Porter-Cable PCC661 Circular Saw Review
Editor Rating: 3.9/5
Good
Porter-Cable PCC661 Circular Saw Review
Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson
Published on: January 11, 2019
Last modified:
January 11, 2019 @ 3:21 pm
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
Porter-Cable PCC661 Review Summary:
Allowing hobbyists and contractors to cut various materials without having to manage messy cords, the circular saws are among the most convenient power tools in today’s world. Fortunately, these devices are not as expensive as they once were – Porter-Cable PCC661 is a great example.
This pocket-friendly circular saw has a great design and enough power to assist the user with cutting different types of materials. It has a high-performance motor, a beveling shoe, a carbide-tooth blade, as well as the comfort handle that makes using it very enjoyable. It can be purchased as a bare tool and inside a combo kit, with the bare-tool version coming without a battery and a charger.
So, if you’re searching for a circular saw that’s not too expensive but still capable of making rough cuts, you’re in the right place. Have a look at our in-depth analysis of PCC661 and find out if it’s the right tool for your needs.
Specifications:
- Weight – 6.5lbs
- Dimensions – 15.2″ x 8.4″ x 9.6″
- Power Source – Battery (Li-Ion)
- Speed – 3,000 RPM
- Voltage – 20V
Porter-Cable PCC661 – The Basics
Since it’s a part of Porter-Cable’s 20V Max lineup, this circular saw sports the same look featured on all other power tools in this range. It’s a red, black, and grey unit with a design that makes it easy to operate and manipulate – there’s a rubberized, contoured handle that provides the user with an excellent grip.
The high-performance engine of this circular saw delivers 3,000 RPM and allows aggressive cutting. However, this is still a homeowner-targeted model, which is precisely why it’s advisable to avoid heavy duty projects with PCC661. The model’s beveling shoe pivots up to 50° and lets the owner engage in the non-traditional cutting applications, which is great for light-duty professionals.
In the next part of the review, we’ll take a closer look at these features and try to determine the unit’s value for the money:
The Features
Design
As we said, the design of this circular saw is quite similar to that of the other power tools in Porter-Cable’s 20V lineup. Although quite affordable, the model looks and feels quite sturdy and durable. The primary build materials here are metal, plastic, and rubber, which is the same as with all other circular saws in this price category.
One of the best things about PCC661’s design is the shape of its handle. It’s a contoured, over-molded grip that reduces job site fatigue and makes it really easy to operate the device. All of the buttons are large and have a bright red color, so there’s no space for worrying about accidental mistakes.
Weighing just 6.5 pounds, the model is relatively lightweight and compact, which always deserves special words of praise. Low weight is something that contractors, who spend many hours a day handling all kinds of heavy power tools, sincerely appreciate.
Power
Although indeed not the most powerful engine out there, the one that’s at heart of PCC661 provides solid performance. Delivering the maximum speed of 8,000 RPM (Rotations per Minute), the engine of this circular saw will allow you to engage in all kinds of lighter cutting applications. As we already mentioned, it’s best to avoid the really ambitious projects if you don’t want to shorten the unit’s lifespan.
However, engaging in some non-traditional cutting applications is entirely possible with this saw, thanks to the presence of a beveling shoe. It pivots up to 50° and allows the user to, for example, engage in flush cutting when required.
One thing we particularly like about this saw is that it comes with a 5 1/2″ carbide tooth blade. It’s a quality blade that delivers a 2-1/8′ cutting capacity and is one of the best things about the whole deal.
Other features
This circular saw comes without the extra features found on top-of-the-line models. The lack of these bells and whistles is not that noticeable here, except we’d really like to see an indicator light that would show the remaining battery juice.
Pros:
A compact circular saw
Solid build quality
Carbide-tooth blade
Pivoting beveling shoe
Cons:
No remaining battery indicator
Homeowner-grade performance
Things We Liked / Didn’t Like
Things we liked about it
The fact that this model is among the most pocket-friendly circular saws available today is probably its most significant advantage. However, it is also worth noting that the unit possesses a number of exciting features that are usually reserved for the pricier circular saws.
Its design is a stellar one, although that’s the case with all Porter-Cable power tools. The PCC661 is a compact model with a rubberized handle that provides a good grip, as well as with the pivoting beveling shoe that increases the unit’s overall versatility.
We also liked the model’s performance – 8,000 RPM of speed and a carbide-tooth blade are more than enough for most cutting tasks, making this saw a fantastic choice for the price-conscious homeowners and contractors.
Things we didn’t like
Those who need a really powerful circular saw for their large projects should look elsewhere – PCC661 is definitely not the right choice for such jobs. Using this saw for demanding applications will leave you with a broken machine after only a couple of uses.
Another downside is the overall lack of extra features, with the lack of a battery indicator being the most significant out of them.
General Impressions
Most of the people who bought PCC661 praise its characteristics and say that it’s a cheap but remarkably well-made circular saw. They agree that it’s one of the best choices for the price that it comes at, as it is powerful enough to help the user with most cutting applications.
Conclusion
Powerful to assist with most cutting tasks, comfortable to use, and coming at an affordable price, the Porter-Cable PCC661 is a fantastic value pick. It’s an outstanding light-duty circular saw without any significant disadvantages and a machine whose design and performance make it look like it’s more expensive than it actually is. Those working on ambitious projects, however, should spend a few more dollars.
Types of Drills We Reviewed
Most Read Reviews
Black & Decker BDEDMT
Bosch 1006VSR Review
Dewalt DWD112 Review
Hitachi D13VF Review
Makita 6302H
Follow Us
