Porter Cable Tigersaw Review

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I love hearing Dan tell me how much work he can do.  I always joke around with him when he brags about how much he works.  I always tell him he can do the work of three guys, which the first time he was very excited about this comparison.  Then I had to tell him he can do the work of three guys named Larry, Curly and Moe.  I guess the reason I thought about this is because we are doing a review of the Porter Cable Tiger Saw model PC85TRSOK and this is designed for work.

Porter Cable has been coming out with cool new tools, such as their Oscillating Tool.  This time they came out with a new Tigersaw.  The Tigersaw is powered by an 8.5 amp motor.  While this is not as powerful as some of the other reciprocating saws we have tested in the past, it’s not meant to be.  The saws that have 12 or 13 amps are heavier and made for the contractor or laborers who uses it all day long for demo work.  They are also more bulky.  This saw is perfect for the plumber or contractor who needs it for specific jobs like making a whole a little bigger, cutting some pipe etc.  The saw is designed to be more compact and lighter for two reasons.  First easier to get into tighter spots and second, why carry all the weight of a 13 amp when you will never use all that power.  In fact this saw has all the bells and whistles the bigger saws have such as a variable speed trigger, an adjustable shoe and a mode selection for orbital or straight action.

How to Sharpen Oscillating Blades

Want to extend the life of your oscillating blades? Read our article Sharp Pog – Oscillating Blade Sharpener Review or buy it on Amazon.

 

 

 

 

Again the balance of this tool is great.  Not that we suggest it because of safety issues, but you could use this with one hand for a short time, well not Dan as his girly arms and they wouldn’t support it.  The stroke length of the saw is 1-1/8″ and has a cruising speed or strokes per minute of 3,200.  The shoe is adjustable and does pivot, which is a plus.  Some saws that are in the same market as the Tigersaw, don’t have adjustable shoes, so we are glad Porter Cable decided to go all out with this saw.  The big thing about this saw is the tool free blade change system.  While all most every manufacture offers a tool free change blade system, some just plane suck.  The Porter Cable has a great system where you twist and insert the blade.  So it stays in place, even in harsh conditions.  When you need to take it out, it comes right out.  We didn’t get any hassle with the blade jamming in the tool.  The trigger is nice and big, so you can use two fingers instead of one to lessen the fatiuqe with holding the trigger for long periods of time.  Lastely, but not least, the grip on the tool is great.  As you can see from the above picture.  The D-handle has a nice overmodled grip for gripping power and the shaft of the tool is completely covered in grip.  This way when you have gloves on, you still have control over the tool.

 

 

Conclusion

As with their Multitool, this is a winner.  The balance of the tool is great.  The fact that it has the option for orbital mode, makes it great for any application.  Since it weighs only 7.4 lbs, its great for the contractor who does anything other then demo work all day.  Its lightweight, so you don’t mind carrying it around with you in your bag for the times you need it.  The saw has all the main features you need to get a job not only done, but done the right way with less frustration.

 

We always like to hear back from our readers on their experience with these tools – good or bad.  Do you have experience with these tools?  How has the long term use been?  What applications have you used the tool for?  Is this a DIY or professional grade tool?  Let us and other readers know.

 

 

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