Porter Cable deal Good or Bad?

[footprintsinconc]

evening everyone!

just wanted to ask, someone is offering a porter cable biscuit cutter in almost brand new condition. he says that he used it a couple times only. the box, manual and the three different sizes of biscuits are all there. he is selling it for $125. do you think that its a good deal?

thanks

[mcgrath4u]

Thats a pretty good deal. It is going for anywhere between $190-210 around these parts and online. I haggled my way to $125 at lowes when amazon had a sale on them.

Go for it!

[Ken Massingale]

Excellent price for a great joiner.

[footprintsinconc]

Thanks!

i checked amazon, dont have it for $125, so cant go to lowes

but good news, the other person didnt go to pick it up, so i just picked it up and just got back but i am 125 down. the box was all dusty, and there is saw dust inside looked more or less new and it is the 557 model.

thanks for the advice!

[Ken Massingale]

Check the Type number on the nameplate, omar. If it's Type 3 or 4, you're good to go. Type 2 needs a shim for the fence, but it's not a big deal.
You're going to enjoy the 557.

[JimD]

The PC biscuit jointer usually gets rated second only to the huge dollar Lamillo whenever they rate biscuit jointers. I don't think you'll second guess this one.

Jim

[gad5264]

Check the Type number on the nameplate, omar. If it's Type 3 or 4, you're good to go. Type 2 needs a shim for the fence, but it's not a big deal.
You're going to enjoy the 557.

Ken or anyone,
Can you tell me which nameplate you are referring to for checking the Type number? I want to check mine.

TIA,

[footprintsinconc]

ken,

what do you mean type 1 thru 4? what is the difference between them all?

regards,

[footprintsinconc]

mine is a type 1, so that means i've got to make some modifications to it? where can i get that information from? in the mean time, i will try to google it.

TIA: look at the side of the cutter for a black tag with porter cable 557 on it and it gives you the Type X. it also has the serial no. on that tag aswell.

regards,

[Ken Massingale]

On the nameplate where the model/serial number is, there will be Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 or Type 4. It should also be on the box.
I believe there should not be any Type 1's around. DeWalt sued PC on the fence design. The Type 2 (that PC designed to get around the suit) had an issue with the fence alignment and required a shim. I 'think' this only affected the joiner when doing FF biscuits, but I may be wrong on that.
Type 3 is fixed and I have never seen a Type 4, but apparently there are some according to what I've read.
Here is a link with some more info if you can sift it out of the HTML code on the page.

Note that some users say they don't have a problem with the Type 2's.

I 'think' any bought in the recent past should be Type 3's

http://www.huntfamily.com/pc557.cfm

[footprintsinconc]

thanks ken for the site, that is the only site that google search results in that is of any use

from what i read, the real old type 1 should be ok, if the problem is there, then that means that they switched the front to mitigate the lawsuit, so it then should be just like the type 2 and the fix is the same.

now all i have to do is check to see if mine has the same problem. but seriously, the problem really stinks for pc reputation.

i am still happy that i finally go a good deal none the less.

regards,

[Alex Franke]

...and it is the 557 model.

Another two thumbs up on the 557 from me. It's an excellent machine -- even does face frame (size FF) biscuits if you change the blade (which is easy to do). Sounds like a great deal!

[bthere]

Congrats on the 557 purchase. This is one of those dedicated tool that makes a specific job dirt simple.

One of the things I've found useful is a jig for holding stock while cutting the biscuits. Mine is based on this one by Gord Graff. It works with 3/4" stock, is quick and simple to build, and easily hangs or stores out of the way when not in use.

[footprintsinconc]

thanks, right now, i dont even know what FF (face framing) is, got lots of learning to do......

in light of another tread, the box is tooooo big for the tool

[footprintsinconc]

nice jig, but ......

thanks, right now, i dont even know what FF (face framing) is, got lots of learning to do......

that is really a neat jig! will make it for sure. thanks for the link!

in light of another tread, the box is tooooo big for the tool