Van Huskey
05-07-2010, 4:06 AM
I was in Lowes this afternoon gathering a truckload of stuff for the yard and took a break and wandered over to well you know the tools.
They happened to have a Delta and the PC 14" BS sitting side by side so I decided to look them over. The differences were a lot more than I expected. The first thing that hit me was the HUGE difference in fit and finish, the PC was actually top notch. The second was the motor, I was skeptical about the 1 1/2hp the PC claims but it is at least the size of a true 1 1/2 hp motor where the Delta's 3/4hp actually looks small for a 3/4. Many of the cast 14s tend to look like they were made in old factories with old tooling the PC actually looks like it was built from all new tooling though it was surely just cleaned up.
Don't get me wrong the PC didn't look like it came out of the ACM factory but it struck me as a cast saw that lacked nothing except a fence.
At this point it begs a comparison to THE value 14"er, the G0555. The PC can be in your truck for about $400 with a 10% coupon after adding tax and the 555 for about $525 in your truck at the local freight terminal. A Kreg fence and some Carter guides and you are up over $600 for the PC but the guides and fence will be better and you will have more power but I still think the 555 makes more sense for most users. I will say if anyone is considering a 14" cast saw for curve cutting only, say if they have a larger saw they want to leave setup for resawing this may be a pretty good choice. In that case forget a fence and stick a Carter stabilizer on the PC, for about $50 less than the 555 you have a saw with a better guide system (for narrow blades), a bigger table, more power and a 3 year warranty and about the only thing missing feature wise would be the 555s quick release and maybe the 4" DC port on the 555, 2.5" on the PC.
Let me remind everyone that this is completely based on looks however I have seen, used and tuned quite a few Delta "clones" and the PC struck me as pretty well put together. Had I been plannnng to buy one I certainly wouldn't have even thought about getting the Delta unless I could have gotten it for less than $200 like some people did. If I were buying one to be my only saw I am pretty sure the 555 would still be my 14" cast choice based solely on the fence and guides but if I was planning for it to be just a curve cutter I think the better value might be the PC with a Carter stabilizer. Later this year when I equip my new shop I plan on the 2 BS route and I am pretty sure I will put my money where my mouth is on this one and if I am wrong I will be the first person to let you now I shouldn't have gone against conventional wisdom!
They happened to have a Delta and the PC 14" BS sitting side by side so I decided to look them over. The differences were a lot more than I expected. The first thing that hit me was the HUGE difference in fit and finish, the PC was actually top notch. The second was the motor, I was skeptical about the 1 1/2hp the PC claims but it is at least the size of a true 1 1/2 hp motor where the Delta's 3/4hp actually looks small for a 3/4. Many of the cast 14s tend to look like they were made in old factories with old tooling the PC actually looks like it was built from all new tooling though it was surely just cleaned up.
Don't get me wrong the PC didn't look like it came out of the ACM factory but it struck me as a cast saw that lacked nothing except a fence.
At this point it begs a comparison to THE value 14"er, the G0555. The PC can be in your truck for about $400 with a 10% coupon after adding tax and the 555 for about $525 in your truck at the local freight terminal. A Kreg fence and some Carter guides and you are up over $600 for the PC but the guides and fence will be better and you will have more power but I still think the 555 makes more sense for most users. I will say if anyone is considering a 14" cast saw for curve cutting only, say if they have a larger saw they want to leave setup for resawing this may be a pretty good choice. In that case forget a fence and stick a Carter stabilizer on the PC, for about $50 less than the 555 you have a saw with a better guide system (for narrow blades), a bigger table, more power and a 3 year warranty and about the only thing missing feature wise would be the 555s quick release and maybe the 4" DC port on the 555, 2.5" on the PC.
Let me remind everyone that this is completely based on looks however I have seen, used and tuned quite a few Delta "clones" and the PC struck me as pretty well put together. Had I been plannnng to buy one I certainly wouldn't have even thought about getting the Delta unless I could have gotten it for less than $200 like some people did. If I were buying one to be my only saw I am pretty sure the 555 would still be my 14" cast choice based solely on the fence and guides but if I was planning for it to be just a curve cutter I think the better value might be the PC with a Carter stabilizer. Later this year when I equip my new shop I plan on the 2 BS route and I am pretty sure I will put my money where my mouth is on this one and if I am wrong I will be the first person to let you now I shouldn't have gone against conventional wisdom!