Porter-Cable Orbital Jig Saw is pretty easy to use and has an affordable price as well
What We Like
- Six amp powerful motor
- Fast and easy blade switching
- Ergonomic handle
- Wide range of speed and orbital settings
- Affordable
What We Don’t Like
- Minor design flaws
- No dust blower or collector
Bottom Line
The Porter-Cable PCE345 is a feature-rich Jigsaw for DIY’ers and people working on small projects. It offers you quick and easy blade switching, plus a range of different settings to help you make the perfect cut.
For an entry-level product, the PCE345 Jigsaw will stun you with its capabilities, even with its minor drawbacks.
A Quick Porter-Cable PCE345 Jigsaw Intro
Do you want to try out a DIY project? A wooden frame, or maybe a customized book rack for yourself? Either way, you’re going to need a jigsaw that is easy to use, helps get the job done, but doesn’t cost a fortune.
For such situations, the Porter-Cable PCE345 jigsaw can come in super handy. It has a wide range of settings, including orbital action with four settings and a high-power motor you usually only get on high-end models.
The best part? This machine is pretty easy to use and has an affordable price as well. So for beginners and DIY’ers, this is the perfect machine to start off with. Let’s jump in and find out more about this jigsaw.
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Porter-Cable PCE345 Design
While going through its design, you will see some pros as well as cons.
First of all, the handle is made up of soft rubber, which gives you a firm grip on it, and in turn, makes it easier to direct the machine. It has an ergonomic design for added comfort as well.
Second, the shoe of the Porter-Cable jigsaw is nice and wide, giving you more stability and protection. The side of the handle also has a lock-on button so that you can use the machine for a long time without tiring your fingers.
However, the 7 speed setting dial is a bit too close to the trigger, and if you’re not careful, you can accidentally change the settings. You’ll need to be careful to find a position where you don’t mess with the dial while pressing the trigger.
Moreover, the orbital setting switch is too far down, so you’ll need to either stop or use your other hand to change the setting. Plus, it’s a bit too close to the shoe if you ask us. This Porter Cable PCE345 Jigsaw also doesn’t have a dust blower or collector, which makes it a bit inconvenient to use.
Apart from that, the machine has a lot of features that deliver excellent performance and ease of use, as discussed in the next section. For instance, the easy blade switch design can prove to be quite a relief when you’re sweating over cutting a piece of wood.
Porter-Cable PCE345 Features and Performance
What the jigsaw lacks in design, it makes up for in terms of performance. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty details and see what this saw has to offer us:
Powerful Motor
With a price range like that of the Porter Cable, you probably don’t expect a powerful motor from it. But boy oh boy are you wrong, because this PCE345 jigsaw has a 6 amp heavy-duty motor, which is more than enough to help you accomplish any general cutting task.
If you use the correct settings, you won’t come across any halts, for the most part. This bad boy will power through most materials like butter and can even cut through thin metals – how cool is that?
With up to 3200 SPM, the motor delivers high-power, superb performance that will impress you.
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Easy Blade Switching
The Porter-Cable PCE345 uses up to 4-inches of industry-standard T shank blades, which is great. However, more importantly, you get an easy blade switch feature with this machine, which means you don’t need any tools to change the blades. Just pull out the old blades and stick in the new ones.
7-speed and 4-orbital Settings
The most incredible thing about this jigsaw is that it has a 7-speed setting dial, and this can help you get optimum results, as different materials require different speeds. This is something you get with high-end jigsaw machines, but Porter Cable gives you this at an affordable price point. Sweet.
Moreover, the PCE345 jigsaw features four different orbital settings, helping you achieve the perfect speed for the circular motion of the blade.
Overall, you can get a pretty accurate cut with the help of these settings. The results aren’t super precise every time, but it’s nothing that a bit of sandpaper action can’t fix.
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Handling the Porter-Cable PCE345 Orbital Jigsaw
Comparatively, Porter Cable’s PCE345 is pretty lightweight, as it only weighs about five pounds, which makes moving it around in different directions easier.
Moreover, the over-molded front and top rubber handles make it comfortable to hold the machine and also provide a better grip, which makes directing the machine swift and smooth.
Plus, as mentioned earlier, switching blades is super easy with this machine, as you won’t need extra tools for it.
However, it doesn’t have a dust blower, and neither does it come with a dust collector, which makes using it a bit inconvenient. But at this price point, you can’t expect too much.
It does come with an extra pair of blades, however, but there’s no built-in storage compartment for them.
How much is the Porter-Cable PCE345 Jigsaw?
This Porter-Cable PCE345 model is not a high-end one, but it still has some impressive features, like the 7-speed dial. It gets the job done, and does it pretty well, too.
For under 100 bucks, you get a powerful and versatile orbital jigsaw, which, honestly, is a pretty good deal.
Specifications
- Weight: 5.4 pounds
- Dimensions: 9.5 x 3.2 x 8.5 inches
- Model: PCE345
- Power outlet: 110v
- Warranty: Limited three-year warranty
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Porter-Cable PCE345 Jigsaw Review Final Verdict
To conclude our Porter-Cable PCE345 Jigsaw review, this electric jigsaw performs exceptionally well with its 6 amp motor and varying speed settings.
It does lack a few features, like an LED light or a dust blower. However, for a low- to mid-range jigsaw designed to suit the needs of small projects, it’s acceptable.
So, if you’re looking for an affordable jigsaw that is easy to use and gives pretty good results, Porter Cable’s PCE345 is the one to go with.
