PORTER-CABLE vs DEWALT Cordless Drill Driver [Before Deciding]

For a number of power tool users, American-born companies like DeWalt and Porter-Cable are usually htier preferred power tool and hand tool manufacturer. However, selecting between the two can still be quite the challenge.

Why? Because both are highly reputable brands that make some of the best-selling power tools out there, and to choose between them, you must comprehend what they are all about and what gives each their edge.

In this article, we will highlight the story behind these two great power tool companies and compare some of their top-rated combo kits to help you on deciding which one to choose in case you’re planning to get one.

PORTER-CABLE Cordless Drill Driver VS DEWALT Cordless Drill Driver

1. PORTER-CABLE PCCK600LB 20-volt 1/2-Inch Lithium Ion Drill/Driver Kit

PCCK600LB drill is rated for 330 unit-watts-outs. And if you didn’t know, the higher that rating is, the quicker the equipment completes its driving or drilling action.

This porter cable comes with two-speed settings, 0-1600 RPM and 0-400 RPM. It also includes 23 clutch settings. These two factors mean it is easy to select the appropriate amount of torque for any application.

You can pick low speed, high torque, or high speed, low torque. Hard materials and large screws like metal require a high torque setting.

Its metal ratcheting ½ inch chuck is compatible with a vast range of bits such as hole-saws, so long as they have a ½ inch shank. Sadly, this porter-cable doesn’t make it clear what its maximum drilling range is.

Moreover, it also comes with other beneficial features like this drill. One is its ergonomic handle that balances the weight very nicely. Once its battery is mounted, the drill can stand on its foot. The complete setup is very lightweight at just 3.5 lbs.

Aside from that, its reverse/forward switch above the trigger is a safety lock-off in the middle position. Users use that while changing bits rather than removing the battery.

Lastly, there’s a battery fuel gauge located in the foot of it, a LED work light right below its chuck, and a battery fuel gauge in the foot of its drill.

Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GgXCzEVoSQ

PROS:

• LED work light delivers additional light in dark work areas
• Battery fuel gauge displays charge remaining in the battery
• Metal ratcheting chuck reduces bits slipping in the battery
• Reduces user fatigue
• Ideal for small and large applications
• Lithium-Ion innovated
• Compact

CONS:

• A little bit heavy with a small battery
• Light is not as large as a beam
• Quite noisy
• Tend to lag in some instances

2. Dewalt DCD771C2 20V MAX Cordless Lithium-Ion 1/2 inch Compact Drill Driver Kit

The DeWalt DCD771C2 20V MAX compact drill driver kit is your go-to tool for light and medium tasks. Additionally, it has a history of making power tools that can manage any task and this kit lives up to customers’ highest expectations.

This compact driver kit is perfect for crafting projects, weekend warriors, and those who cannot handle larger tools. It is integrated with a high-performance motor that will not let you down. It gives 300 watts of power. But what’s interesting is that it can still operate with off batteries, thus you are not limited in where you can take it.

Another bonus it offers is its two variable speeds. The first speed is 0 to 450 RPMs and the second speed, is 15000 RPMs.

The slower speeds are ideal for people who are prone to stripping screws. With slower speed, consumers can slow down and take the time they need to remove the screw accordingly. Moreover, this power tool comes with 15 settings and can complete a variety of drilling and fastening tasks.

PROS:

• Won’t take up much room in your toolbox
• Easy to store as it comes with a bag
• Much lighter than the conventional 18V models
• Easily fits into tight, compact spaces
• Has reverse
• The battery can charge in less than half an hour
• Has high-speed transmission
• Batteries hold a charge for a long time
• Comes with 2 Lithium-ion battery packs

CONS:

• No belt included with purchase
• No bit storage slot
• No built-in level
• Not bits are included with the purchase
• Better for at home use rather than professional use

PORTER-CABLE Combo Kit VS DEWALT Combo Kit

1. PORTER-CABLE PCCK602L2 20V MAX Lithium 2 Tool Combo Kit

The PCCK602L2 porter cable combo kit is an excellent way to add 2 essential power tools to your collection without spending loads of cash.

The driver and drill that comes in its kit are outfitted with some of the best features on the market and are very convenient to use. Thus, if you’re looking to get powerful and light tools for your intense DIY projects, this one is for you.

Now, one of the best features of this porter-cable kit is that it comes with an impact driver, as well as a power drill. Meaning, you get both high-quality tools for one cheap price.

To make this kit an even better deal, the power tools are made to run on long-lasting and fast-charging Li-Ion batteries.

Moreover, both the power drill and impact driver in this kit are made with variable speeds. Compared to some power tools that only offer slow and fast speeds, these tools are really variable.

The speed of its drill and driver are controlled by how hard you pull its trigger. If you pull its trigger gently, it will work slowly. On the other hand, when the trigger is pulled hard, it will operate quickly.

Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhL8fIht1vI

PROS:

• Batteries last for about 24 hours without being charged
• Energy Star Certified
• 20V
• Package includes Lithium-ion batteries
• Comes with LED light for illumination in work areas
• Compact design
• Professional-grade tools
• Magnetic strips hold bits on top of tool
• Belt clip can be moved to left or right for ambidextrous use
• Chuck takes ½” drill shanks

CONS:

• Driver can be hard to hold onto at high speeds
• No hard case
• Impact driver is very loud when in use

2. DEWALT DCK240C2 20v Lithium Drill Driver/Impact Combo Kit (1.3Ah)

If ever you’re looking for a power tool that will not leave you too stressed and fatigued after a long day of tasks, this tool is most likely the ideal choice for you, as it features a weight of only a few pounds that should make it easy to operate with the long period of hours.

Its dimensions are also optimized for small spaces. In short, the smaller the drill, the easier it will work on a variety of different tasks. You don’t always have to work with difficult angles but when you do, it’s certainly great to have something that is handy.

Moreover, its grip is designed to be ergonomic which ensures a comfortable experience using it. Aside from that, the motor featured on it is very impressive. It features multiple speed settings that let you operate the drill at a rate of 0-450 RPMs or 0-1500 RPMs.

Also, like many modern heavy-duty tools, the DCK240C2 puts a significant emphasis on the visibility of your work output.

This is actually accomplished through the placement of 3 LED lights near the chuck of the tool that light up while you work so that darkened spaces are not a problem to work in.

PROS:

• Lightweight
• Compact design
• LED light
• Good Motor
• Combo set
• Affordable price
• LED lights improve the visual display in dark environments
• The builder bag makes it portable and easy to handle
• Longer battery life
• Two-speed option
• Lightweight and compact design
• Multifunctional and useful for remote places

CONS:

• Battery issues tend to occur after extensive use
• The charger takes about an hour to get fully charged

DeWalt Product Features

It’s not always easy, to sum up the features that define DeWalt’s power tools since most are feature-rich and make use of some amazing and innovative technologies. Some of these impressive features include:

Breakaway Blades – this is a common feature of DeWalt’s products. It is an advanced blade design that lets users break away the use section of a blade and reinsert the not used component for more cutting efficiency and longer blade life.

Flexvolt – the very first power tool in the world has been engineered to change the voltage automatically when the consumer moves it from one power tool to another. The aim of this feature is to make sure that the user will always get increased power and longer runtimes no matter what the tool.

Tool-Connect – it is one of those features that every DeWalt power tool user will surely love since it makes it very easy to track your power tools from anywhere with real-time updates.

Whilst it is only applicable for those with Bluetooth-enabled batteries, this feature is becoming more normal since more users switch to these more innovative batteries.

20V Max XR Line – this feature was introduced in 2013 but became the most popular line of DeWalt power tools.

It provides a line of brushless power tools that use brushless motors and comes with 20V max lithium-ion batteries to ensure top-rate tool performance, long runtimes, and battery life. 

Porter-Cable Product Features

Porter-Cable has been in business for more than a hundred years now, and thus they exactly understand what users look for in a power tool.

And they make use of various features in order to ensure that their products will meet the needs of prospective users. These features are the following:

Affordable Prices – the relatively reasonable price ranges that are aimed to make their power tools more appealing to regular prospects is one of the key elements that set Porter-Cable from Dewalt and other famous brands.

Ergonomic Design – most Porter-Cable power tools are ergonomically designed and are lightweight enough to fit the needs of the user which in most cases is a typical DIYer, hobbyist, or homeowner.

20 Volts Max System – a line of power tools that uses 20 volts max lithium-ion batteries for longer battery life and run times. This system also lets you use the same battery on different kinds of power tools. 

Manufacturing and Warranty Facilities

Most manufacturing from Porter-Cable and DeWalt is outsourced, with sensibly largely taking place in Mexico and China.

Nonetheless, it must be mentioned that several years ago, DeWalt made a pretty huge step to bring loads of their assembly back home to the USA, creating thousands of new American jobs by opening up seven brand new manufacturing establishments.

On the other hand, in terms of warranty, Dewalt provides a pretty standard 3-year warranty on all of their handheld power tools – anything that breaks or fails because of manufacturing default within 3 years will be repaired or replaced.

Porter-Cable provides a similar 3-year warranty on their line of cordless power tools, however, that’s only for the power tool itself because batteries are backed up by a two-year warranty.

Should You Purchase a DeWalt or Porter-Cable

Like we mentioned before, when it comes to Porter-Cable and DeWalt’s names, it would be wise to regard the old saying, “you get what you pay for.”

Moreover, DeWalt is among the best so if you are getting into it for the long haul and are planning on getting some serious abuse out of them, then it’s highly advisable that you make an investment by going with the best quality out there.

Now if you just need some tools around your house to dabble there and here, or just to have one handy just in case needed, then most of Porter-Cable’s cordless power tools will most likely suit just fine your needs.

Comparative Analysis between DeWalt vs. Porter Cable

If you’re holding a half an inch DeWalt drill in one of your hands, and another half an inch of Porter-Cable drill in the other, you’ll feel and observe a huge difference in their weight.

From this, you’ll be able to infer that the tool of DeWalt is made from better and higher quality materials that ensure its longevity and durability. On the other hand, the tools of Porter-Cable are relatively lighter and not that durable.

Even though Porter Cable has metal bearings and minute specs present in them, they are still made of inferior materials.

On the other hand, DeWalt tools are produced by utilizing high-grade metals compared to those of Porter Cable which only makes use of nylons and other high-grade plastics.

DeWalt tools have more enduring capacity than those of Porter Cable tools and can endure significant wear and there.

Thus, when you plan on investing in putting your equipment and machines through a wringer in a more planned manner, just go for DeWalt power tools without hesitating.

Both brands have 20 volts batteries, nonetheless, the liquid in a DeWalt MAX will last for a longer period of time compared to Porter Cable’s 20V.

The aforementioned pointers obviously justify the fact that DeWalt power tools have more warranty than those of Porter Cable.

Conclusion

The truth is, it’s quite hard to recommend a certain brand in general because both are the best in their own ways and fulfill entirely different aspects.

Nevertheless, if you ask us which must be the one to invest in for the sake of better quality and lifespan, without a doubt, we’d really like to recommend DeWalt.

But remember, no matter how good the product is, quality, durability, and some essential factors are what really define it. Power tools from DeWalt are made with the best of the best quality materials with massive enduring capacity, thus ensuring excessive warranty.

Now in case you’re trying to repair some commodity or furniture in your house, there’s nothing wrong with picking Porter Cable power tools since in such instances you’ll obviously can’t use the more advanced and high-power DeWalt tools.