Porter Cable has come out with a new entry-price-point angle grinder, model PCEG011.
I hate to admit it, but I can’t tell what sets this grinder apart from their other entry-level model, PCE810 (also $30 at Amazon). The new grinder looks… a little shorter? Maybe it’s the switch.
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The new Porter Cable angle grinder has a 6A motor and 4-1/2″ wheel size. It features 3 handle positions, an integrated spindle lock for easier grinding wheel changes, soft-start, tool-free adjustable guard, and 12,000 RPM speed.
There’s also a no-volt switch that prevents accidental restarts following a power disruption. This means that even if the tool is set to “on,” the tool won’t automatically restart itself when power is restored. It’s a good safety feature.
It has a locking slide-switch, which I personally don’t like; I favor paddle switches. Slide switches tend to be more comfortable for longer work sessions. Paddle switches are “dead man” switches that disengage when you release the tool.
Price: $30
Buy Now(via Amazon) – coming soon, as of the time of this posting
Compare(Other Models via Amazon)
First Thoughts
I can’t decipher what’s new about this grinder – maybe it’s the “no-volt” switch? Or did the previous model not have enough grooves molded into the housing?
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Still, on paper, it looks to be a decent entry-level grinder.
Maybe you like to swap grinders instead of changing accessories back and forth. Or you’re looking for something smaller than you typically use. Or maybe you just want an inexpensive grinder that still offers some user-friendly features. Then this grinder might make sense for you.
Porter Cable currently offers three 6-amp grinders, each priced at $30. There’s this new one (PCEG011), another light beige and black model (PCE810), and a (previous color scheme) dark grey and black model (PC60TAG). Maybe the new model replaces one or both of them.
Lastly, does anyone else wish it was easier to find and buy cut-off wheel guards? Most brands only include a grinding-type guard.
Cr8on
I personally like switched grinders but have ran it times where serious injury’s could have happened because of power loss… Especially when loaning it to others. Looks like just for the no power safety, I’ll be an owner.
Paul K
It’s kind of irresponsible for a company to make any entry-level tool, especially an angle grinder, w/o a dead man switch. Knowing that your target market is the least trained and least experienced user base, try to make it at least inconvenient for them to hurt themselves or others.
Randy
Can you use these with a cutting wheel to cut up an empty 275 gallon heating oil tank or should I use a sawzall?
Matt
Neither? Either? Depends on your prep. Both will work, although I think I’d prefer the sawzall as long as you have someone to apply cutting oil and the patience to go slow.
Either way, make sure you purge that tank. Break out the pressure washer and some good detergent and get any residue off the inside of the tank. Then, ideally, grab some dry ice and put it inside the tank to fill it with inert gas before the cut. A few blocks from the supermarket should be fine, just give it enough time to push out the O2.
Without doing this, you risk igniting the oil residue as the heat from either cut will begin to vaporize it. Oil doesn’t explode easily, but hot metal and sparks combined with a thin residue that’s easily vaporized is about the perfect recipe for it to happen. Don’t take the chance.
fred
Some years ago we did a lot of this work as local codes changed and many homeowners needed to get rid of their tanks that no longer complied with code. Some “contractors” used torches to cut the tanks. To be fair, I don’t recall any stories of houses being burnt down this way. We chose to use a big Kett nibbler that we had. It was pretty fast – but all those little metal discs made cleanup a nuisance.
Mrwirez
JUNK & DANGEROUS.
I plugged it in, and it took off like a burn out! My 4″ cutoff wheel just missed dicing and mailing my left calf. I am an IBEW electrician with 35 years experience with Porter Cable tools. These angle grinders can really mess a novice up.
I didn’t thinks switch could lock on without power, but that is indeed the case. There should be mandatory paddle switch, so you must be holding it properly for a safe start up. Like all the other brand angle grinders. Even the Harbor Freight one come with a proper switch.
Porter cable… What is this junk are you selling?
Anthony R.
I’d be comfortable using either one. It would really depend on the thickness of the steel the tanks are made of. Use whichever you’re more comfortable using safely. If it’s thicker steel I’d go with either a 7″ or 9″ angle grinder with a cutoff discs, especially the ones that the user can rotate the barrel and grip to whichever angle suits your cutting. A plasma cutter would be the best, if you have one, or access to one with a powerful enough air compressor. Those plasma cutters make cutting steel a breeze, and as long as youve purged the tank like they’ve said before me it’s also the safest option and least tiresome to use as well as being the fastest.
Ian
Looks like SBD have determined that the future of PC is to be the low-end DIY-er brand of tools. At this price point, they are competing with Black & Decker themselves.
Joe
It’s a shame to look at porta cable tools these days. Once upon a time they had some of the best tools, period….their HD sawzall was hands down better then anything Milwaukee could dream of….now, they are just a shadow of their former selves……
Bolt
I wonder if this is 20 dollars better than the harbor freight special?
Diamond Dave
Being a DIY’er (now) and only using a grinder occasionally, this tool will last for many years in my tool lineup. As far as professional usage I believe grinders and recip saws are probably two of the most abused tools in the industry. In the concrete industry cutting, smoothing and polishing masonry, tile, etc there is a ton of dust sucked through the grinder along with metal shavings from cutting rebar and other steel. Many companies that work in this industry find it easier to purchase a few less expensive grinders to get a few large jobs done and then purchase more for upcoming jobs rather than purchasing expensive grinders and having to wait for warranties and repair. These are basically throw away models to these companies once they give up the ghost.
Tool Of The Trade
It is a shame that the company who invented the circular saw, sander, tiger claw, and several other innovative tools has been reduced to what they are now. Sbd has done all but ruin and tarnish everything related to the porter cable brand. They were absolutely professional grade tools before sbd got a hold of them. Now they are in the same class as black and decker and that just isn’t right. Black and decker used to be better than what they are now before they merged with Stanley. Super sawcat. What happened? Stanley was a better than they are now before the merger. I’m starting to think that the whole sbd thing was a bad move for everyone involved other than Dewalt, which they seem to be focusing more on than any of the other once good and great brands that they own. Porter cable was as good if not better than Dewalt is now not so long ago. I’m crossing my fingers that they do it right with craftsman. And it’s not because of overseas manufacturing because sbd are the ones that choose how they want their tools to be made and what materials to build them with. As for the grinders, if they are intended for entry level use then they should have every safety feature available for them. Entry level means a higher rate of injuries, right?
fred
We’ve had this discussion before. When there was more competition in the power tool business – with different USA brands either being independent or being part of a more diverse parent-company structure – there may have been more room for competition at various levels within the marketplace. I recall a time when Skil, and Black and Decker all made different lines of tools from homeowner/DIY quality to contractor grade to industrial grade tools. Porter Cable and Milwaukee seemed to aim at the contractor and industrial users. Craftsman power tools were another option – and the had 2 lines – one they called “Craftsman Commercial” At that time Makita was just starting to make inroads into the US market and Dewalt was mostly the maker of Radial Arm Saws – while Emerson was making lots of the stationary tools for Sears. Home depot and Lowes were yet to emerge as major players – and home centers and discounters were IMO rather cheesy by today’s standards. I bought my tools from Industrial suppliers – who eschewed dealing with the hoi polloi. As a homeowner – you could pay top dollar and order professional grade tools via catalog at a hardware store. The DIY movement took off – and B&D and Skil probably saw an opportunity to compete with guys like Wen at the low end – selling lots of plastic-y drills and circular saws at home centers and discount stores. At least Rockwell put their own name (not Porter Cable) on the pale green drills and saws they sold to homeowners. As you mention – the B&D – the maker of the Super Sawcat – started selling low end “burner tools” too – probably ruining their reputation. Acquiring Dewalt and turning it into their premier tool line – likely saved B&D’s quality tool business in the US anyway. We can look back on that time fondly – but IMO it had a measure of both good and bad.
jec6613
It looks like they made modest production changes to bring down cost and simplify assembly, and probably improved the quality a bit as well. It also may be made in a different facility. It doesn’t need to be lots different to sell a lot, if they discontinue the older model and keep this new one going, it’ll continue to sell.
I agree with the paddle switch though, just seems silly not to have one on any angle grinder.
Allen
Entry level ?
Since when has that been a thing on power tools ?
Mine is 30 some years old and the only one I’ve ever had. Don’t know how many brush sets I’ve gone through. I know I only have one set left so I better start looking for more. On the farm it has had hard use.
If a person is just starting out and thinks they will be using whatever tool you’re thinking of for some time to come, my suggestion is to buy the best and save money and frustration in the long run.
Stuart
I find that “Entry Level” is quicker to say than “Entry Price Point.” Entry Price Point is perhaps more accurate. Either way, I took that part out of the post title, it did seem like more of a judgement.
Entry level tools often have basic features and low price points. Depending on the type of tool, entry price point tools might not be well suited for industrial or demanding usage environments.
Paul K
Brand sadness. It’s most common in Craftsman topics, but second most common in PC topics. I just don’t get it. I’m actually excited and hopefull that SBD will continue with the “cheapening” of the Porter Cable brand and turn it into a real competitor to Ryobi. They’ll need a boat load more cordless options, but I think it’s perhaps slowly happening. Fantastic, lets get some competition at that price point.
Oh, but PC used to make the best routers….in 1985? Like what, so? There’s so many great powerful routers available, who cares if PC’s aren’t keeping up? It’s a badge on a tool. Used to mean something, now means something else. It’s ok. It’s just a name, not an identity you should have. YOU own a great porter cable tool from yesteryear. PORTER CABLE tools do not own you, will not affect you emotional stability…unless you let them…and OMG do some people let them.
PC’s new diy level tools don’t hurt your great router or band saw. Breathe, let it go. It’s gonna be ok.
The tool brand you use is just a tool brand you use. The football team you root for is just the football team in your town. YOU will survive your brand transitioning to another price point, YOU will survive bad draft picks.
It will be ok. it will be ok. it will be ok.
fred
I’m not wedded to the idea of having the Porter Cable name on high quality tools. It could just as easily be Dewalt . But what I see is that the standard of quality and durability that once was set by some (not all) of the PC tools may not exist any more. Maybe its just misplaced nostalgia on my part – but I don’t think so.
If Dewalt was building tools that matched the durability and performance (for their day) of tools like vintage PC routers, planers and sanders or the B&D Super Sawcat – I’d applaud SBD. If SBD wants Dewalt to be their premier line – why not try to compete with Mafell (Hilti, Festool and Fein too) – rather than stick the Dewalt name on all sorts of hand tools and accessories – some of which are far from best in class ?
I guess its a new reality, based on how and where most tools are now sold – and what is most profitable. It may also be unrealistic not to recognize that the cordless tool revolution has brought with it a change in expectations of how long a power tool should last – since changes in technology may promote tool change-outs before they actually wear-out. Tools like cameras (as another example) are bought in good measure for their utility – as that is defined by their users. The Canon digital camera that fits in my pocket when I travel is by no means as well built as my old Leica M4 that sits at home in a closet.
All this said, I’d stilllike to see SBD bring back the innovation and quality that once was conveyed by the Porter Cable name .