There’s a wall of scroll saws on the aisle of your big box store, and there you are standing tryin to decide what to buy. They costs everything from pocket change to a serious investment. A Porter-Cable sits in middle of it all.
It has some professional features and is priced moderately. It appear up to the task, and it’s ready to cut those fancy curves. But is it any good?
Or is it a mid-tier compromise that will drive you crazy because the blade keep breaking? No, this isn’t merely about cutting up some wood. This is about being patient and precise.
With a scroll saw, I can make detailed cuts into solid material, cutting tight curves. If the saw shake, the line wanders. If the tension vary, the blade snaps.
You want something that stays put while you move it. Porter-Cable fits somewhere in your shop. It is not a throw-away plastic toy, but it is not an old cast-iron masterpiece either.
Is Porter Cable Scroll Saw Good For You
Understanding the Porter-Cable Scroll Saw
To understand Porter-Cable, you need to look at both the mechanism and who the tool was designed for. Cut quality equals build quality. Is this a heavy duty tool for cutting through hardwoods?
Or is this going to be a soft pine project? It all come down to how you plan to use it. It depend on how often you will use it.
It also depends on what you intend to create with it. Here are some points about the real world experience of operating a Porter-Cable scroll saw. What do you notice first?
Build Quality and Vibration
Yeah, that’s right: they’re built. Built well. Built by Porter-Cable which incorporate high-impact plastics with metals in their construction.
It’s not a defect; it’s a design decision. Yes, a cast iron body would be heavier and cost more, but it also absorbs vibration very nicely. In exchange for that light construction, there’s some vibration transfer.
It’ll make the blade vibrate more. So what? Get some sharper blades and take smaller bites, feeding at slower speeds.
That’s the price for portability and affordability. You can still put it in a closet and wheel it out when needed, or move it from one bench to another without straining your back. But many first-timers fail to realize this.
They gets the tool home, think it’s a band saw and expect it to cut just as easily. Not so. Skill are required.
Motor Performance and Blade Selection
Next comes the performance of the motor. On average, the motors on the Porter-Cable scroll saw is rated from 3-4 amps. Not very impressive, right?
But remember that it’s not about brute force with scroll saws. It’s all about control and blade speed. The motors easily handles pine, poplar, plywood.
With a 3/4 inch thickness of soft wood there is no bogging of the motor at all. If you start pushing into maple and oak, slow down considerably. The motor won’t burn out, but the blade could deflect.
Remember, you have to match the blade type to the material. For example, a skip-tooth blade will cut softer woods a bit faster, whereas a harder wood like maple or oak will require a finer tooth count for a smoother finish. The Porter-Cable does this range well for its price.
Throat Depth and Blade Tension
Throat depth and blade tension are more critical then you’d think from specs. Throat depth mean the maximum width of the board you can cut. On most Porter-Cable saws, this is about 12 to 14 inches.
That’s fine if you’re making jewelry boxes, fretwork, or puzzles. But it’s pretty tight when cutting large pieces for furnitures. Blade tension is normaly adjustable either with a lever or a dial.
They works well but require frequent adjustment. Too tight and your blade will break off. Too loose and the blade wander around.
Porter-Cable also incorporates a guide system into their design that help to maintain the blade at a right angle. It is simple but effective. It does not have expensive dual-bearing blade guides found on high-end brands, but it has all you really need to stay on line.
Dust Control and Visibility
These saws excel at dust control. They are also wide, flat, and hold your workpiece on the table. Most model include a dust chute.
It’s a little thing that makes a big difference. When you can’t see your cut line because your work area is dirty, it’s all over. Half the battle in scroll sawing is visibility.
Porter-Cable designs the dust chute to be hooked up to your shop vac. It catches most of the chips. You spends less time sweeping and more time cutting.
It sounds silly, but until you’ve got glue stuck in your cut lines from all the dust…you won’t think it’s silly. Good: A Porter-Cable scroll saw is good. What do you mean by good?
Final Verdict for Hobbyists
If you’re a luthier creating violins, then more precision, less vibration would of been better. For someone who’s a hobbyist who wants to make wooden toys or some decorative art piece for the walls, this saw’s great. It has sufficient control and power to create something that looks professional.
It’s durable enough to withstand weekend after weekend of usage over many years. And it’s priced right enough so that the risk of buying it is pretty small. The Porter-Cable isn’t trying to be an industrial workhorse.
It’s a capable companion that encourages you to go ahead and cut those curves you’ve never been able to cut before. THAT’S what it’s worth. It gets out of your way so you can work.
It gets you in on the craft. Then you begin to make stuff.