When we first previewed Porter Cable’s new oscillating multi-tool (PC250MTK) and its cordless brother (PCL120MTC-2), we saw great potential in its tool-free blade change mechanism.
Porter Cable’s been on a roll with their past few tool releases, including the cordless ClampSaw and corded heavy duty circular saw. We’re happy to report that their new oscillating tool delivers great performance and continues the trend!
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Porter Cable Oscillating Tool Features
The tool features variable oscillating speed control that is set between 10k and 20k OPM with the turn of a rear-mounted wheel. A top-mounted power switch is large and easy to toggle.
Tool-Free Blade Change
Swapping blades and accessories on this tool is as quick and easy as it gets. To do this, you squeeze the blade-change lever, insert and align a blade, release the lever, and the blade is locked in place.
A heavy duty spring ensures that blades and accessories remain securely locked into the tool. Luckily the blade-change lever is on the large side, which makes it easier to depress the spring to unlock the blade receptacle. If you cannot tell from the photo, it does take a bit of force to depress the lever.
Solid, Tough, and Jobsite Durable
When using the corded PC oscillating tool, I definitely got the feeling that it was designed for rough and tough use. It’s hard to put my finger on what gives off this overall sense of durability. Maybe it was the comfortable grip and solid construction? Or maybe it was the thick rubbery-jacketed 10-foot cord that I also appreciated on PC’s latest circular saw.
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Performance
Porter Cable designed its multi-tool around a 2.5A motor, which output enough power for everything we tried using the tool for. Granted, we didn’t try to cut through solid steel bars or anything of the sort – we used the tool naturally in ways most users would.
The oscillating multi-tool did seem to deliver noticeably more power than DIY-oriented 1.5A units when pushed to their limit, which was of course expected.
There’s surprisingly little to discuss about the tool’s performance – it just works well, plain and simple. The smaller blades did heat up a little due to friction when used to make deep or repeated cuts, but the same could be said about every other brand’s tools and blades when used in the same manner.
Porter Cable Blades and Accessories
Porter Cable starts you off with a fair number of cutting, grinding, and sanding accessories, and additional accessories are available separately. We tested most of the included ones on wood, plastic, and aluminum, and they all worked quickly and cleanly.
We did not test the long-term or heavy-duty durability of the included blades and accessories, but our tests thus far did not reveal any premature wear or failure.
We have learned that Porter Cable will be releasing an adapter in August, that allows you to use other brands’ accessories with their tools. We have not yet done enough tests to determine how well Porter Cable’s accessories compare to those from other leading brands, but as mentioned we have not yet been disappointed.
Recommendation & Conclusion
With so many oscillating tools on the market these days, it can be difficult to choose the right one. Porter Cable’s tool-free blade change design catapults their multi-tools to the head of the pack of <$200 multi-tools. It feels great, performs well, and is every bit as versatile as we expected it to be.
Once the blade adapter is released, we’ll see if the tool’s performance changes when used with other brands’ blades.
With an easy to use blade-change mechanism, solid construction and build quality, and very reasonable pricing (~$110-120!), we give Porter Cable’s PC250MTK 2 thumbs up!
Porter Cable Multi-Tool via Amazon
Also Available via Woodcraft
Product Details via Porter Cable
Thank you to Porter Cable for providing the sample for this review unconditionally. Review samples are typically returned, donated, or in some cases kept for further testing or benchmark and comparison purposes.
Lenny
I picked up the corded version on Amazon and am very impressed. The tool is pyhsically heavy and seems very durable. The power cord is really long too and it was nice not to have to use an extension cord for a change. I originally purchased to cut holes in plaster board (carbide grit blade cut through it like butter) but keep finding other uses for it as well. A few minor gripes:
– the blade release mechanism has a really heavy spring making it hard to change the blades
– the case seems too small for the long power cord. Once you take it out it’s hard to close the case again
Overall an excellent, well made tool at a great price.
Gerald Nelson
Re the tight spring attachment loader: I just grab the tool and press the trigger unto the worktable edge.
Stuart
Thanks for sharing your own experience with the Porter Cable corded oscillating tool with us! Our recommendation for it still stands.
Rick
have you done an up-date on the blade adapter for the PC250MTK and when can we see a comparision on the new Dremel MM40 and Porter Cable 250MTK hope to see which one to get as I want to get the best for my money and I need this tool yesterday Thanks guys awesome site
mark
I just bought it thru Amazon based on your review. Unpacked it eager to get started sanding an oak chair I am refinishing. I attached the platen, stuck the supplied p120 hook and loop sand paper on and started to sand. Distressingly after only a minute or two with very modest pressure the pad worked its way loose so I removed it and stuck it back on. It would not stick, the loops having lost their holding ability. So I tried a new one…..same thing. This time I really pressed it on firmly and did as the instructions suggested and started it briefly to lock the pad in place. It didn’t last much longer and after only a few minutes it too worked loose. I tried multiple times and the edges of the platen started to wear off. Under rapid OPM when the platen edges are exposed to the wood they melt off in a matter of a second or two. This can’t be right I’ve owned a random orbit sander for years and this is what happens when the platen wears out but only after multiple hours of work.
Anyway after 6 or 7 pieces I gave up. Either the platen the paper or both are defective or very poorly designed. Obviously I am not very impressed and not sure what to do next. I was very torn. I almost paid 2.5 x as much for the Fein guessing they would have had time to figure all this out. Your review tipped it for me.
I really only bought it to sand tight spots and it appears quite useless for that task Curious if others are experiencing similar problems
mark
Update
No reply to my question complaint from Dewalt / Porter Cable which pissed me off. However I wanted to finish my project so rather than return the tool in a huff and buy a Fein I improvised and used two sided tape to stick the sanding sheets to the platen. It worked really well. It is easy and fairly quick and totally secures the sand paper. In fact I now really like the tool. Made short work of my finicky sanding job.
Looking forward to the universal adapter to try other manufacturers attachments
I don’t know why they bother with hook a loop at the speeds the tool runs at.
Mikey
While researching which tool to buy, I ran across the answer to the sanding problem. One of the reviews says “sanding takes some getting used to”. Apparently one needs to sand on medium speed and not press down to hard for it to be effective without working sandpaper loose.
Steve Reo
Stuart–Looks like a great tool for the price; I especially like the no-tool blade changer. Do you have any info on the blade adaptor (price and availability)? I haven’t been able to track it down on amazon.com, and haven’t heard back from the manufacturer yet. Thanks, and have a great Thanksgiving!
Stuart
Unfortunately, I have not seen any information about the adapter yet. Either they scrapped the plans to release one, or are in the process or redesigning in. I’ll check again with my contacts to see what they can find out.
Happy Thanksgiving yo you as well!!
Eric
I do not see a Porter Cable adapter either…and their blades are getting mediocre reviews. I hoped Dremel would come out with an adapter, but they told me they have no current plans to. The Dremel MM40 fits my hands better (it’s narrower than Porter Cable’s saw – similar to Bausch). The PC is awkward to hold – fat, and the hand area at the end of the tool is not large/wide enough.
Stuart
Steve replied to the new comment email notification by accident instead of this thread. Here’s his original message:
Eric
I’m in the same situation and I might bite the bullet too. Reviews of Dremel’s blades are much better than PC’s. But the PC has a 20 off 100 sale, and it’s 105 on amazon minus the 20 = 85 versus the Dremel MM40 is 130 (it just came out – no discounts anywhere on it). Bosch (who owns Dremel) has an OIS adapter for $6 or so on amazon (OIS1 I think is the model). Bosch created the OIS standard but ironically their Dremel line does not follow/meet that standard – arg!!!
I just want to cut my cold air returns larger and maybe add one. A saws-all and a drill to start the pilot hole would work (or a hand saw).
Jon Reddin
I am looking for a Christmas gift for my adult son who has taken up wooden toy making. He currently has a belt sander, router, band saw, drill press, power miter and nailer-stapler. Would the PC oscillating multi-tool be a useful addition, and if so, what would he use it for that he can’t already do.
Thanks for any feedback.
Charlie
I have used this tool in several scenarios and have found it to be a great tool to work with, however, I have noticed that on trying to get sanding paper for this tool is limited in that I am stuck buying a multi-pack of paper containing (2) each of 80, 120 and 220 grit and the lowest cost found so far is $4.92 per pack with $6.50 shipping (per pack…which is insane)
Porter Cable needs to make the paper available in larger quantities and not just multi-packs. I have tried a couple of other brands but they do not fit the sanding pad itself.
Were it not for that problem, I’d say buy it, simply for the tool-less change out which is a huge time saver.
Eric
You easily/quickly could cut sandpaper to size/shape and glue it on top of their paper when it dies. Definately a rip off – anything that uses proprietary little sandpaper (Dremel rotary tools come to mind).
Mark
I have read that Dewalt sand paper will work. It comes in two sizes and you need the larger of the two. That should help vs. cutting.
Also, if you look on youtube there are some videos on how to use multitools for sanding. You have to put even pressure on the surface and not just use the tips of the corners. If you don’t put the even pressure, it will melt the velcro and you have to get a new base.
John Hilborn
In late September of 2013, I purchased a Porter Cable 3 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool for the specific purpose of doing detail sanding. I first used it in early November for detail sanding on some colonial style chair legs. I am most disappointed with their hook and loop sanding head. I have tried the sand paper that came with the tool and also some replacement sand paper that I purchased at Lowes.
The hook and loop paper comes off after only a few minuets of use. I get the impression that since Porter Cables association with Black & Decker their quality has gone down the drain. I have been using Porte Cable sanders and Routers since the late seventies and have always been pleased with the quality of their products. I am now in the need of replacing my random orbital sander, but after my experience with this product, I’m not sure if I want to waste my money on Porter Cable products.
I will be returning my Porter Cable Oscillating tool to Lowes and will purchase another brand, probably not at Lowes, but somewhere else that sells quality tools.
Your engineers need to take a hard look at the sanding attachment for this product. I suggest that Porter Cable return to their origins of building quality power tools.
John Hilborn
In late September of 2013, I purchased a Porter Cable 3 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool for the specific purpose of doing detail sanding. I first used it in early November for detail sanding on some colonial style chair legs. I am most disappointed with their hook and loop sanding head. I have tried the sand paper that came with the tool and also some replacement sand paper that I purchased at Lowes.
The hook and loop paper comes off after only a few minuets of use. I get the impression that since Porter Cables association with Black & Decker their quality has gone down the drain. I have been using Porte Cable sanders and Routers since the late seventies and have always been pleased with the quality of their products. I am now in the need of replacing my random orbital sander, but after my experience with this product, I’m not sure if I want to waste my money on Porter Cable products.
I will be returning my Porter Cable Oscillating tool to Lowes and will purchase another brand, probably not at Lowes, but somewhere else that sells quality tools.
I suggest that Porter Cable return to their origins of making quality power tools.
Tawnya
Normally I don’t read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to
try and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you,
quite great post.
Mike
My Porter Cable is a piece of garbage. Died when I needed it most. I went out and bought a Bosch. No problems.
Made in China…..says it all.