Make no mistake: Porter Cable makes great routers.  When we spent a day riding with one of the members of Stanley’s Discovery Team, we visited a number of professional wood shops — both large and small — and almost all of them used Porter Cable routers.

Now Porter Cable’s releasing some of their router bits in sets — some of which offer great selection and value.

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Porter Cable says this new compact belt sander will hit shelves this month, bringing with it some pretty slick features — most of which center around its small form factor.  Specifically, its sides are flat, which allows you to sand right up to vertical surfaces.  There’s also a grip incorporated into the spot where the power cord exits the tool to give you another way to hold on to it when you’re sanding in tight, difficult spaces.

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Apropos of nothing whatsoever — certainly not the comic we posted earlier this week — we bring you RoboToolz’ 5-beam laser level, plumb, and square.  Attach it to a stud, joist, or other flat surface and it pumps out laser beams upward, fore, aft, and to both sides at perfectly square 90-degree angles to simplify the task of installing cabents, countertops, and other square items.

The laser includes an auto-leveling mechanism which not only levels the unit after attachment, but also flashes the laser beams if you happen to knock it out of level afterward.  According to RoboToolz — now a part of Porter Cable — it can also be calibrated by the end user (you!) right on the jobsite with a flat-head screwdriver.

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The guy down the street has a peg board set up to hold his tools, just like every one you know.  You’re a DIY/tool guy; you want need to have something slicker than he does to hold your gear, yeah?  How ’bout your own custom-made slot-wall? 

Porter Cable’s got your back with their Slot-Wall Self feeding bit. This bit, when hooked to your router, will cut a “T” shaped slot into a 2×4 or wooden board of your choosing. That “T” slot will hold peg board hangers or standard slot-wall hangers.  Do you see where we’e going here?

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Reciprocating saws are incredibly handy.  Once you’ve used and owned one, you’ll never be without.  We’ve used ours to cut difficult-to-reach wood and metal and for demolition.  We’ve also carried cordless versions to the junkyard; There’s no easier way to free a part or get exactly what you want from that rustbucket.  But someties it can be tricky getting the saw in where you really want it.  Enter Porter-Cable’s TigerClaw Variable Angle reciprocating saw.

It’s pretty much like any other corded reciprocating saw you’ve used with the significant advantage of a gear housing on the front that can rotate through 360 degrees and angled up to 180 degrees.  What this means to you is that you can “bend” the front of the saw around to make it just about any shape you want to fit it in where you need it. 

Besides its Gumby-like abilities, the TigerClaw is a capable saw with an 11.5 AMP motor and a 1-1/4″ cutting stroke.  It’s got a soft grip handle, and a keyless blade clamp.

Street pricing starts just shy of $200, and you can find these saws all over in stores and on the ‘net.

The TigerClaw Variable Angle Tiger Saw [Porter-Cable]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

If you hang around old school carpenters and woodcrafters they will give you two bits of advice pretty regularly: don’t cut your wood too short, and the finished edges on a wood project are what separates a good project from a great project.  To create those edges you need a good set of router bits, and Porter Cable just made obtaining them easier with the release of their 10 pc. “Master Woodworking” router bit set.

This set, like other Porter Cable “Professional Edge” series bit sets, features the POZI-STOP shank, which allows for a perfect repeatable depth set each time.  The set also features 10 of the most commonly used routing bits in common sizes including: 1/4″ 2 flute straight, 3/8″ 2 flute straight, 1/2″ 2 flute straight, 3/8″ V-groove, 1/2″ core box, 45-degree chamfer, 1/4″ Roman ogee, 3/8″ rabbeting, 3/8″ cove, and 3/8″ corner rounding.

The diversity of this bit set makes it a good place to start for DIYers looking to do finish, cut-out or molding work.  It’s a good deal considering all the bits in the set, but it’s not for the weak of wallet, though, with a $180 price tag (with some shopping).

10pc Master Woodworking Router Bit set [Porter Cable]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

If you’ve got a job coming up and need to buy a full set of pneumatics, Porter Cable wants to make it as easy as possible for you by offering a kit loaded with an 18 gauge brad nailer, a 16 gauge finish nailer, an 18 gauge stapler, and a .8 HP 6-gallon pancake compressor.

The compressor runs on 120 VAC, so you’ll need on-site power and an extension cord.  The kit also comes with a canvas bag and weighs a grand total of just 34 lbs.  Other accessories include a 40′ air hose with coupler and plug and 3,000 fasteners. 

This is essentially a one-stop-shop option for the serious weekend warrior or small-job contractor, and it’s priced very reasonably at just $360 or so street.  That price places this kit squarely in the DIYer’s court and pretty much eliminates any excuses for starting another job with just an old hammer and spring-stapler.

Finish Nailer/Brad Nailer/Stapler/Compressor Combo Kit [Porter Cable]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

When you’re building a staircase or deck, it’s difficult to get a good smooth finish on edges with a belt sander.  You can always use the fixed spindle sander, but that takes a bit of planning. 

Or, you can grab Porter Cable’s portable oscillating spindle sander and just finish the edges right on the project.  It’s also a heck of a lot easier to carry to the job site.

Called the Model 121, it features:

• a 2,400-3,600 RPM variable speed motor, which allows use of hard and soft woods as well as laminates, plastics, and marble
• adjustable edge guide for accurate pre-set removal of stock
• and a 1″ vacuum port for dust-free sanding

If you’re doing a lot of on-site finishing work, or if you’re looking for an alternative to a large, fixed oscillating spindle sander for a smaller shop, this tool’s worth a look. 

Street pricing starts around $260.

Model 121 Portable Oscillating Spindle Sander [Porter Cable]
Street Pricing [Froogle]

Delta and Porter Cable would like to help you figure out how to place their tools in your shop by offering their new online shop designer.  According to Delta:

The Shop Designer application displays a top-down view of a workshop with dimensions that you specify. Top-down illustrations of PORTER-CABLE® and DELTA MACHINERY® tools and accessories are available to drag and drop in to your workshop. You can create and save different workshops and retrieve them later for further modification. Browse through various PORTER-CABLE® and DELTA MACHINERY® tools and accessories and view detailed information to find the perfect product. If you already know the model number of a specific PORTER-CABLE® and DELTA MACHINERY® tool and/or accessory, you can do a model number search of that product and it will be placed in your floor plan for you.

It looks pretty interesting, though we were sort of surprised to note that it requires you designate a shop of at least 16 ft. in length and 12 feet in width.

Anyway, it’s definitely fun to play with, and it might be useful to you if you have a larger shop and have (or plan to have) a lot of Delta/Porter Cable tools.

Shop Designer Announcement [Delta]
Shop Designer Application [Delta]

Woodworkers’ Journal, Delta, and Porter Cable have come together to offer a chance to win Norm’s (of New Yankee Workshop fame) shop.  Well, sort of.  In their words:

Okay, not Norm’s actual shop; he’s kind of fond of it. But we are providing an opportunity to win just about all the goodies he has in the New Yankee Workshop. Click here for a complete list of prizes (tools) and you’ll agree — we’re not kidding around.

And you won’t just win the tools. We’ll be flying you to Boston (airfare for two is on us, so bring your spouse or shop buddy), putting you up in a nice hotel, and keeping you well fed! Then, we’ll take you out to the New Yankee Workshop … (You have to promise not to tell anyone exactly where it is) … where you’ll watch the filming of a New Yankee Workshop episode. Lunch with Norm and the crew will also be our treat! 
 

They’re not kidding.  Click on that link above and start figuring out where the tools’ll fit in your shop.  And don’t forget to enter the contest.

Sweepstakes Information [Woodworkers' Journal]
Sweepstakes Entry [Woodworkers' Journal]

In honor of their 100th Anniversary (and to encourage you to sign up for their “Performance Crew” email list), Porter Cable is giving away “100 Porter Cable tools and accessories.” 

And as an afterthought, they’re also currently giving away a Model FN250B 16 Ga., 2-1/2″ Finish Nailer Kit. 

All you have to do is register for the program (link below), click on “Promotions & Sweepstakes,” then click on the offer and you’re in.  Click on both of them while you’re there.

Porter Cable Promotions [Porter Cable, Registration Required]