Porter Cable 20V MAX 8-Tool Combo Kit

Porter Cable 20V MAX 8-Tool Combo Kit

I’ve had a similar kit since 2015, and it’s been pretty solid. I’m a fairly serious DIYer, it’s served me well through a full kitchen remodel, I’m currently finishing a down to studs bathroom remodel, and the batteries have lasted surprisingly well, I’m still on the first two, just recently got a third of the smaller ones.

These are mid-range tools. I had previously had a set of Dewalt cordless for ~7 years and felt like I underutilized them. So I decided to step down from the contractor-grade to this Porter Cable set, and I’ve overutilized them. They’ve been solid and reliable.

The elephant in the room: there’s not a lot of tool choice, about the only thing you can add to this kit is the palm sander and a brad nailer (neither of which I’ve used). The Ryobi One+ ecosystem has way more tools, but it also has some weirdness in battery compatibility. (edit: It looks like they have a brushless drill/driver now)

Drill: Pretty solid, has a brake and a LED, some have a battery tester. I’ve burned up the clutch in my original, through mixing too much mortar at once, really more than it can handle. But I also found some refurb drills on ebay years ago and got one or two spares for ~$20.

Driver: Works great, has storage for a second bit, no complaints.

Jigsaw: I’ve only used it a bit, but is a solid performer.

Circ saw: Works well, though I dropped mine fairly early on in it’s life and now the base plate is slightly out of whack. There isn’t really a good cut guide notch in the base plate, I mostly just end up following the cut line with the blade, or using a saw guide. I used to use it for more, but in the last year or two I got a track saw and I’ve had a chop saw, between those I don’t end up using this much.

Oscillating tool: It works fine, but it is noisy as hell. I don’t run it without hearing protection. Really buzzy. I also have a Porter Cable wired oscillating tool, it is definitely the better of the two, but I usually use this one because cordless.

Recip saw: I use this a lot, quite solid, never had problems. I’ll pull out my old Milwaukee sawzall if I have a really big job, but otherwise I use this all the time. A big use is breaking down branches or trimming the trees, or breaking down things to go in the trash.

Grinder: It chews through battery, but works great. I’ve only used it a little, but no complaints. Probably will be using it today to cut some tile for around the toilet flange.

Light: Basically worthless. I mean, it’s ok, but is fairly small in beam and light output, and takes up one of your batteries, so I almost never use it. I ended up getting a good head lamp and a couple plug in LED lights that I use in preference. I’ve maybe used this light 2-3 times in 7 years.

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