Porter-Cable Freebies

[Paul Thompson]

Well, my tool shopping spree seems to be exploding. I've been given the go ahead to spend half of my $2400 (after taxes) bonus on tools, with the condition that I build my wife a dining table (http://www.plansnow.com/dntable.html) and chair set (http://www.plansnow.com/chairsdine.html), a glider rocker and ottoman (http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?&offerings_id=792&objectgroup_id=499&catid=50&filter=glider%20rocker), and that she gets to spend the rest of the money as she likes.

As you can guess, that plan was FINE BY ME! :)

Anyhow, my list has expanded to include:

Drill Press: Ridgid DP1550 (http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/DP1550-Drill-Press/)
Benchtop Planer: Delta 22-580 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000648AS/ref=wl_it_dp/103-5259670-1404632?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I1TTWFB8VBJ5O8&v=glance&colid=307SK7RUB4Q2F) and Dust Connector (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005Q7D4/ref=wl_it_dp/103-5259670-1404632?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I289G4ELUZFMDD&v=glance&colid=307SK7RUB4Q2F)
Belt Sander: Porter-Cable 362VSK (http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/DP1550-Drill-Press/) and Graphite Shoe (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004SBCA/ref=wl_it_dp/103-5259670-1404632?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I7YZQH6KFWILN&v=glance&colid=307SK7RUB4Q2F)
Router Kit: Porter-Cable 893PK (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000DCBK7/ref=wl_it_dp/103-5259670-1404632?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I34UYG9KJPTVP7&v=glance&colid=307SK7RUB4Q2F)
Well, with the router, porter cable has a rebate available right now that offers either a free edge guide or templet guide set. (Rebate Page 1 (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000DCBK7.01.RB01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), Page 2 (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000DCBK7.01.RB02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)).


Porter-Cable 42690 Edge Guide (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000222V9/qid=1109269160/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl60/103-5259670-1404632?v=glance&s=home-garden&n=507846)
Porter-Cable 42000 9-Piece Template Guide Kit (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000222V1/qid=1109269189/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl60/103-5259670-1404632?v=glance&s=home-garden&n=507846)
So, my newest question for the creek is: which one should I get?

PS - I can't WAIT to post my first gloat to the creek after I get some of these tools tonight and tomorrow!!!

[Scott Parks]

That's a toss-up. I had neither until recently I bought the template guides. I've always made due with a straight edge, or clamping a makeshift fence to the router base. So, I voted for the guide bushings.

[Bruce Page]

Paul, as Scott said, that’s a toss up. You’ll eventually need both (I did) so it comes down to which one do you think you’ll need first.

[Jim Dunn]

Paul you can get a set of guide bushings from most any where, and at a cheaper price too. But you can't get a router guide like that anywhere but from Porter Cable. I have that particular guide and love it. I also have a woo-craf- set of guide bushings and they do just fine by me.

[Jeff Sudmeier]

I have the edge guide for my router and I have never used it. That's not to say that you won't, but I have used straight edges instead.

[Jim Fancher]

I agree with Jim. Grab the guide bushings somewhere else like Woodcraft (got mine for $14.99 on sale) and get the 42690 in the rebate.

I was lucky enough to get a 42690 for $10 recently, but haven't opened the package yet.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=15810

I picked up the PC 895PK (fixed, plunge and adjusting wrench) for $229 + shipping from Coastal Tool. It's $269 - $40 instant rebate. You can still get the PC rebate items too.

http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/port/895pk.htm?L+coastest+cvmv5616ff863b86+1109340099

[Fred Chan]

I agree with Jim and JIm. You might not use the edge guide much but it will cost you a lot more for it than a set of guide bushings.:)

[John Hulett]

I bought the 893PK a few months ago, and kinda regret not spending the extra $20 for the 895PK (same as 893PK plus the above table Micro Height Adjuster) now that I have a router table in the right side of my TS. When I bought the 893PK, I also bought the edge guide and served me well, but still has it's limitations. If I were working on the same project today (now that I have the right side table in my TS), I would not be using the edge guide and would therefore opt for the template guides.

Also, I got a flyer in the mail from Rockler yesterday that offered a $25 or $50 Rockler Gift Card in addition to the freebees that PC is offering. Something to look into.

[Scott Parks]

Can I change my vote? That's a nice edge guide, and you can buy cheap bushings for less than $20. I'd take the edge guide....