Popular Woodworking 2004-08 № 142, страница 77
Porter-Cable 3807 Porter-Cable: 800-321-9443 porter-cable.com The Porter-Cable saw did OK in the testing and is all-in-all a decent machine. Unfortunately, it's only $15 less than the superior Makita. The upper blade and motor assembly is nearly identical to the Delta, but the bases are significantly different. The Porter-Cable's miter table moves very smoothly, offers ambidextrous thumb releases for changing the miters and locks easily at detents or anywhere between. The scale is easy to read, but the lines were a bit wider than we would have preferred. This could lead to user error when measuring a cut. The saw does offer extended miter capacity, reaching 47° to the left and 57° to the right. The throat plate is a solid insert, leaving us no ad justment for zero-clearance and the added likelihood of more tear-out after a couple of bevel cuts. The slide and beveling releases are at the rear of the machine (as with most saws in the tests). In use we felt the slide mechanism and plunge spring offered more resistance than necessary. One oddity to note is that though the table platform appears large, there are no side extensions included (or available as accessories). As a result, the supported table width on this saw is the smallest in the test. The fences are a one-piece casting and short (13/4" high), but were square and in accurate alignment with one another. If you need to adjust the fence, simply loosen four bolts and tap it into place. In operation we found the quality of the cut on the Porter-Cable saw to be somewhat better than average, but we still found an improvement in the cut quality after switching to a new Freud blade. Bottom line: It's a fine saw, but for a few bucks more you can get a much better machine. PW MAKING YOUR MITER SAW BETTER While we've spent some effort showing you the virtues or deficits of the sliding compound miter saw category, there are ways to make this machine even more useful in your shop. Regardless of where you're using your saw, you will need to set it up at a reasonable working height. This may require you to build a miter saw stand such as the one we added to our shop. Shown below, this mobile stand (the free plans are available online at popwood.com by clicking on "Magazine Extras") offers 8' of board support and adjustable length stops to either side of the cut. These stops are something not found on most commercial miter saw stands. If you build your own stand, make it mobile using casters so the stand and the saw can be brought to the work if necessary. Use casters that lock so that once the stand is in place it won't move while you're using the saw. The same advice applies if you're purchasing a manufactured stand. Stands should also allow you to adjust the extended table height to conveniently match the table height on your saw. If you're not ready to buy or build a mobile stand but still want the benefit of improving the fence system (in capacity as well as repeatable accuracy), you can do it with an affordable aftermarket fence system. We like the fence system shown below from Woodhaven (800-344-6657 or woodhaven.com). For about $100, the model 4502K easily adds a fence system that can be accurately aligned to your existing fence. Also included is a drop-down stop system that quickly adjusts and can be accurately set to make as many repeat cuts on a board as necessary. It's money well spent. - DT popwood.com 75 |
