Customer Reviews

PORTER-CABLE PCL318IDC-2 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless 3-Piece Combo Kit

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have barely used the drill so this review is about the impact driver. I like it a lot but I would prefer that it not go from zero to 60 in a millisecond. It is variable speed and can be made to go slow, but it is difficult because you have to barely pull the trigger. More than just a hair and it goes zoom. I suspect that they are all the same regardless of which make and model you get. Tools are getting much better but they still need improvement. The batteries charge fast and last a good while. I have not drained one yet with a impact driver but I have with a reciprocal saw that needs more power. The charger that comes with this set will charge either lithium-ion or Ni-Cad. The tools will also use either one as long as they are 18-volt. The bag is square and so is not as useful as one that is shaped like your normal tool bag with a zipper along the entire length of the bag.

I bought this for around the home handy man. He really likes the power that the tools have, but the only thing he was surprised was how heavy they were. He already has a Bosch 18 volt power tool set already and he thought that the smaller tools would weigh less than them, they weigh about the same. We would buy these again and recommend them.

I purchased the 3-piece kit, primarily for the impact driver (PCL180ID) which is included in the kit, along with the flashlight and drill. I have a seasonal job as a carpenter at a theme park, essentially constructing sets and facades - lots of 3/4" and 1.5" drywall screws. I was attracted to the Porter-Cable impact driver because it was rated highest in torque, and it was affordable. I am one who is often good at finding bargains, but for me, this was the wrong buy.

The impact driver lasted about 8 weeks...after that, it had the telltale "burnt" smell every time I pulled the trigger - the brushes on the motor were already toast! It had become noticeably low on torque, and the batteries didn't last very long. The max RPM was also decreased. In short - the tool was dead. It still technically worked, but not at all like the first day I bought it. I didn't expect it to be a life long tool, but 8 weeks? I thought I could at least get through the summer with it. No such luck.

*The brushes are not replaceable*, so the impact is essentially trash now. I already have a drill, and the flashlight included in this kit isn't much brighter than a candle with its old-fashioned, low power incandescent bulb (my 1x AA headlamp is several times brighter; I never found a use for the Porter Cable light because key chain flashlights were literally brighter than this thing. Why they don't step up to an LED, I have no idea.)

So...

1) Don't buy this impact driver if you plan on heavy or commercial use; it will not hold up. Look at the Makita or Bosch (externally replaceable brushes!) instead. For occasional or around-the-house use, it's perfect at this price point.

2) The flashlight included is only useful if you happen to be stuck in total darkness and there is absolutely no other light source available.

I really like this set. I gave it to my father and got the Makita lct200w. This one is rated at 1600 in # but couldn't break my rav4 lug nuts. The little Makita btd142hw is rated at 1280 in # and actually did break them free. They were set at 80 ft # about 6 months ago. The little Makita is a beast. The power ratings are a joke. You just have to compare yourself, or trust the reviews. For wood working, or any other things, the PC is fine. I used the impact on small cabinet hinge screws and never spun a screw. I haven't tried the Makita very much so I don't know if it is going to accidentally spin a screw. I hope not. So far i like the Makita better. I would recommend spending the extra for the Makita. My 2 cents. 4 stars because I know it is not 1600 in #.

I felt the need to edit this. After using the Alltrade 940759 digital torque measure, it turns out I have only been putting on my lug nuts at 65, not 80. My old torque wrench was way off. But, I've been doing that for the past 50,000 miles, so I may keep doing the same thing so that the Makita can still take them off. I'm not convinced it can take it off at 80, 6 months from now. None the less, the PC is still less powerful, and I guess this means that it can't break a lug at 65 ft #.

the Porter Cable combo kit is a great product and you have the ability to add tools to the kit. I am adding just whay I need without having to buy another kit or another tool including battery. The tools work well & the battery life is excellent>

I was impressed with these tools. Very good quality and they come in a nice carry bag. They came with two batteries and they charge quickly. I bought a reciprocating saw seperate and the batteries that came with this package also fit it. Porter Cable makes quality tools.

The drill and driver in this combo kit are well made, solid tools offered at a great price. If you can accept the fact that the batteries are only 1.1 AH (Amp Hour) and will not last as long as a typical compact battery, which is 1.5 AH, then you should have no problems at all with this kit. Strong, capable, well-balanced. They fit nicely in your hand and have a quality fee to them. The driver has plenty of torque. I picked up the driver after storing it for 8 months and it still had plenty of juice to complete several small jobs. This set compares nicely to my Makita LCT200W kit which gets a lot of use. The Makita is lighter, has 1.5 AH batteries, recharges in only 15 minutes, but this PC set is darn good for about $45 less.

Limited use so far, but extremely pleased with this drill/driver/light set. Determining factor for me in purchase was the ability to use/charge NiCad as well as Lithium batteries. Only thing I'd change is to add a belt loop option to the drill like it has on the impact driver.

I bought this set mainly for the impact driver since I have had and still have other battery powered drills.
Both the drill and impact driver work well but the battery drains way too fast for serious commercial work. I use it for homeowner projects so I'm never too far from the charger so it does the job for me.
The impact driver drives wood screws so much more effectively than the drill it is amazing. It is also small enough to get into tight spaces so that is a plus.
The included light is just a basic light that doesn't articulate like my old Hitachi, do don't expect much from the light. For the price this set was a good deal from Amazon.

I was given the Lithium ion drill and impact driver set as a birthday gift. I already owned the NiCad drill, saber saw and circular saw combo PORTER-CABLE PC418C-2 18-Volt NiCd Cordless 4-Piece Combo Kit. The LI drill comes with an LED trigger activate light and has a rubber covered grip. The LI charger also has better circuitry. After exhausting on of the NiCad batteries I put it on the LI charger. I got an error code saying battery to hot to charge. To see what would happen I put it on the NiCad charger and no error message. I use the LiIon charger as my primary and only plug in the NiCad if needed. The Impact driver is wonderful. It really is the best way to install screws. The built in trigger LED is especially nice as it illuminates the screw head when driving allow better depth control. I regret waiting so long to get one. It goes without saying that I prefer to use the Lithium Ion battery pack because it significantly lighter. Because I already had the NiCad set with 2 batteries I am only using on Lithium cell. The other is in storage until the first on dies.
Written August 2011.