

If you're a contractor or someone who makes their living with their tools, this should be the only drill you look at. You'll never even look at anything yellow again. If you're a weekend warrior, it may be a bit on the expensive side but look at it this way: you'll only ever have to buy one. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

While laser guides for miter saws have been available as aftermarket add-ons for a few years, this saw is one of the first we've seen from a major brand to incorporate lasers in the design of a saw. The saw itself is the same excellent 12-inch compound miter saw Delta has been selling without a laser. It has a powerful 15 amp motor, a sliding fence, integrated dust collection, and a comfortable grip. The tool is solidly constructed and designed to stand up to rigorous professional use. The laser system used on this saw works a little differently than some of the available aftermarket systems. Instead of making a single laser line on the lumber showing where the cut will be, this system projects two lines to show the material that will be removed by the kerf of the saw blade. So, as the saw is beveled, the space between the lines gets wider to accurately reflect the extra material taken out by the blade coming in at an angle. The lasers can be adjusted to match the blade you're working with. We were big fans of Delta's original 12-inch miter saw, and the addition of the twin laser system makes it that much better. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 15 amp motor for powerful cutting
• Horizontal D-handle for more comfortable operation
• Nine positive stops at common angles for quick setup
• Extension wing and sliding fence provide added material support

Reviews (22)

Outstanding Saw
Just completed 40 feet of custom kitchen cabinets using this saw and could not be happier. Setup is fast, easy and clearly described in the manual. The laser sights are easy to line up for any particular blade, and marking stock prior to cutting has become a thing of the past... I simply line the mark on my tape measure on up with the laser mark, remove the tape and cut. No lowering the blade to see how I line up...awesome!

Only two comments for potential purchasers... the lasers tend to pick up sawdust - which reduces their brightness. A shot of compressed air takes care of that problem.

Also, the saw has built-in receptacles for a material hold-down device - which is available on some Delta saws - but is not available as an option on this saw.

Bottom Line: This is a great saw.

Solid and accurate
I bought this saw to replace a starter model Craftsman 10" miter saw that I had for about five years, which was fine for simple cuts but which never could handle a compound cut, no matter how I tried to square it up.

I actually bought a DeWalt 705S before this Delta, but the DeWalt has a serious engineering flaw that revealed itself almost immediately once I started using the saw -- see the reviews on this site (including mine) that address the poorly engineered miter locking system on the DeWalt. After returning the DeWalt, I spent some more time shopping around and reading more extensive reviews. After checking out the saws, I chose this Delta.

The Delta has been a joy. Simply put, it is built like a tank. Still, with aluminum fabrication, it is not noticably heavier than comparable saws.

Mine required some minor adjustments to the positive stops on the 90 degree and 45 degree bevel, but everything else (lasers, blade to fences, etc.) was dead on from the factory.

The action is smooth and has a solid feel to it. Many of the tensions are user adjustable, so you can customize the action to your liking.

The saw has rubber feet that keep it stable even if it isn't bolted down. (Contrast that with the DeWalt 705S, which slides all over the place if you don't mount it.) Delta also has a clever system that allows this saw to be mounted on 2x4s for worksite use.

I replaced the 40T carbide blade that came with the saw with an 80T ATB Freud blade, which does wonderfully. Changing the blade on this saw is a fairly simple matter, requiring the same size wrench to loosen the blade guard and the arbor screw; an adequate wrench is included with the saw. (The DeWalt had Torx screws.) The 40T blade itself makes pretty clean cuts and would probably suffice for framing work, but it's a bit too drastic for trim work.

Changing the blade to one with a marginally thinner kerf required an adjustment to the left laser, which was easy to make. The lasers live up to their billing, painting lines across your stock that show exactly what the blade is going to remove. It makes it easy to line up your marks precisely without doing the old pull-the-blade-down-duck-and-check-the-mark routine.

The extension table and sliding fence were simple to install and are nicely machined. I agree with the reviewer who suggests the clamp for fine work, though; the surface is fairly slick and, as a result, the blade can make the wood slide to the side a bit if you're cutting a 45 degree miter.

The cookie cutter Porter Cables are also nice. But, as it's the same saw, why not take Delta's two-year warranty instead of PC's one-year warranty?

I would buy this saw again in a heartbeat.

And take note that the reviewer who claims below that the product number is misleading apparently does not understand that the 36-255, like the 36-255L, is not a dual bevel compound miter. The laser is the difference. I do note, however, that the "technical details" on this site at the time I'm writing this misstate the plug type. It is a two-pronged plug, not a three-pronged (grounded) plug. The motor also has externally accessible brushes, contrary to the technical details (see p.19 of the manual).

Excellent Saw. Period.
First, I have to say that I'm just SO impressed with this saw! I've used many different brands of saw before, but never a Delta, so I didn't know what to expect. So let's start from the beginning:

Arrival -
Saw came in a VERY sturdy box. We're talking like 1/2" thick cardboard here - well packed and secured. Box acted as temporary stand for about 3 weeks... Everything was in the box and everything was labeled. Nice...! Word of caution - be careful getting the saw out of the box - it weighs almost 70 pounds! The box and the packing were good indications of the quality of the saw...

Setup -
The saw is technically ready to go out of the box, but the left table and fence extensions needed to be attached. If you don't want to use those, then you really are ready to go. But guess what? They actually provide little hand tools for this. Very nice touch.

Alignment -
After attaching the extensions I followed the instructions for aligning the saw. The manual very nicely described every detail of this process. To my surprise, the fence was 90-to-the-table and the blade was both 90 and 45 to-the table OUT OF THE BOX! Factory aligned - very impressive. The lasers were also perfectly aligned to the factory installed blade. So, I technically did NO alignment whatsoever.

Impressions after use -
Blown Away. I bought this saw for the dual purpose of both chopping large stock and trim work. First I chopped some 2x4s. Factory blade is perfect for this. It did a great job -what else can I say? I know cutting 2x4's is exciting...but... I then threw a Freud 96-tooth blade on this, re-aligned the lasers and did 3 rooms of crown flawlessly. The blade change on this is the easiest of any saw I've used. The miter lockdown mechanism is awesome - you'll have to use to understand, too hard to explain, but you'll know what I mean when you do. The twin lasers are SO SWEET. First saw I've used with lasers and man, what a feature. That blade goes right between the lasers, dead on, no guesswork - loved em! Manual was good - clear and well written, though the black-and-white pictures were a little tough to see. They also provided a handy crown angle chart. Finally - the thing is solid. I'm old-school where weight = quality and this thing is just SOLID. Flimsy it is NOT. 70 pounds of American made steel - It's a beautiful thing!

Complaints -
To be fair, I'll try and give a balanced review, though it's hard to find things to gripe about with this saw. First thing, it seems that after about the second room of crown the lasers slowly went out of alignment. This was literally a 10 second adjustment and to be honest I was impressed they stayed aligned that long after the CONSTANT miter and bevel adjustments and the beating I gave the thing.
Second, don't like the positive crown stops. Not really a complaint, but maybe a suggestion - for the serious woodworker these stops get in the way since a corner is RARELY square. If it was close to 90 and I was trying to tap the miter close to the positive stops the saw would fall into them and I would have to start over. Minor, very minor, but I would just remove those positive stops for crown in the next version of the saw cause they're kinda useless.
Third, the saw guard got in the way when I tried to cut 4" Base Molding standing against the fence. The cut went through, but not all the way - it left like 1/8". It went all the way through when I gave it a little jam...but...not something you want to do all the time.
Finally, the lasers have a separate on/off switch. This is nice if you don't want to use the lasers, but it's an extra thing you have to remember to turn off. Maybe the next version can have a timer on it to turn em off after like an hour... yeah, I forgot mine on over night once...I should unplug my power tools you say? BAH!

Conclusion -
This saw ROX. Period. I'm very impressed with every single feature on it. It weighs a ton and cuts like a dream. Everything about it screams ease-of-use and accuracy. I think this saw has single-handedly sold me on the Delta brand. I will be buying more of their products in the future.

Great but not perfect
I bought this saw to replace my Hitachi 10". The first draw back is the Delta only goes to 47 degrees as my hitachi could go out to 60 degrees. After setting up the saw and squaring up the fence I went to set up the lasers and ran into some problems. The hole milled for the left laser was slightly over sized causing the laser to jump and not be true to the blade. I took a center punch and put a couple of punches around the outside of the housing and it tightened right up. Other then these draw backs this is a great saw. For the price you just can not beat it. I still can not believe the Porter Cable (same saw) is so high priced.

You Won¿t Be Disappointed in this One!
The fit and finish of this product are outstanding, and the accuracy is everything that you could want. Other reviewers have addressed the many outstanding qualities of this miter saw, but there are a couple of things I'd like to add.

Not only are the twin lasers a joy to use, they are exceptionally easy to adjust if/when you change blades. You just clamp a hunk of scrap to the table, and cut a shallow kerf (which is to say, don't cut all the way through the board). Then you simply turn on the lasers - which don't require the saw itself to be running - and use an Allen wrench to adjust each laser to match its side of the cut. If only all the tools in my shop were this easy to adjust!

Speaking of clamping to the table, if you place an order with Amazon for this unit, you'll want to think about possibly adding a pair of Delta 36-221 Work Clamps. These fit into holes in the front of the 255L's base and hold your work against the back fence. Don't be thrown off by the fact that the Amazon picture shows them vertically; they actually run horizontal to the table and press the work against the back fence. If you want a vertical clamp to hold your work down against the table, you'll need the Delta 36-218 Miter Saw Clamp (Amazon carries it, too).

One of the other things no one has mentioned is how quiet this saw is. I'm sure the blade is a significant factor, but using both the factory supplied blade, and the Freud 80-Tooth Thin Kerf blade I replaced it with, I noticed that this saw is much quieter than my table saw, radial arm saw, or Skil saw (and yes, Honey, if you're reading this, I do always try to remember to wear my hearing protection like you asked me to). ... Read more

Features

• One Year Warranty/30 Day Performance Certification
• Powerful 9 amp motor
• Dual filtration system provides 99.85% filtration efficiency for fine dust pick-up
• Built-in outlet for use with power tools--vacuum starts automatically when tool is turned on
• Large wheels for easy maneuvering

Reviews (7)

Really works
Purchased vacuum for use with the PC drywall sander. The sander works great, and in combination with the vacuum, I finished drywall with the door to the room open. It's not particularly loud, and the auto-on feature (accessory plugs into vacuum, vacuum plugs into wall) when you turn on the accessory tool is great. I used it on a chop saw as well as the drywall sander for renovation of two rooms in an occupied house. The bags hold plenty and the secondary filter (like a large lawn mower air filter) keeps everything out of the air. Didn't like the cheap-ish hose, and it could use an adapter that fits std vacuum accessories. Watch power usage: add amps of vacuum and your accessory tool.

Great vac and dust collector
I have been using this vacuum for over a month now building custom cabinets in basements. I agree with most of the other comments regarding the nice features-especially the tool trigger outlet.

With the vac hooked up to my table saw, circular saw or router table, dust is held to a manageable level. No more choking on plywood dust! While the vac won't catch all the dust (don't expect to work in a finished area and not get dust anywhere in the room)it keeps the air a lot clearer. Also makes clean-up at the end of the day a breeze.

My only complaints are the lame single hook for the cord and the thin diameter of the vacuum hose--don't plan to pick up small scraps or longer nails/screws.

Best Vacuum for the money
This vacuum has picked up everything that I needed it to. Porter Cable even allows the use of bags to collect all the dust, so you don't have a mess in emptying the full vacuum. You don't need to use the bags if you have a lot of clean up. The built in pleated air filter catches all the dust, and the outside cleaning tool allows easy cleaning of the filter without opening the vacuum. The on board storage brackets for the accessories and the auto shut-off feature for water pick-up are also great. The tool power feature, is great. When used with the power outlet for tools, the vacuum only turns on when the tool is running and turns it off after 15 sec when you turn off the tool The purchase of the accessory kit will save you trouble finding attachments. The literature and manual also could be a little better. Unit has been running great for about six months in my shop almost every day. No problemsb

good and bad
1. the tool-trigger feature can really save your back from back ache and head from head ache

2. I don't mind it getting dirty because it's already black and grey!

What I didn't like:

I'd rather get a Fein vacuum because the wheels seem to give better mobilty; the same can be said of those Ridgid vacuums at HD. This PC seems to be able to move forward and backward very wheel, but not sideways. That's a really important feature, especially if you're having a bad day and you don't want to wrestle with the vacuum. The Fein also has similar features to this Porter-Cable. Lastly, this thing is a little bulky.

good quiet vacuum
I was looking for a new shop vac to replace my 15 y/o
Sears Shopvac and save my hearing. Having purchased and used several different house vacuums over the years, severe dust allergies required me to purchase a Nilfisk HEPA vacuum for house. After using this I realized how much fine dust < 1 micron leaves the exhaust in my Shopvac. My choices for vacuum were narrowed down to Fein and P-Cable. It is easy to find Fein Vacuums in local woodstores. Finding information on Porter Cable is very hard. I ended up purchasing PC based on reviews here. I liked features of Porter cable more as it was designed for drywall vacuuming. Fein required extra filters and brackets for fine dust. I still cannot find data on how fine filtration is on Porter's unit. It appears excellent as it comes.
I agree with other reviewer that accessory tools are essential
It can clean any car, boat, shop or garage mess. Unit is very quiet. I wish it had a place to wrap electrical cord when stored.
Hose appears narrow caliber and flimsy for quality of vacuum.
It wheels easily and doesn't seem to tip over easily at all.
The plastic casing is well made and very durable.
Overall I am very impressed. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This Porter-Cable 18-gauge, 2-inch brad nailer is a compact, comfortable-to-carry unit that might not offer quite as many extras as other (more expensive) units, but it's very reliable and does its job well. This nailer shoots standard brads from 3/4 to 2 inches long and has an anodized magazine with a reload indicator. The die-cast aluminum body is lightweight but still very strong, and the handle is comfortable to hold, even over long periods of time. The quick-release nosepiece lets you clear jams quickly and easily. Other features include a sequential fire trigger, a safety that's located behind the driver guide for driving brads in tight spaces, an easy-to-adjust depth guide, a directional exhaust port, and a removable rubber nose. The kit comes with a 1/4-inch male coupler with dust cover, a rugged plastic carrying case, oil, and 1,000 brads. --Jonathon Tudor ... Read more

Features

• One year warranty/30 day performance certification
• Uses standard 18 gauge brad nails from 3/4 to 2 inches long
• Adjustable exhaust port and depth-of-drive
• Removable non-marring tip to protect delicate work
• Quick-release nosepiece for fast clearing of jams

Reviews (29)

Call Me Quick Draw Magraw!!
Hello All,

I'm so thrilled with this new brad nailer that, I'm telling everyone about it. I purchased this unit as a replacement for an older model Campbell Hausfeld brad nailer. What I LOVE about this unit is, that it has the ability to ADJUST the brad depth. For many moons my only means of doing this with my Campbell Hausfeld unit, was to drop the air pressure.(What a royal PITA)I also purchased brads ranging in length from 5/8"-2" to test the gun with.

The BN200A shot all the above brads without a catch, not a single misfire nor any problems with drifting brad depths. I can't say enough good things about this nailer!! If you're looking for a great little brad nailer at a good price, then look no further! I truly believe that you too will find the weight and quality construction of this brad nailer outstanding.

Sweet!
I've only used one other brad nailer and it was as flawless in functionality as this one, but the PC has more features that make it worth the price.
I really like the nail-depth setting, it's a LOT nicer than adjusting air pressure(yuck!!) I also like the swiveling exhaust port, I always seem to get in a position that I get an oily blast of air in my face before I remember to move the port somewhere else.
I haven't had a single problem with it, no jams or misfires.
Very nice tool!

As far as the fit and finish, this guy is top notch. It feel solidly built and very well balanced.

I actually like that this only has a single-fire trigger. I can't see needing to use a brad nailer at the pace of one of the bigger framers with a bump trigger. One is available at extra cost if you find a need, though.

Works well, great price, better than Senco FP18
I was looking for a 2" brad nailer to do wood trim and help with furniture building. I wanted an 18 gauge for the tiny hole that it makes and virtually non-existent wood splitting compared to a 15 or 16 gauge nailer. 2" is enough to go through the trim and drywall and bite into the wall stud.

I originally bought a Senco FP18 brad nailer based on Senco's reputation and the fact that it went on sale for a great price at the local Menards. However, it did not set brads very deep in the wood - barely 1/32" below the surface, any size nail, any type of wood, at 120 psi.

The Senco went back, and I ordered this Porter Cable from Amazon with the free shipping. Ordered Sunday night, arrived Thursday. This nailer has a very solid feel and does an excellent job setting the brads deeply into any wood, including 2" brads into solid red oak. It works fine off of 90 psi.

I am very happy with this unit, and with Amazon's shipping. I've ordered lots of various things from Amazon and always have great results.

A good little brad nailer so far
One of my coworkers recently bought a reconditioned Porter Cable BN200A because the Senco SLP20 at work wouldn't countersink brads anymore. The first Porter Cable brad nailer he bought was defective (misfired), so he exchanged it for one that worked properly. We've been using the Porter Cable for several weeks now, and it has held up nicely.

We've mainly used it on quartersawn oak, particularly the smaller pieces of trim. The adjustable depth of drive functions as expected, and the nailer has had adequate power. It countersinks well and leaves only a small hole in the wood. The only time I've experienced difficulties with it was when I tried to fasten trim to a plaster-coated brick wall in an old house. The brads couldn't penetrate the brick behind the plaster. However, this isn't a shortcoming of the nailer since I couldn't even get my 15-gauge Hitachi finish nailer to drive through the brick without pretzelling.

I like the short height of this brad nailer--it came in handy when attaching trim behind a cast iron radiator where there wasn't much room.

If you're trying to decide between buying a 15-gauge or 18-gauge nailer, perhaps this will help. In my opinion, the 15-gauge nailer is more versatile because 1) it can fire longer nails (good for attaching crown molding, door casing, baseboards and some framing applications); 2) it can be used for structural applications like setting prehung windows & doors; 3) the 15-gauge nails are more difficult to bend so they have better success when firing into hard or dense surfaces (plaster & lath, plaster over mortar, soft brick, thick MDF, etc.); 4) angled 15-gauge finish nailers can fit into some spaces better than straight brad nailers. However, the 18-gauge brad nailer excels in firing into small diameter trim pieces (door jambs, shoe base, etc.) and in situations where the size of the nail hole is more important than the strength or length of the nail. Although some 18-gauge brad nailers can fire up to 2 inch long brads, the longer brad lengths are so thin that they sometimes have difficulty penetrating dense materials without pretzelling all over the place. A 15-gauge nail will generally penetrate farther and hold better.

I gave the Porter Cable 4 stars (instead of 5) because the first one my coworker bought was defective.

A litte gem, well engineered with consistent results!
I tried the Porter Cable BN200A and the Bostitch BT200K. The PC worked flawlessly, felt more solid, and just generally outperformed the Bostitch. This surprised me since I own other Bostitch nailers and am quite satisfied with them. The Bostitch would not throw the nails consistently slowing down my work flow considerably. Additionally the PC seems to be able to tolerate different types of nails more easily. All in all the PC is just simply better. Spend slightly more and save yourself time and trouble => Buy the Porter Cable. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

One of the first companies to design plate joiners, DeWalt makes one powerful slot-cutting tool. Some people argue that joiners are joiners, and while it's true that a slot is a slot, how you cut it makes a heck of a lot of difference. What impresses us about DeWalt's plate joiner is the stout, dual rack-and-pinion fence. Operating with striking smoothness, the fence locks tightly in place and ensures that the joiner's blade and fence are always parallel--which means accurate joints every time. The DeWalt is also the only plate joiner on the market with a fully adjustable tilt fence: the face plate tilts 0 to 90 degrees, so you can join work at whatever angle the job requires (22-1/2 degrees, say, if you're working in octagons). Cabinetmakers will appreciate the convenience of being able to make flush cuts at 0 degrees without having to remove the fence. The 6-1/2 amp motor spins the tool's carbide blade at 10,000 rpm, making remarkably quick, clean cuts. We found the gauges easy to read and easy to set, a big plus (there's nothing worse than wrestling with or squinting at a tool every time you make adjustments). DeWalt's joiner also has preset stops for all common biscuit sizes and there's a handy vacuum adapter that allows you to hook up suction to keep dust in the shop to a minimum--always a good idea. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• Includes dust bag and vacuum adapter
• 6.5 amp 10000 RPM motor
• Dual rack and pinion fence for accurate joints every time
• One piece fence is adjustable and tilts 0 to 90 degrees
• 45-degree locating notch in fence allows indexing off the outside surface of a mitered joint

Reviews (68)

Great Bisquit Joiner
I've used the Porter Cable joiner and the DeWalt joiner and the DeWalt is significantly better. It is not a tool that you can use for extreme accuracy without being very deliberate in your settings, layout and careful handling. In other words, if you try to get high productivity at the expense careful handling you may be disappointed with your results. It is possible to great results if you are willing to slow down and work carefully.

DW682K Heavy-Duty Plate Joiner Kit
When this Kit arrived I was pleasantly surprised at the completness and quality. The blow molded case is not excessive in size and holds everything just right. I've used many other tools but never have I used a plate joiner. Today I can truely say I made the right choice. The adjustments are all evident and handy to reach. I made the tool ready for the cut in a snap. Placed the tool where I wanted the cut and "bam" with ease the cut came out exactly where I wanted it. I think the price and quality and ease of use makes this a five star winner!

Great tool but poor dust port
Everything is great about this tool except the tiny dust collection port that clogs up easily. But all the important parts are well made and functions well.

still the best joiner
In the cabinet shop where I used to work, we had a DeWalt biscuit joiner, a Porter Cable and a Lamello, and the DeWalt was the one the guys would hunt high and low for to find. The Lamello is built like a tank, but poorly designed; the Porter Cable is just a rip-off of the DeWalt. In my opinion, DeWalt still makes the best biscuit joiner around.

As accurate as You(if you know what you are doing)
I was initially disappointed in my joiner,but then I read the directions. Never having used a biscuit joiner and anxious to dive right in, I was making several mistakes and blaming the innocent tool. First I was assuming the arrow on the fence was accurately set. It wasn't. Not a big deal and it doesn't seem like you can buy a tool these days without having to make some adjustment. Second although I was intending to hit dead center on the board I wasn't. If you don't reference of the same side of the boards you are joining you're not going to get a flush joint without careful measuring.(especially using your home depot lumber which is not always not the same exact thickness) The dust port did clog often at first. Then mysteriously stopped. I suspect I did not have wire frame in the bag orientated properly. Once I had a clue it was easy and quick to use. I love it for miter joints.
I just wish it could cut slots for the smaller biscuits like the porter-cable does. You are limited to the width of face frames you can join by the width of the slot. For those who think its too loud, if its too loud your too old. Its a power tool, deal with it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Delta's 28-206 band saw is a smart buy for the serious hobbyist interested in curve cutting and light resawing. The 1-horsepower 120-volt motor delivers smooth, quiet, reliable power, while the saw's nine-spoke wheels deliver more accurate tension on the blade, reducing vibration. The heavy cast-iron trunnions likewise minimize vibration to the blade. A closed base reduces noise and keeps dust off the motor. For curve cutting, the large 16-by-16-inch table provides excellent support for workpieces, and tilts to 45 degrees for bevel cuts. The saw handles stock up to 6-1/4 inches thick with a throat capacity (the distance from frame to blade) of 13-3/4 inches. The lower blade guide on this saw rests only 3/4 inch below the table, which minimizes the deflection in the blade and provides cleaner cuts. When the saw is not in use, the tension-release lever extends the life of the blade. It also makes switching blades quick and easy. The saw comes equipped with a 4-inch dust port, a smart feature you won't find on other band saws on the market today. Package includes 3/4-inch woodcutting blade and instruction manual. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• 2 year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 1-horsepower induction motor provides cool, quiet power
• Quick-release tension lever
• 9 spoke computer balanced wheels eliminate vibration under load
• Blade moves at 3,000 surface feet per minute for efficient cutting

Reviews (9)

Good value for the money
I bought the 28-206 despite the fairly negative reviews here
because I liked the lower guide design, the quick tension release feature, and the integrated dust port. I figured I
could make it work better with the suggestions of previous
reviewers.

Most of the saw's strengths and weakness were already given
in previous reviews. I'll say that delta has been very
responsive in fixing my problems. The sloppy lower guide
can be fixed by replacing the rail with the rail for the
US made saw (part number 426-02-004-0001), the US made rails are slightly thicker and wider,
and completely eliminates the slop. On paper the center of
mount holes are about 1/16" off, but in practice mine went in without any problem.

The vibration problem experienced by everyone is mostly due
to the flexing in the sheet metal stand. I bolted some
1" angle iron under the stand that help a great deal. As
long as I use a link-belt, the
saw passes the nickel test most of the time while running
and cutting, but the nickel falls over on start and stop.
I plan to add more angle-iron reinforcement in the future
to eliminate the remaining flex.

My remaining problem is that my saw's driven pulley came
dented, and it has been back-ordered since January. I work around
it by using only the low speed since the low speed side of
the pulley is OK. The saw cuts really well and the motor
has power to spare when resawing 4-5" cherry. Someday I'll
add a riser block and I'll know how well the motor handles
thicker wood.

The only real downside to this saw is that the left tilt
is advertised at 3 degrees, I got about 7 degrees in practice,
but the small amount of tilt makes it tricky when using the
saw to cut dovetails.

If you want a perfect saw out of the box, skip this one
and look at other brands or delta's US made 14". If you
don't mind doing some work yourself, this is an inexpensive
saw that can be made into a very good saw.

runs good, but hard to assemble
Well, I haven't got a chance to use the saw alot yet. It seems to run great, but the assembly was challenging. The pulleys would not align. I called customer service. A tech called back about an hour later. He said to reverse one of the pulleys. This would certainly solve the alignment problem. It didn't. I had to drill out the holes in the base to form slots. I could then slide the saw over far enough for better alignment. R&D might want to provide these slots. It might have prevented two hours of cutting up a brand new saw base.

Not worth the money
I bought this Delta bandsaw 5 months ago, and have not cut a piece of wood yet! The machine vibrated so bad that I was scared to use it.

I spent $$ on aftermarket parts to cut down on vibration. I hired a local machinist to make the stand more sturdy. I phoned Customer Service 5 times. They were friendly and sent me several new parts. The local Delta Serviceman has the saw now. After 6 weeks of work, he just called to tell me he cannot fix the vibration and has given up trying.

I do not recommend this saw.

Great Value, excellent saw with some work.
First, allow me to say that, in my opinion, this is by far the best value band saw in its class. Where else could you find a machine with these specifications and (most of) Delta's reputation for quality and service? After working out some of this new model's wrinkles, you can own a very versatile saw with a large 16" table, a quick tension release, and a good amount of power. But, for your savings, be prepared to do a little fussing to get everything just right with this saw.

Let me tell you about my experiences, and most importantly Delta's excellent response to some picky little problems I encountered. I can tell you that I am a very fussy guy and know quality when I encounter it, and will settle for nothing less than "how things should be." When I discovered this saw was totally manufactured in China, I decided I would hold Delta's feet to the fire and demand the same level of quality found in their U.S. made saws, and I think I'm close.

I have been in the machine tool business for 28 years, selling metal working machines, and I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. This saw is not bad and can be made good, very good with your effort and persistence. If you are not one to take on such challenges, you can purchase less saw for equal money, or plan to pay quite a bit more for something with equal specifications and fewer rough edges; Perhaps as much as $300-$400 more. For me, woodworking is a hobby and I would like to put that much money elsewhere.

The Good:

In most ways this is a typical Delta cabinet band saw. The 1 H.P. motor has sufficient power, the unit is beefy and most Delta parts and accessories are interchangeable.

The cabinet doors are on hinges, and can be easily opened; quite convenient.

The table is larger than their other 14" band saws.

The blade tension release lever is something I would never want to live without again, never. It's so convenient and would normally cost an additional $150 or so.

The saw is a two-speed unit.

The height adjustment is very accurate and doesn't require readjustment of the guides when the elevation is changed.

The Bad:

The lower blade support assembly is sloppy because the bar it connects to is a poorly, undersized and pretzel-shaped piece of sheared hot rolled steel.

The bottom, hinged door on mine was tight and would bind up, sometimes even popping open on its own.

It's hard (impossible in my case) to perfectly align the motor with the pulley on the saw, but with some fussing around, you can get it close enough.

The cast iron parts are not quite as refined as the American units, but acceptable.
The height adjuster is a bit stiff to move up and down, but I presume Delta wants it to be this way so it won't fall down and pinch my delicate fingers. I noticed it has a rubber surface inside its bore for better grip. With time it will probably work a little easier. Silicon lubricant might also probably help.

The saw is not quite as vibration-free as it could be, and Delta is working on this with me, sending me some new pulleys and an upper band wheel. I think the top band wheel is perhaps a bit out of round or out of balance. When I run the saw without a blade, it's quite smooth. I am confident I can resolve the very slight vibration I am experiencing. Also, to be fair to Delta, my saw is on a mobile stand, not the best base to minimize vibration, and I do have the height extension block installed, too.

Some comments about Delta's excellent service:

When I pointed out the problem with the lower band cover's hinge, Delta overnighted a new cover. It was there the very next day.

When I advised them of the sloppy lower blade guide assembly, they got with their engineering group to confirm my observation, and machined a high precision part that now works like a dream. I trust if you call them they will have this part (now) in stock. The American part won't work only because the holes are spaced differently, but the bar is the same dimensionally. It's a little tricky to install, but only about a 20-minute job.

As I said, I am confident I will be able to resolve the slight vibration problem I am experiencing. It's not really enough to worry about, but like I said, I will hold them to my standards.

Conclusion:

If you don't mind purchasing a Chinese built machine from an American company, and you are willing to work out or accept some of the rough edges, go for it. It's a great value, all things considered. The only thing I can imagine that may be a future problem is the Chinese built motor. It looks good, but who knows. Everything else should last as long as any other Delta 14" band saw. Hope this is a helpful review.

Bandsaw Needs
Ordered this saw as a replacement for a smaller bandsaw. Easy to assemble but you'll need a second person for safety. The quick tensioner is a nice touch and the fit and finish are adequate. The only negative is that the two wheels were not co-planer as delivered but the addition of a 5/8" shim washer took care of that issue. I always test my power tools by removing the blades and checking the runout and no load vibration. This tool is adequate but not outstanding. I replace the drive belt with a "link" belt but that didn't help much. I purchased the Delta because I always buy "made in USA" if possible. Guess what: made in China. If I had known that I would have purchased the Jet 14 bandsaw. Overall the Delta is a good solid bandsaw. When I finally find a permanent spot for it I will bolt it to the shop floor. ... Read more

Features

• Includes impact driver, (2) 18V XR+TM PACK extended run-time battery packs, 1-hour charger, and a heavy-duty kit box
• 1,170 in./lbs. of maximum torque for tightening and loosening large nuts and bolts and driving fasteners
• Only 6-1/2 inches long to get you into tighter spots
• Heavy-duty impact mechanism provides the power while delivering less kickback
• Heavy-duty magnesium gear case and all-metal transmission for job site durability

Reviews (2)

Loads of power, but is that enough to make the big leage?
We use this driver for running in ½ x 12 lag bolts through pilings. This putts a lot of stress on a driver. The DeWalt has more then enough power to handle this and all lesser tasks. I have used several hammer drivers and hammer drills in my business, this is truly the undisputed "Power King"; however, after running hundreds of lags and screws I encountered a few shortcomings with the DeWalt:\

1. On two of these drivers the anvil (hammer thingy) inside stripped out in less then 3 months. On the plus side, DeWalt replaced them, no questions asked.

2. It a nightmare to get inside and replace the brushes on the work site. Combine that with the reluctance of our rep. to even get the brushes addes up to sending them in for R&R (repair and rebuild) at the cyclic rate. Time = money. I still don't know if the brushes can be replaced, how to do it, or if that is even the problem. I suspect it is due to a small amount of graphite looking dust around the air exhaust vents after long use.

All in all, not bad for hundreds of BIG lags, but to put it into perspective, we also use Makita 24 volt hammer drivers. These have run thousands of big lags with no problems at all! The Makita brushes are a few bucks for a pack and can be replaced in a minute.
My bottom line is: Get the DeWalt for lower production work that needs lots of power, but if you have your driver turning day on stay on, you might want to consider a Makita hammer driver in the 18 - 24 volt range.

More than i expected!
I own a few Dewalt tools so i have a lot of experience with the
quality of the brand and I am more than impressed with this impact drill. It drives self tappers in 3/16" steal with no problem. If your in the market for a light weight
impact with lots of power this is the ticket. ... Read more

Features

• Aluminum gear housing and magnesium bearing plate for durability
• Powerful 6.8 amp motor
• Electronically controlled 0-2,500 strokes per minute
• Contoured soft-grip and multi-position belt clip for comfort and convenience
• Cleanly cuts cement siding and backerboard up to 5/16-inch thick

Reviews (1)

Great Fiber Cement Siding Tool
This shear works great for installing fiber cement. I used it in conjunction with a fiber cement saw to install about 30 squares worth of siding on my home. The only function that it is not really good for is to trim a small amount off of an edge. That is where the saw comes in. It also produces very little dust. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

If you're like us, you've crammed more tools into your workshop than can really fit. Luckily, an HTC universal mobile base (or two) can make a world of difference. The base is sturdy and easy to assemble, plus--unlike any other mobile base on the market--it adjusts to fit virtually any large woodworking machine, forming squares from 12 by 12 to 36 by 36 inches and rectangles as big as 20 by 52 inches. Holes at 1-inch increments let you choose any shape in between, and wheels at all four corners make it easy to maneuver. Roll one tool in; roll another tool out. Moving equipment around a crowded shop has never been this easy. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• Lifetime warranty
• Four wheels for well-balanced performance
• Side rails come with holes spaced every inch
• Can hold shop tools weighing over 400 pounds
• Easy to unlock and move

Reviews (94)

FIVE STARS FOR VALUE!
If a tool is to be judged on it's utility then this is a winner. What makes this base so great is that it does what it's supposed to do, does it well, and sells for around fifty bucks.

My shop is so small Hennie Youngman could do a whole routine around it. I don't have the luxury of thousands of square feet of space to plant work stations and production tools. So, I rely on putting everything on wheels to keep it out of the way untill I need it. I made my own untill I discovered the HTC2000 mobile base.

I ordered one for my jointer and another for my table saw. My jointer is now a dream come true! The large wheels track easily and smoothly and it sets down firmly. The only drawback was that the front was higher than the back but that is an easy fix with a spacer or adjusting up your machines leveling feet.

Oddly enough I did not have this problem on the second one I ordered for the table saw. That on is so level you could set grade with it. For the life of me I can't figure the difference but who cares? The only downside I noticed on the one for the table saw was that my saw may be a little heavy for it. I have an old, big Craftsman with a custom made T-Square fence. It rolls very nicely but the cam levers for raising and lowering seem to strain a little in the lift mode. If you are going to move larger machinery I would suggest contacting the company regarding their custom made program.

Overall, if you ever want a stationary machine to have any portability you can't go wrong with this product. And at this price, you can afford a little custom tuning to get exactly what you want.

HTC HTC2000 Universal Mobile Base Review
This is the third mobile base that I have purchased and it is the first one from HTC. My other two units are the Delta mobile base in which you must provide the hardwood cross members into their provided corners. These two units support my Jet Contractors saw and my Jet 14" CS Band Saw. The HTC unit is for my Jet 6" CS Jointer. Overall the unit assembled easily and holds the Jointer very well. My biggest complaint with the unit is that it does not provide the movement flexibility that my other units do. I have a small workshop and need to swing the units around easily. The Delta base has a single wheel centered on one side of the frame and it can pivot very easily. The HTC unit with its two pivot wheel design does not permit easy movement. As I continue to expand my workshop I would not purchase this style again with the two wheels.

Excellent product, easy assembly, great price...
So, who has the free wall space in either workshop or garage to just leave a bandsaw, drill press, table saw, or router table in one place without banging the materials from your project into a nearby cabinet or storage shelf? I sure didn't. Believe me, dragging the drill press or band saw into the middle of the garage was never as much fun as it seemed ;-) Sears has a mobile base exactly like this one, but for $20 more. I bought three, and they arrived super fast in great shape. All parts accounted for(!), and easy to assemble. I'd recommend attaching the base to the tool with some bolts, though (not included). Leveling is easy to do, the base is quite stable, and the rolling action is very smooth. I thought it would be hard to justify the cost, but after buying and mounting them, I wouldn't go back. Excellent product...a definite necessity for large shop tools.

HTC2000 Price Increase
July 13, 2004 I bought a HTC2000 at $43.00 from Amazon.com. July 17, 2004 (3 days later) Amazon.com increased the price by (28.3%) ($16.99) to $59.99 each. Ouch! The price increase of steel did not jump that high.

It's a troublsome erector set
Now I believe I'm in the minority based on these reviews I see. Let me tell you my experience and use your own judgement, it's fine to have a differing opinion.
I used this for my Jet contractor saw, not that time consuming to put together but more so than the one piece unit I replaced it with.
Trying to lock it steady on those rubber feet took more time to do than putting it together. Then, If I move the saw to use my router table I have to readajust it since my cement floor only looks completely smooth. so there's some back and forth issue with making the thing stable when it's moved and repositioned.
I'm not talking about cobblestone imperfection, it's subdle variations in concrete that make 4 wheels rock back and forth ever so slightly if they're not just right. Those 2 rubber feet have to take the weight of the saw and hold it steady or else if you push something heavy there's a chance the saw will move during your pushing. I don't want to have to follow my saw back and forth with shim stock. The nut and bolt type adjustment is tedious. I think Shop Fox has a heavier universal base that uses 2 feet but with large knob adjusters and also a thicker frame.
3 wheels always stay on the ground regardless of the slight imperfection which is what I've found on the one piece mobile base that's made specifically for individual equipment. I just put the one piece base on and forget it. Rolling circles to my hearts content around like a crazy merry-go-round. Stop and cut or route and back to where it once was, no problem. Cost twice as much, saved more than that cursing this univeral base.
I'm going to put this mobile base under my drill press which doesn't have to move, but only if it has too move, it will then be able too. I actually think the slight height increase would be worth it as well. ... Read more

Features

• Includes (2) Ni-MH batteries, multi-voltage charger and case
• Two piece D-31 motor for easy serviceability
• All metal gear transmission for smooth, efficient power
• Shift lock drive instantly changes from drill to driver
• 2.6 Ah Ni-MH batteries for greater capacity and longer run time

Reviews (2)

Excellent drill!
I was recently forced into the market for a new drill when my old 14 volt Dewalt drill/driver finally ended its long career. I needed a drill that could be used for work every day and also came with batteries that would not run out of juice multiple times in one project. I have always believed in Dewalt, but with all the reviews in magazines (and friends) being negative on the new line of drills, I decided to do my research. I ended up choosing between Makita and the new Ridgid brands of drills. I bought a Ridgid drill from my local home center due to the fact that they did not carry the 18v Makita. After one day of use, I noticed a spark coming out the side of the drill due to the brushes in the engine. The drill performed very well even with the sparks but still had two additional flaws: battery life and weight. I went on Amazon as soon as I returned home to look into Makita drills. All of my saws and screw guns are Makita and I have never once had a problem. To my delight, Amazon not only had the drill on sale but it also came with a quality tool belt, work gloves, Amazon discount and a Makita rebate!
The bottom line is simply that this Makita is better made than the other drills. It has externally removable brushes that no other drill, at least that I know of offers. The drill is much lighter than others and the batteries can't be matched by anyone but Panasonic. This drill is just an amazing value, especially on Amazon. I would recommend this drill to anyone who is indecisive on what brand to buy for professional use.

Excellent Drill for the professional or DIY guy
This is one of the Best Drills I have ever used...HEAVY DUTY...WELL BALANCED...STONG MOTOR....AWSOME BATTERIES...and to top it off...AMAZON HAD THE BEST DEAL in town on this model.
For $174.99...I got the 18V Mforce Drill,Case,Charger,2 batteries, a $75.00 Tool Belt, $40.00 Work Gloves, a $20.00 coupon on my next Makita purchase.

WHAT A DEAL....I highly recommend this drill to any Professional or DIY GUY. ... Read more

Product Description

At only 39-pounds and supporting up to 500-pounds, the new Bosch TracRac® T3B portable miter saw stand is the perfect addition to any miter saw system. The stand boasts 20-ft. of total outfeed coverage and 12-inch wide extensions for extra support. Unlike any other stand, the T3B can fold down without removing the saw and be rolled on its integrated rubber wheels form job to job. Combined with the T3B's universal saw mounting system, anyone can appreciate total convenience. An adjustable telescoping/leveling leg adapts the stand to environments with up to 6-inches ground variance, while cam-lock bases maximize outfeed to each side by allowing the entire saw to slide left or right as needed for maximum coverage. Saw not included. ... Read more

Features

• Robust aluminum construction withstands 500 pounds of force
• 20 feet of outfeed coverage
• Solid rubber wheels for easy transport
• Adjustable telescoping leg for uneven surfaces
• Cam-Lock bases forchanging saws easy

Features

• Directional exhaust
• Drives both wire framing and plastic sheet siding collated coil fasteners
• Weighs only 5.5 pounds
• New side-load bucket with tilt-out feature for quick and easy fastener loading
• Accurate tool-less depth of drive

Reviews (2)

Great Nailer, Great Buy
Amazon's Tool Crib shipped on time with no glitches. The 75 nailer is typical of Hitachi's great nailers, and has the versatility to do framing and siding. Mine has gone through about 4000 2" Senco and 3" Bostich nails for fence building without a miss and little sign of wear. Since I only use it once in a while, I'm confident it will last me a lifetime.

Once again, Hitachi produces a superior product.
I was in need of another siding gun, and saw the NV75AG just hit the market. Being that I own the siding (4 years use) and framing (8 years use) versions Hitachi makes (both superior products), when it came time to get a second nailer for siding the choice was clear. For several years I have been contempating getting a coil framer. When sheeting walls on the ground I loose considerable time reloading with the stick framer. This gun holds over 225 nails in one coil! And should my stick framer blow a top seal, or sider fail, the NV75AG will allow me to continue.
The gun functions flawlessly, with both the depth adjustment on the gun and a non maring tip included. Hitachi includes all allen wrenches and fittings, something other makers should but don't.
Only complaints, cost and plastic skirting. Cost, well it takes the place of 2 guns. Skirting, easily removed. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The first time you pick up the Bostitch N62FNK-2, you mightwonder if such a lightweight finish nailer (it weighs just 3.8 pounds,the lightest in its class) can really get the job done. But once youpull the trigger and feel the 400 in./lbs. of driving power at yourfingertips, those doubts will disappear and you'll wonder how you everdid without it before. Rugged and sturdy enough for virtually anyapplication, the N62FNK-2 delivers fast, clean, accurate results usingfinish nails from 1 to 2-1/2 inches in length. An oil-free engine meansno unsightly stains on your work--a definite plus--and no need for messylubrication, an even bigger positive. Tool-free maintenance and depthcontrol only add to the allure. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• No-mar tip protects surfaces
• Oil-free engine requires no lubrication and won't stain work surfaces
• Magnesium housing makes the nailer durable and lightweight--only 3.8 pounds
• Delivers 400 inch/pounds of driving power
• Drives BFN-style finish nails from 1 to 2-1/2 inches long

Reviews (41)

Have No Fear
I am in the process of remodeling my "old" house. The walls are plaster which have become very brittle and delicate over the years. Hammering to install new molding was out of the question. I needed a gun that was light, powerful, easy to operate, and didn't require oiling so as not to make a mess in my home.

I purchased the Bostitch N62FNK-2 nailer (my first nailer) based on the customer reviews and manufacturer information. This gun is absolutely amazing! It delivered everything I wanted in a nailer. I saved money because I didn't damage any of the existing plaster walls, all nails held firmly the first shot...hammering would have been a nightmare!!

I was a little apprehensive about using a nail gun since I had never owned one before. It was so easy and so fast!! My only improvement idea would be that the manufacturer offer variety nail packs, so you don't have to buy such large quantities of only one size nail... BUT... Have No fear...Go for it...perhaps the best tool I have ever owned!

The Glock of finish nailers...
This gun is 6 stars but five is all that's available : ) - Picked this up today researched my (...) off ... looked at these nailers PC DA250 - Senco 40 - and the Bostitch. Well let me tell you, the folks at Bostitch have done thier homework on this gun it is superb...

The PC is to big, to heavy, to awkward and needed oil, nice gun, but simply put - outdated...

The Senco came in a close second. I chose the Bostitch for power and features the (ABS plastic and Magnesium) make this one of the lightest if not the lightest guns available, 3 something pounds. Doing away with the bulky cleat up front to clear jams (feeder pops off with the flick of a button, can't be easier) makes seeing your work area a breeze - you can look right down the front ramp no obsticles in your way. This thing punches thru Oak-Maple-Ash, like butter... I've seen comments about nail availability - well I was at Lowe's and Home Depot today and both had more nail selections available for Bostitch than for Senco any size nail I wanted was right there...

Anyone that knows guns will know what I'm saying when I say "this is the Glock of finish nailers" state of the art - top shelf, great job Bostitch...!!! This will be the standard all the rest will follow...

Home owner
I purchased this gun and i love it. It has a great feel due to its light weight. When you use this gun you will know that bostich has done their homework on this one. It has all of the features i could ask for and for a great price. As for finding nails forthe nailer my local lowes or home depot has all various sizes but only in quanities of 3500. I dont really mind it at all ill have plenty for other projects.

Duo-fast vs. Bostich
From the sound of these reviews, the gun seems to work pretty good for homeowners & such. I've been a carpenter for 40 years. I've been using finish nailers for about 20 years. My last nail gun was a Duo-fast. I finally retired it recently, after 17+ years of service. Since the local lumber yard carries Bostich nails, I went with Bostich. I've had the gun 18 months & the piston rod has broken 3 times. Replacing it myself still cost me $35.00 a pop. Anybody who has trimmed a door or window or installed baseboard, knows it's immpossible not to hit a screw head or sheetrock nail once in a while. Well, everytime I hit one, the piston rod breaks. It breaks in the exact same spot. It appears to made of cast aluminum or something, instead of hardened or stainless steel. I like the gun & am thinking about getting somebody to manufacture a functional rod for me, since Bostich doesn't know how.

Simply The Best
Just purchased another for my Dad. I bought mine three months ago. Arrived on a Friday and by Monday I had installed 5,000 linear feet of baseboard, door and crown moulding. No jams, no drips, no runs and no errors.

If you are new to air tools, or just nail guns, here's some hard learned advice for you. Don't buy off brand nails, hoses, connectors, etc and try to save a few dollars. You will regret it and probably wind up spending more than if you had bought the quality item in the first place. Nowhere more so than the world of tools is the old addage "you get what you pay for" true. Also, use the 50% rule when selecting a compressor. Buying one that is JUST enough to run the tool you are using will not only shorten the compressor's life and servicability, it will frustrate you and leave you with a bad impression of the compressor or tool because your compressor is running almost constantly. So, do some research and buy a compressor at least 50% more capacity than what you think the minimum is. I'm running this nailer with a 5 HP 25 gallon compressor and it only kicks on every 75 nailings or so. My neighbor has a 2.5 HP 4 gallon dual tank that kicked on every 5th to 6th nailing when he borrowed my nailer. The cost difference is minimal, but the overall satisfaction at the end of the day is worth a ton.

Back to the nailer. To date, over 10,000 nailings and still NO JAMS. It's light weight, easy to get into tight spots and with a little practice you can get good enough to paint you moulding prior to install since this gun will not mar the surface or leave oil marks. It's a whole lot easier to paint several thousand feet of moulding on a set of sawhorses in the shop than it is once it's installed 2 feet over your head. Just use some white putty to fill the very discrete nail holes and you're done.

PROS:
* Oil free (Very big plus)
* Lightweight and sturdy
* Virtually maintenance free
* No tool needed to set depth
* Fits into tight corners

CONS:
* Haven't found one yet. Well, maybe they could include an assortment of 4,000 nails instead of only 1,000 that are all one size. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Porter Cable’s redesigned angle nailer fires standard 15-gauge angled finish nails and brings along a list of improved features and benefits. For starters, Porter-Cable upped the nail capacity, taking nails from 1 inch to 2-1/2 inches. The streamlined body balances the ample magazine in the center of the handle rather than off to one side, offering better balance than most of its competitors. Another nice redo: the angled coupler minimizes interference with the air hose during reloading. The tool’s weight is down, too, from 6 pounds down to 4.2 pounds, thanks in part to a new Teflon cylinder and a high-impact plastic magazine. The magazine loads from the rear with a by-pass pusher you can reach from either side of the tool. A non-marring rubber nose tip (with on-tool storage) will protect your workpiece. This nailer comes with a restrictive trigger, but a bottom-actuated trigger kit is available from Porter Cable.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Adjustable exhaust port and depth-of-drive for maximum comfort and control
• Drives 1-inch to 2-1/2-inch, 15 gauge DA type finish nails
• Internal piston-catch ensures full driver blade stroke every time
• In-line glass filled magazine for left or right hand access
• Quick-release nose piece for fast clearing of jams and less down time

Reviews (9)

Is this a cannon or what?
I was building a cabinet the other day and using this nailer, and man, I tell you, you could feel and hear the power of this puppy throughout the shop. It fired rounds of 2" nails in solid oak and with every shot, there was a consistent message being sent out to the wood, "don't mess with me"!
When working with solid hardwood material, and finish nails, the last thing that you want is your nails to be proud of the surface where you have to go back and set them all manually, or the nailer leaving an ugly mar on the surface. None of that with this baby;) It sets the nails and does it exactly where you want them. Very nice tool!

This tool is more powerful, than the 16 gauge finish nailer
I have been using Porter Cables 16 gauge finish nailer, and their 18 gauge finish brad nailer, for over a year now. It has performed great. I was doing some tongue and groove cedar on a wall, and wasn't able to get a the nail on the 16 to sit down flush in the upper corner of the tongue. I picked up one of these 15 gauge, the new DA250B, and this thing kicks butt. It is substantially more powerful, than the 16 gauge. POW, their is no mistake about it. What that amounted to, was the 16 gauge would not drive the nail all the way into the inaccessable corner of the tongue. When I tried it with the 15 gauge, it drove the nail in further, all the way to clean with the surface, down in the corner. The 16 gauge took it to the extent the tip would go, but the 15 gauge went beyond the restriction, all the way to a flush finish. So you could say, the tongue extends out farther on the 15, like beyond flush. It is not the air pressure, I'm running it on a 6HP 60 gallon tank, or the setting of the head depth, I played with all of those. It simply is a more powerful machine, and the tongue appears to extend more, to drive the nail deeper in situations where you can't get the head all the way in a corner. It drives it in anyway.
I would like to make a comparison. It is like comparing the 18 gauge to the 16, but moreso. Maybe it is the new technology, but this thing kicks. The second you fire the first nail, you know it, before you even look at the result. It does leave a larger hole of course, and it has a slight D-shape to it. Reminds you of the old hand forged nail look, but on a finish nail size, and it is a little hole, rather than an exposed nail.
You will notice that Porter Cable states that it is improved to accept other manufacturers nails. I think that may be the nature of the problem some others were experiencing with the older model. They put strange nails in the gun, but now it can accept them.
I highly recommend it, and I expect it will give me the same reliability the 16 and the 18 have given me over the year.

Perfect the first time
I purchased this nailer as a companion to a P-C brad nailer that I had gotten in a combo kit. I was building cabinets for my garage (about 20 feet worth) and wanted something that could handle larger nails. I built drawers, face frames and various wooden assessories for the cabinets. I went through nearly 1000 shots in the first week without the least problems or bumps. And the time it saved in labor probably paid for the unit. I have had no trouble with it at all. When not in use, I keep it clean and cased... the secret to air tools. The overall quality is very good... well worth the price. So far, solid and reliable.

Exactly as expected
I would give it 4.5 stars but that is not an option. I got this one for xmas, I guess the wish list on amazon does work (hehe). Just finished up a basement finsish, shot about 4 boxes of 2.5" and 2" nail through it, not a one miss or jam (watch me jinx myself). I do know that porter cable has completely redesigned the "B" version of this gun, maybe all the negative feedback for it was for the "A" version. I can't complain about this nailer, not in the least, except it seems to be slightly inconsistent in the "blow out" in the wood. It feels light in your hand and the adjustable exhaust is great.

Expensive to repair
I bought the DA250A after owning the Porter Cable brad nailer/compressor combo for over one year. I never had a problem with either one, and was expecting the same performance, but I was very disappointed. It worked fine with the Porter Cable nails it came with (about 500 nails), but it consistently jammed using Senco nails, gouging the magazine, rendering the nailer useless. Speaking of gouging, a new magazine is about [$], one third of the cost of a new nail gun! I can see why Porter Cable redesigned the gun, but I am now wary of buying another product from them despite the good luck I've had with their router and brad nailer because of these problems. Porter Cable should give a trade-in allowance on this poorly designed product. ... Read more

Features

• Rafter hook and measuring rule on the magazine
• Powerful
• Lightweight and well balanced
• Low recoil
• All-weather use

Reviews (18)

Framing Contractor - Grand Rapids Michigan
...It seems that all the experienced framers in the area prefer the Hitachi nailer. I disagree. I prefer the Paslode. The balance, and weight make a big difference to me. I also prefer the nails. You do not have to concern yourself with the plastic flying into your face. Some will say the Hitachi is a faster gun, however I am unable to find anybody who is able to run either gun to its full potential. The only reason I gave it a four star is because of the clipped head nails. If I can find a round head nail that will work with this gun, it would become a 5 star review for sure...

I've always liked Paslode air tools
When I started framing we had an older silver looking Paslode gun that felt like it weighed a ton (chuckle), and a brand new one that felt like you were using a finish nailer (it was light in comparison). Both guns shot nails extremely well. In fact, they were more dependable than the other brands that were available on the jobsite (Hitachi & Senco).

Since somebody decided to liberate me from my Porter-Cable FC-350, I decided to go back to my beginnings and purchased this Paslode gun. I do not feel that my choice was flawed at all.

You've got to make sure that your pressure and the depth adjustment are in tandem or you will have overdrives or stand-offs. This is the case with any nail gun though.

I'd always recommend Paslode guns to anyone who would ask. Besides, I'd rather use paper collated nails too.

Paslode F350S
As the owner of a professional custom wood crating shop, we fire 1000's of nail monthly. This is by far the worst product we have ever used. It came miss firing and not firing from day one. Our supplier thought we were crazy, but upon checking w/ the factory it was discovered to have a Paslode known problem. (The old nieve corporate mentality - getting the customers $$ and worry about it later)It was updated and repaired several times, but continues to not fire and blow air either from the head or trigger (apparently from poor fitting internals). We can not deal with this piece of junk. It's headed to the dump.....

Good Nailer
This was my first framing nailer, and I lucked out with a good one. It can get right between studs on a 16" OC. I have never had a problem with it. The gun is powerful -no problems sinking nails. - Comfortable and well balanced. It is a little loud and has some recoil, although not as much as my full-head nailor. No jams so far. The light weight won't wear you out either. I don't think you can go wrong with this gun.

No plastic collation spit out at you, or to clean up!
Yes you can get round drive heads, which is more appealing to the eye.
Yes you have to pull the wrench out to change the depth, however I do not have to do that too often, it is not a bother to me.

I have the Impulse Framer (The new orange one not the old black one) as well, I much prefer the pneumatic.

Why have a cordless chop saw right next to your plug in table saw? Cords and hoses are a part of the jobsight.
Impulse' days are coming, but not for anytime soon. ... Read more