PC Build Quality

EdLancer

EdLancer

New member
I just received my PC 7336 and lets just say for a power tool thats Made in USA and costs +$200cdn the build quality is sub standard IMO. The "Porter Cable" label was lifted and stuck on all crooked, the "OFF" marking is a lousy sticker that is stuck onto some dirt with a bump under the slide switch. Two sharp gating points are not properly trimmed off on the black housing, I had to file and sand down these points so I would not cut myself. Is this what Made in USA means and power tool thats the same build quality as FORD, Chrsyer or GM ? How many of you have the same view or maybe I'am just too picky from my manufacturing/quality background.
 
Quality must be going down. I got mine about 10 years ago. On/Off is printed on switch (not label), and no sharp edges to be found.



I've been fairly impressed with the PC that I got. Hopefully, yours is a one-off problem, rather than an indication of the direction that things are headed.
 
My PC seemes ok. Mine is not a sticker. I seriously wonder is it's an import/export thing. I sure hope my Ford runs flawlessly, half it is from the Great White North. :D
 
My on/off is also a sticker. Wouldn't suprise me if Porter Cable was sending crap to Canada. We seem to be an after thought to many companys.
 
My sticker came off!



Knock on wood it runs decent still though. And I know this sounds bad but I have come to expect low build quality on Amercican products anymore. I don't think it is the assembly quality as much as the design and engineering goign into them included the type of material used.



Not to cause trouble or start a flame war but here is my example. ( and keep in mind I love all cars and this is my first "import". But when I was looking for a car in this price range I test drove 4 new cars...Neon, Focus, Saturn, and Civic. The Civic felt more solid, had better interior materials and not cheap plastic that rattled, the buttons for the windows and locks felt solid, and so on and so on. Now, this is a car built and assembled using 95% American parts in Liberty Ohio. Made in the USA. However, the design and engineering and quality control is all Japanese and in my opinion that is where we (US market) needs to improve.
 
Mine was bought in the US .. the on/off is a sticker which has sinse worn off ( No biggie cuz in BC we can tell by the noise if its on or off ) . The side lable is a sticker too and after many hours of use is starting to lift ( Also no biggie cuz I know its a PC if I need work done ) and there were no sharp edges anywhere.



I don't think the PC has a quality issue no more than the Makita tools I have or any of the other *non* Canadian tools I have.
 
Jesstzn said:
Mine was bought in the US .. the on/off is a sticker which has sinse worn off ( No biggie cuz in BC we can tell by the noise if its on or off ) . The side lable is a sticker too and after many hours of use is starting to lift ( Also no biggie cuz I know its a PC if I need work done ) and there were no sharp edges anywhere.



I don't think the PC has a quality issue no more than the Makita tools I have or any of the other *non* Canadian tools I have.
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Me either. My PC is fine and is no different than any other tool I have. I just think that the whole "Built in the US" pride of the 50's is gone. And Hell, Canada build quality is not bad. If I remember corretley that is where we sent the Camaro to get the SS package done. :up
 
If I remember corretley that is where we sent the Camaro to get the SS package done.





The Camaro was built in St-Eustache, Quebec and ceased production in 2002. Knowing some Quality Engineers that worked on the project, they would not touch that car if they had to pay for it, quality in their professional opinion "sucks" ...goes to say !
 
EdLancer said:
If I remember corretley that is where we sent the Camaro to get the SS package done.





The Camaro was built in St-Eustache, Quebec and ceased production in 2002. Knowing some Quality Engineers that worked on the project, they would not touch that car if they had to pay for it, quality in their professional opinion "sucks" ...goes to say !
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HAHA I know a Ford engineer who is alway b!tching about how their engineer's suck. I also have a friend whos dad works on Fords test track and he won't even buy them. LOL
 
I just bought my porter cable and its great. Maybe they do send the crap to Canada:confused:

Iguess in this case its great to be an american:)
 
It could be that with sales of the PC, that to fill the demand they have come up with ways to increase production and decrease backorders. Just a thought. A sticker is easier and faster to print than it is to paint on a swich or use a painted component.
 
Funny you should make this thread. I had an intermitant (sp?) power problem and traced it to a broken wire. What a pain....
 

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Call Porter Cable up in Canada.



They are located in Guelph and tell them your dissatisfaction.



Maybe they will be nice enough to send you a new unit.



I had an issue with my unit and took it to an authorized repair centre he supposedly fixed it but it made terrible noises.



I called PC and they were happy to send me a new unit and pay for shipping for the old unit. I even got a case for my new unit for the aggrivation.



As to the on/off sticker...I think mine has fallen off. I didn't care...maybe they don't want to spend the money on altering their product mold.
 
:confused: Is the point of this thread to bash American made products?



I've had no problems with my Porter Cable 7424. Besides, I really wouldn't care of the name plate wasn't perfectly straight because it doesn't affect performance and unlike the doors on a car not being perfectly aligned, I don't think most people worry about a name plate on a power tool as long as it works right.
 
Scottwax said:
:confused: Is the point of this thread to bash American made products?



I've had no problems with my Porter Cable 7424. Besides, I really wouldn't care of the name plate wasn't perfectly straight because it doesn't affect performance and unlike the doors on a car not being perfectly aligned, I don't think most people worry about a name plate on a power tool as long as it works right.
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Amen--
 
I wholeheartedly agree with Scottwax. And my PC works flawlessly.



One thing I'd like to add about the "Made in USA" thing and people's concerns that build quality has gone down. Could this be linked to NAFTA? Just because it says "Made in USA" doesn't mean ALL of it was made in the USA, or even assembled here. To have that marking only means a percentage of the parts were manufactured in the US. It could very well have been assembled in a country with cheaper labor like many of today's products are. Anyways, just some thoughts. Not trying to flame or start a war, just throwing some ideas out there.



Oh, and I own 2 Nissan vehicles. I personally have been unimpressed with some of the "Big 3's" fit and finish of their newer vehicles. Not to mention their choice of interior materials. Hopefully they'll soon take notice of these things and remedy the situation. But I have noticed the Japanese and German companies seem to have stricter tolerances in their production. Is this just me, or has anyone else noticed this? And yes, I know some Nissan's are assembled in the USA. I just think their company's tolerances are tighter....



Back to topic on the PC. I don't even know if mine has a sticker or not. Like someone else posted, I know when it is on...



Dave
 
Dave Holmes said:
I wholeheartedly agree with Scottwax. And my PC works flawlessly.

.............

Back to topic on the PC. I don't even know if mine has a sticker or not. Like someone else posted, I know when it is on...



Dave
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IMHO

If you can't tell if it's running.....You have bigger problem than the sticker falling off
 
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