Porter-Cable 3802L 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Twin Laser

by Porter-Cable

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

While laser guides for miter saws have been available as aftermarket add-ons for a few years, this saw is one of the first we've seen from a major brand to incorporate lasers in the design of a saw. The saw itself is the same excellent 12-inch compound miter saw Porter-Cable has been selling without a laser. It has a powerful 15 amp motor, a sliding fence, integrated dust collection, and a comfortable grip. The tool is solidly constructed and designed to stand up to rigorous professional use. The laser system used on this saw works a little differently than some of the available aftermarket systems. Instead of making a single laser line on the lumber showing where the cut will be, this system projects two lines to show the material that will be removed by the kerf of the saw blade. So, as the saw is beveled, the space between the lines gets wider to accurately reflect the extra material taken out by the blade coming in at an angle. The lasers can be adjusted to match the blade you're working with. We were big fans of Porter-Cable's original 12-inch miter saw, and the addition of the twin laser system makes it that much better. --Brian Trinen

From the Manufacturer

Porter-Cable 3802L 12-Inch Compound Miter saw with Twin Laser

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 67 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00006S7C8
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 3802L
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,160 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

110 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A greta saw, made greater with laser guides, December 12, 2002

By 

Stephen (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porter-Cable 3802L 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Twin Laser (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bought this saw just before christmas. This saw if identical to the one sold without the lasers (and identical to the Delta version of this saw).

That saw has many features that make it a top of the line saw.
- good solid fence, good for crown molding and adjustable
- the degree scale is not etched , so it will not wear off
- the knobs are large and easy to use
- the dust collection is much better than other saws in this category
- it can be set up on 2x4s with special knotches for easy jobsite use, and has a well centered handle
- the twin laser does a great job, you can see it in the daylight, and is very crisp...also it keeps your head away from the blade and any chips/dust while you make the cut
- horizontal handle more natural for a CMS use on a table or stand (older CMS just sat on the floor and a verticle handle was fine)

if you have a chance to go by a hardware store with this unit, try to wiggle the the unit side to side and do the same with other CMS and sliding CMS...this unit is very tight. I never found a SCMS that didn't wiggle when the blade is moved side to side...i don't like that kind of play when doing finer work like picture frames

The same saw branded and sold by Delta has a two year warranty though instead of PC's 1 year...but this does no worry me as Delta/PC customer service has always tsken care of any issues if they come up, they are great!

My impressions of the saw when I first started using it were:

- The carry handle is center over the mass of the saw and makes it VERY easy to move the saw around
- The fit and finish are great, no sharp edges, everything clean, even the decals when placed squarely
- the saw was dead accurate out of the box with the left fence (which gets used by me most). The right fence was off, but adjusting it was easy. I found that the right fence was not flat. Called PC and 4 days later i had a new right fence and everything is fine. I'll have to find a use for the old fence...maybe a paperweight
- The wingnut in the back t change the bevel of the saw is big and easy to use
- When the motor starts there is no torque on the system, nothing moves...i could probably align my cut, take away my hand holding the wood and start the motor and the wood would not move...this is a nice change from my older CMS
- from the left the cuts were dead on from the factory...i mean dead on!
- The laser was also adjusted properly
- also the cord is made so that it remains flexible in my unheated garage
- the feet are big rubber knobs that are spaced well for a solid stance
- The dust collection on this is SOOOO much better than others I have seen and used...the amount of dust that needs to be picked up by a RAS type dust collector at the back of the saw in a miter station is greatly reduced...

One point about the saw: their is a heigh difference between the main table and the first left extension table...according to PC this is done for safety reasons, but I suspect that it is done because someone owns the patent on having the main table and the extension tables of a CMS coplanar (on the same plane)...this is not a problem however...when you attach the left most extension wing you can use a straight edge so it is coplanar with the main table...if you add the CMS to a Miter station, adjust the wings of the station so they are coplanar with the main table.

HTH

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Works!, January 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Porter-Cable 3802L 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Twin Laser (Tools & Home Improvement)

I actually bought this saw without trying or even seeing one up close. I researched all the saws out there and was trying to decide between the Makita 1220 and the P-C 3802. Both saws were highly rated and reviewed. But,the lasers clenched it for me. I have seen "Norm" use a laser saw on the New Yankee Workshop and I hoped that this saw would work as it appeared on TV. It does. After unpacking the saw, and attaching the table extension, I made some test cuts. The table and lasers were dead on out of the box. A lot of my cuts require that I line up the saw with a mark away from the blade. I used to "nibble" my way to the mark. Not anymore, the laser line accurately marks each edge of the kerf.
I had one concern with the saw. The cam lock on the table is so tight that the table actually moves when the lock engages. The local PC service center said that this is normal and will lessen with use. It doesn't seem to affect the cut. You only need to use it if you are in between detents.
Bottom line, I'm happy with my choice.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great power and capacity, May 30, 2003

By 

joseph s meredith (Divernon, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porter-Cable 3802L 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Twin Laser (Tools & Home Improvement)

I eagerly awaited the arrival of this saw which took about 6 days. When it arrived I assembled the saw (easy assembly- about 20 minutes)and put it to work building a deck around our pool. This saw makes cutting angles an easy task!! Great power and easy to read gauge. The saw was accurate out of the box and needed no adjustment. The twin lasers were adjusted perfectly, and they definately make building a quicker and more enjoyable task. The laser is typically easy to see except in bright sunlight...on really bright days I had to pass my hand over the cut area to create shade to see the laser. The saw cut through 4X4 and 2X6 lumber like they were butter, and drew several positive comments from the guys that were helping me. I would highly recommend this saw to anyone. I would have given it 5 stars if the laser was visible in bright sunlight-but I guess to be fair, I don't know of anything that shows up well in the midday sun. Solid, heavy, well made...you'll enjoy the saw....