Customer Reviews

Porter-Cable 1410 15 Amp 14-Inch Metal Cutoff Machine

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

 

 

I really love this tool. After using a 14" abrasive cut-off machine for years, it's a delight to use a saw that cuts so cleanly and precisely, makes few sparks, no smoke or smell, generates very little heat in the work (you can pick up the material and handle it with bare hands almost immediately), and is well designed. It has a heavy-duty cast iron base, a well-designed blade guard, and feels solid. The only change I would make would be to add a quick-release vise. I use heavy gauge structural steel pipe and tube (up to 3/8" wall thickness, up to 5" diameter pipe) in my welded sculpture and this machine handles it with ease. Well worth the additional dollars over the cost of a regular abrasive chop saw, especially when you consider blade cost and blade life. Follow directions and be sure to clamp your work securely before beginning the cut. Let the saw do the work and don't force it - this will help ensure long blade life. Use only for ferrous metals - this tool is not meant to be used with aluminum, brass, etc.

Plenty of power, cuts through 1/2 inch thick material like a hot knife through butter! Follow instructions for cutting wide material in order to preserve blade life. This is one of the best buys I have ever made. This saw cuts 3 times faster than an abrasive wheel, and smoother than a bandsaw. Only wish a larger one was available.

In terms of cutting, this saw is great. The tool could use two enhancements. First, the vise does not allow quick changes to the angle setting. If you do not absolutely tighten the two clumsy-to-access angle setting allen screws very very tightly, then firmly clamping in the workpiece can cause the angle setting to stray. Second, I feel the mechanism to hold the saw closed is not in line with the general quality of the tool (especially when you consider the nice carrying handle built into the saw). A cheap thin chain and hook is used. Releasing and engaging the chain leaves scratches on the clear protection shield which presses against the hook. Unfortunately, my saw was delivered with a factory defect, and I had to return it. One of the primary seals on the bearing housing was not installed properly and oil leaked out when I ran the tool for the first time. ... In spite of my enhancement recommendations and assembly defect, there is no mistaking that this tool is a solid piece of equipment.

Update:

The second tool arrived with two problems. First, there was again an oil leak between the inner gear housing and the outer gear housing. The oil leaked out at a rate of about a drop every day and a half. Second, it was clear that the blade had made indentations in the chip pan, causing removal of the pan to be difficult. I believe that both of these problems were the result of a shipping packaging design flaw (thin foam under the base) which fails to protect the tool during shipment.

I decided to go with the DeWalt DW872, which has the features I recommended above. Although the DW872 arrived with no problems, it is clearly not as heavy duty as the Porter Cable. The blade guard is a flimsey flopsey piece of plastic and the noise from the saw is ear shattering.

The Porter-Cable 1410 is 100 times better than the best abrasive chop saw. However, it's not comparable to a big 3-phase industrial cold saw. At the price, it's an excellent value.

This saw makes beautiful cuts when used properly. You shouldn't crowd the motor, and if the blade produces sparks you're applying too much pressure. The result of hurrying is rapid blade destruction. The saw isn't slow; you just can't run it like an abrasive chop saw.

I'd recommend buying at least one extra blade, so you can rotate blades through the sharpener's without having to have your saw down.

My only complaint is that the first 1410 I bought quit quite suddenly during a project, with fewer than three hours of operation on the motor. This cost me delay of the project, plus most of a day spent driving into Atlanta to the Southeast Porter-Cable repair facility, where they gave me a new saw. (That is, after they told me on the phone they would give me a new saw, then tried to welsh on their offer, and I subsequently intimidated them.)

Even though the box says "Tennessee" on it, the saw is made in Taiwan. That strikes me as a little bit deceptive. But the place of manufacture doesn't really matter where performance is concerned.

The saw would get a full 5-star rating if I hadn't received a lemon the first time out.

I bought this saw relying on the P-C name and reputation. The tool arrived in an undamaged package. It really looked like it was very well engineered and manufactured until... Until I made the first 1/4" angle steel cut. The cut was perfect but the next morning I found oil all over the base of the saw. Well, it's my own fault, I trusted P-C name and not the reviewer above that documented the issue with the seal. So I decided to fix it by bringing the saw to the authorized P-C service center. It took them 4 weeks just to look at it and now they are telling me that it will take another 15-30 days for the parts to arrive. So I don't have my saw for a month already and I don't know when I get it back and how long the seal will last again. If you want to have no problems stay away from this P-C saw otherwise be prepared for the oil leaks!

Clean, fast square cuts that don't get hot. Could use a faster vice.

I have used(2)Porter Cable 1410 Saws for 10 years at work without any issues. This is the reason for my selection for my own personal shop and high recommendations. This saw is rugged, the factory blade provides superb service, and the cuts are very accurate. I have never experienced any kind of "oil" or "oil leaking" problem with this saw, as another mentioned, since there is nothing that needs oiled on the saw. The only lubrication I use is a light spray of WD-40 on the blade when cutting aluminum and that eliminates any alum. from sticking to the blades' tungsten carbide teeth. This saw is No.1 as far as function, reliability, ease-of-use, and accuracy. The most awesome combination you can have is the P-C 1410 saw with the Freud Diablo Steel Demon ferrous 14" blade. You will not be disappointed.