Porter-Cable 3812 Portable Table Saw

I chose this saw because of the success I've had with other PC tools. I also bought the stand that goes with the saw because I wanted a compact, solid, easily transported system, and I was not disappointed. The saw itself is a joy to operate compared to the other benchtop models I've been using. When the bevel lock is loosened to change the angle, the saw dosen't immediatly flop over like the DeWalt and Mikita benchtop saws. The angle and blade height is adjusted by a smooth like butter operating gear/crank. I'm also impressed with the simple utility of the extending fence rails. Very solid and hassle free.
While the fence is accurate, it takes a little more force than I think should be necessary to lock it down. I adjusted the lockdown lever to what I was comfortable with and found that while the front of the fence was secure, the rear tended to shift. However, I re-adjusted the lever to its previous tension and have had no problems.

It got real old lugging my 700 pound Lurem multi-station around, but for years I just couldn't see spending money for the cheesy bench tops. Well the war heated up when DeWalt got going, then Bosch, and finally PC. And, I got older, and the big saw got reallly heavy. The 3812 seemed to be the best of the lot. UPS did its usual slamming and dropping, and when I opened the box,I was appalled at the packing. Only one little block of foam, and it had come off wherever it was supposed to be and the sliding fence had slammed into the edge of the table, which is a cast aluminum lip extension of the table top. This resulted in the screw for fence adjustment being bent at a 45 degree angle, and the cast edge was broken. Not only that, but the extension rails were 1 1/2 inches out of rack. Just an incredibly poor job of packaging.
None the less, when I checked the alignment, it was perfect on the blade angles, but there was no allen wrench for the adjustments, which seemed odd. I am so...Read more

I SPENT 10 MONTHS LOOKING FOR A TABLE SAW THAT WOULD MEET MY STANDARDS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP. RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX YOU NOTICE A DIFFERENCE. THE FENCE IS ROCK SOLID AND ACURATE. THE TABLE EXTENTION IS VERY SMOOTH, AND WHEN LOCCKED BECOMES A PART OF THE TABLE. LOWERING AND RAISING THE BLADE COULD NOT BE ANY SMOOTHER. ADJUSTING THE ANGLE OF THE BLADE IS JUST AS NICE. A NICE SURPRISE WAS HOW THE MITER GUAGE FITS INTO THE TABLE SO IT CAN'T LIFT OUT. I WOULD HAVE PAID TWICE THE PRICE. PORTER CABLE HAS SET THE STANDARD FOR PORTABLE TABLE SAWS. IT IS GOOD TO SEE THINGS MADE AT THIS LEVEL OF CRAFTSMANSHIP.