Customer Reviews

Porter-Cable 97311 Deluxe Laminate Trimmer Kit

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

 

 

I've tested many different laminate trimmer kits that are on the market and have found the porter cable deluxe kit to be the best value for the money. The four different bases that come with the kit allow you to do most any kind of trimming with precision and comfort. The undercut base is especially usefull for making perfect seams on large counter tops. when adjusted properly the seams almost dissapear. The porter cable router itself is smooth running with very little vibration as compared to others. The only down side that I can see is changing the bases can be somewhat combersome and time consuming, however, the added time it takes to change the base is offset by the amount of time it saves by doing the job faster and more accurately.

I can't think of any thing else you would want in a laminate trimmer. It's got everything. It's not hard to change out the bases when the time comes. I wish it was a little smoother and a lot quieter in operation though. It's not any better in those respects than my ten year old Bosch. It is far more flexible though . I was going to get another Bosch but this was cheaper and Makita didn't offer one in a kit.

Two weeks old and it's going back. The router base setup is less than ideal. A mounted bit should be at 90 degrees to the base but it's off by a degree or two. If you're trimming 1/4" to 3/8" off the side of a hardwood facing this is less than ideal. The bits pilot bearing runs hard against the lower material leaving a mark and the edge of the facing requires substantial sanding after your done. Checked out a few others in the store and they have the same problem. Called P&C and they claim it should be 90 degrees. The offset base heats up from the vinyl belt in the housing making the unit warm to hold for long runs.

The unit itself feels well made but adjusting the depth is a bother with the base lock loose the base is free to canter a 1/16 - 1/8 so you're always adjusting and then tightening, adjusting then tightening trying to get it just right.

Disappointing.

As usual the tool has a good feel to it. My granddaddy would say it is built hell for stout. My only complaint is I expected a little more in the way of examples of each part in use. The examples of how to set-up each attachment are clear, but how you use some attachments are left to the user to figure out. Also the bits that came with my trimmer are not the ones listed in the instructions. They are 1\4 and 1\8 inch bits but I am unsure if you need the bits listed in the instructions because a different grind on a bit makes a lot of difference where the cutting takes place. The two bases I did figure out (standard and offset) worked as expected out of the box. I am sure this is another tool I will use and pass on to my Son.

I have a PC heavy duty router and it is great, so i ordered their laminate trimmer. The chuck does not hold the bits very securly, and must be retightened every minute or so no matter how hard you torque on it. The bases are very difficult to change, requiring a tool and a couple of minutes. I would recomend looking at the other options available.

I have owned this kit since 1992 or so. It does NOT take the place of a regular router but it is good for doing things in tight places like inside of a cabinet or in the case of my last use; between a cabinet and a ceiling. I used the off-set base to get real close to an edge and it worked perfect. The cabinet was pushing up against the ceiling and I had no way to take it back off the base to cut it down. It was deflecting the ceiling and not allowing the back off the cabinet and base to line up against the wall. I dusted off my trusty PC laminate kit with the offset base a 1/4" bit and it worked like a charm. It allowed me to level out the cabinet nicely and afterwards trim it out with some crown.
Would I use this for countertop production or installation? No. Would I bring it along in case I needed to get into a tight space that my PC 691 wouldnt fit? You bet you biffy.
I havent used the slitter in almost five years but it works great for making edge banding at the jobsite. Sure beats bringing your table saw.

You can have my PC lam kit when you pry it from my cold dead fingers.

tool does everything that they said it would. One fault for the tool I have is that the offset spindle gets so hot during use that it cannot be touched.

This little thing was amazing. I took it out and thought what is this little tool suppossed to do, yet I was really surprised to turn it on and feel the torque on this baby. Shes a lil monster and with the offset guide it makes precision cutting very easy. I have had others and I have found none compare to this. Over a decade and still going strong.
I also love my porter cable jigsaw and belt sander although the jigsaw has a very cheap way of changing out the blades that needs to be redesigned.

I have one of these trimmers and would like to know how to set the depth adjustment for this particular model. For some reason there is no manual in my purchase
Thanks Weldon