Thanks to a tip by Creighton (thank you!), we learned of a new Porter Cable miter saw (PCXB115MS) that has an unusual feature – the entire top half of the saw folds over to make the saw more compact for transport and storage.
It always pleases me to say this: well, that’s new!”
Who could use a more compact miter saw? Lots of folks. The product listing says:
Space savings design allows the saw to be stored flat, reducing space required for storage in garage or work truck.
It seems to have typical non-sliding 10-inch saw specs. Compared to the Dewalt DW713 ($219 via Amazon), the speed is slightly lower, and the miter range somewhat different.
- 10″ blade
- 15A motor
- 4500 RPM
- 0-47° bevel left (this is a single bevel saw)
- 0-47° miter left and 0-55° miter right
- Max cutting capacity of 2″ x 6″ or 4″ x 4″ at 0°
- Max cutting capacity of 2″ x 4″ at 45°
- Weighs 27.24 lbs
- 2-1/2″ dust port
- Tool-free adjustable laser for cut line guidance
it comes with a “support base,” starter blade, blade wrench, work clamp, and dust bag.
From the images, the saw does look to fold down pretty compactly.
There’s a user-adjustable laser for cut line guidance. It’ said to be tool-free, and the images show thumb wheels. Hopefully there’s a lock that sets adjustments in place so as to prevent an accidental touch from inadvertently skewing the calibration.
The saw also comes with a “support base,” which:
Provides platform for storage of saw, which also provides additional support for long work pieces during operation.
I can see how this is intended to be used as a work support base, at least on flat work surfaces such as a workbench, but what does that other part mean?
The underside of the support base looks to make with the saw. Ah – it allows for vertical storage of the saw when the saw head is folded over!
In his tip email, Creighton wrote: Folds for compact transportation…. Seems sorta interesting, and I completely agree with him.
I’m not quite sure how to describe it other than interesting.
Price: $179 (at launch)
Buy Now(via Lowes)
First Thoughts
Does Porter Cable make miter saws? A quick search shows that yes, they do, or at least they did.
To be perfectly honest, I’m not quite sure what to think about this new Porter Cable offering. On one hand, it’s very unique, and I can see that it does address a problem or concern that some users have.
One of the reasons I liked Bosch’s GTS1031 portable table saw so much is because it’s flexible in how it can be stowed away – even vertically underneath a workbench.
But on the other hand, is this a saw I would consider buying or using? My first impression is that it’s a consumer-focused model, or otherwise aimed at budget users.
I can see the appeal of a fold-down head, but how will that affect its cutting precision? The movable work support can be useful, but what happens if the work surface is uneven. Or what if someone’s placing the saw on their inclined driveaway? Or an old and wavy deck?
How stable is it when stored vertically in its plastic-looking support base?
What about the laser – it looks easy to adjust, but that mean accidental misalignment is just as easy?
Despite my strong desire for compact and easy to store benchtop power tools, I’d sooner buy a Hitachi or Dewalt 10″ miter saw than this one.
This saw looks to compare to Ryobi, Sears Craftsman, and similar DIYer or value Pro brands’ miter saws, but at higher pricing.
If you ask me, it’s perhaps more fitting in Black & Decker’s lineup, or as one of SBD’s first Craftsman tools. I find myself judging the design more critically because of its Porter Cable branding than I would have if it were branded under Stanley Black & Decker’s other brands.
Although not quite suited for my miter saw needs and wants, I’m optimistic that Porter Cable’s new miter saw is indeed a distinct model that will serve some users’ needs.