At the time of this posting, Amazon and Walmart both have the Porter Cable PCC608LB 20V Max brushless cordless drill kit on sale for $86. $86 for a brushless drill kit? That’s a very good deal, for any brand.
Here’s what you get:
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- 360 MWO max power output (what’s that all about?)
- 293 in-lbs max torque
- 0-430/1700 RPM (no-load)
- 8″ length
- Weighs 3.2 lbs
The kit comes with a 1.3Ah battery and a basic charger.
Why Buy This Porter Cable Deal?
- Under $100 for a brushless cordless drill kit is a good bargain
- Porter Cable 20V Max platform has value-priced core tools of decent quality
- Reasonable specs for the money, closely comparable to the Dewalt DCD777 brushless drill kit
In a nutshell, this looks to be a good value-priced brushless drill. It offers you more than cheaper entry-priced options, but isn’t as pricey as the next-best brushless cordless drill kit deals.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(via Walmart)
Why Should You Not Buy this Deal?
- You don’t get enough battery or charger for ideal entry into 20V Max platform
- Better $99 options are likely a month away
If you need a cordless drill, this is a good choice for the money. But if you can bump your budget up to $99, there are many more options, and better options. If you’re looking for this to be a gateway into Porter Cable’s 20V Max cordless power tool lineup, you’ll end up wanting a bigger batter and faster charger.
Other Porter Cable Cordless Drill Deals to Consider
If you want to save a little bit more money, there’s also a Porter Cable 20V Max cordless drill kit for $80. Amazon’s photo misled me for a moment, as they show (2) batteries, but that model number kit only comes with (1). Compared to the deal above, you lose a little on max power (330 UWO) and speed (0-400/0-1,600 RPM), but you save about 1/4″ on tool length, and get a slightly higher capacity battery pack (although brushed motors are less efficient so it’s hard to comment about comparative runtime expectations).
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Buy Now(PCC606LA kit via Amazon)
There’s also the Porter Cable PCC601LB cordless drill kit, which has more entry-level specs.
We reviewed a very similar Craftsman cordless drill. Compared to that kit, this Porter Cable is a little more expensive, but you get a second battery.
Price: $81
Buy Now(PCC601LB kit via Walmart)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
What I’d Pick
If you can wait and are willing to spend more, there are bound to be some sweet deals as Father’s Day nears.
Here’s our roundup of 2018’s Black Friday and holiday season cordless drill kit deals. Father’s Day deals are usually a mix of repeat deals and unique deals, with the new deals featuring slightly different tools or kit configurations.
But, if you just need a budget-priced drill kit, this deal looks to be a pretty good one. Let’s just be clear about what it is – an inexpensive cordless drill. The brushless motor is the eye-catching part. A couple of years ago, the prospect of a brushless drill kit for under $99 would have been unthinkable.
Here’s a good challenge – if you don’t think this is a good deal, what would you recommend in its place to someone looking for a light duty 18V-class cordless drill kit?
Tim D.
Doesn’t seem like a good deal to me.
That being said, I know that dinky little black and decker style charger is not ideal, but am I the only one that would like an option like that for my preferred brand (makita) to have as a last ditch option in my tool bag?
I’ve got two permanently mounted DC18RC chargers that I use to keep my batteries charged in the shop.
I’ve got one additional DC18RC that I roam with in my tool bag as needed, but a lot of times I find myself tossing it out if I’m doing some quick work because it takes up so much space. Then I forget to put it back in before I grab a tool bag and take off again.
It doesn’t affect my job or anything since I don’t use power tools for my profession. However, it is kind of annoying.
Do other brands (red, yellow, teal) have small chargers like that?
Tim D.
Oops, didn’t respond to the challenge. I’d much prefer a brushless $99 drill/charger/battery/case combo available at Black Friday.
Brand of preference: makita. I’d gladly take Milwaukee or Dewalt over the P/C as well. $15 is not enough incentive to choose this over those options in my opinion.
Max Musial
Home Depot has the Makita 18v combo kit for $160 right now. I was thinking of picking that up.
Toolfreak
I do like having the dinky charger as a backup on my B&D 20V stuff, just in case the full size charger ever goes out and I need to have SOMEthing to charge the batteries and get the job done instead of having to drop everything and go to the store to get a new one. It’s also great in case the full size charger is under warranty so you can deal with the time it takes to be shipped to you.
What I don’t like is that the kits that USED to include the full size charger, now include the dinky charger, as a way to ‘save’ money and offer a multi-piece power tool kit for a low price.
I know Skil had the dinky chargers back in the Bosch days, but right now it seems to be a SBD thing for the Black & Decker, Porter+Cable, probably even Craftsman brands. Haven’t seen any dinky DeWalt chargers, though.
Thom
Stuart thanks for listing the Torque in inch/lbs
Stuart
You’re welcome! Porter Cable actually has that figure published on their website.
Frank D
That charging setup looks terrible. Unless used absolutely stationary, the first thing that’ll go is the nn gauge wire just outside of the strain relief.
I know my chargers are a bit bulky, but they at have a small plug (no wart) and a standard 110 cord, can be wall mounted, …
Stuart
Like this? https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/black-decker-charger-shorted-out/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
But for what it’s worth, that was a bad batch and the replacement (at least mine) has been good.
Frank D
Indeed.
I have seen that happen with all kinds of wall warts and charging devices, whether age, heat, uv exposure, wrapping too tightly, … I am super cautious around charge cords and plugs, will even wrap some electrical tape around that meeting point as a preventive measure.
But, among friends and family, I see it repeatedly, where people will bring me stuff, hey, this phone thing is not charging any more? or this laptop thing is sparking when I wiggle it? …
Of course some people are more or less delicate around chargers than others. But for a battery tool charger, that seems rather low durability.
Gordon
I find it hard to justify most of these $99 single tool kits. A drill and impact 2pc kit generally only costs a little more, but offers way more.
The Porter Cable PCCK619L2 gives you a similar drill, impact driver, and 2 1.5ah batteries for $149. A little more and you can get a Makita XT279S, which has brushless drill and driver with 2 3.0ah batteries and a much nicer charger.
Or one could go in the 12v direction. There are some great deals on M12 kits, and the Bosch 12v drills are constantly on sale.
I tend to favor tools from a brand/battery system that is well established, even if it means spending a little more.
Eric
I don’t think I could advise anyone to jump into Porter Cable 20v. The newer Craftsman stuff seems to be falling right into the same slot on the SBD hierarchy. Who knows how much longer they’ll actually be on the shelves before they get phased out.
Flotsam
I was just perusing the site and I think I saw an article questioning what the focus and brand identity of Porter Cable was under SBD. That was 2013 I believe. Now that it is 2019 the story hasn’t changed much.
So the question for me as someone who buys lots of tools (ok maybe not as much as some) is what new tools might PC come out with that i might be interested in. I don’t think PC battery configuration is the same as any other SBD 20v product line (why?) So the tool nerd in me says “NO Way!”
That being said I have a soft spot for Porter Cable and the long history it had. It seems a shame when that is squandered for brand engineering. I even just picked up and old(er) PC 314 Trim saw! Now come up with a cordless 20v trim saw that at least emulates what the 314 did (the recent DeWalt offering isn’t quite there).
For a casual homeowner shopper who needs a cordless drill he could do much worse than this PC and probably doesn’t care that he won’t own another PC cordless power tool.
Steve F
For someone looking for a value priced tool set I would have to recommend Rigid or Ryobi. Having recently picked up the m12 fuel drill and impact, I honestly think that is the best option for most. You get the power of the value priced 18V tools with the small size and weight of a 12V and a fantastic platform.
Frank D
I second Ryobi.
Value priced.
More 18v tool options than any other brand.
skfarmer
i don’t own any porter cable but did look at much of it when tsc had a bunch on clearance. i can’t help but wonder why they chose to make them so busy looking with odd angles, shapes and rubber bits overmolded into the case. it looks like they have 100 places to catch grunge, dirt and dust.
just think how much cleaner they would be without that even if they did leave the same basic shape. they could could probably shave even more off the price by smoothing off all of those holes and grooves.
Gregor
I got this brushless drill with the brushless driver combo with 2x 1.3AH it for $140 CAD a year ago. It works great for me, quality seems on par with the cheaper Dewalt offerings my friends use.
IMO it’s only worth it if you are already invested in Porter Cable 20V tools.
For a weekend project guy like me, I wish I had gone Ryobi for the bigger tool selection for less $.
If my tool made me more money then they cost me I’d switch Milwaukee.
Jim
I’m confused why this is even being considered when you can get a Ryobi brushless drill and impact driver combo with 2 batteries and a better charger for $120.
Stuart
Because there are a lot of people who don’t want to spend $120 when all they want is a cordless drill.
Ron
I own the complete 20v line of Porter Cable, mostly due to me investing in the 60v B+D lawn tools. I use nothin but 60v 2.5ah batteries for all my Porter tools, including these brushless drills, since the lawn batteries are a cheap version of the Dewalt FlexVolt line and can be purchased cheap.
As for the drill, it’s middle of the road in today’s tool line, I honestly just use a drill chuck adapter for my impacts. I chose it because it was Brushless, like the impacts and works with the battery platform I have invested in. Bottom line is invest in a battery platform, not the tool.
CB
Do the B+D 60v batteries work in the Porter Cable (& vise versa)? I bought the driller & impact a few years ago on a Black Friday sale, and while I love my PC tools, they don’t have OPE. I’m looking at buying into Dewalt since they have a wider range of tools, that work on 1 platform, than Ryobi.
If the B+D 60v batteries work, I may have to reassess.
Aaron
I don’t babysit batteries whole they charge. I need them to be reasonably quick and then not get fried if left charging overnight or for a week. This charger is a non starter for me. We actually have a half dozen PC 20v, I just have a policy of not buying nicd or noon-smart chargers. Only a daily use tool can survive this kind of charger and this tool won’t hold up to that kind of use.
Ben
No way I would buy into Porter Cable line of cordless tools. If you want a DIY line of cordless tools you can’t go wrong with Ryobi IMO. I would just wait until the next time the P1815 goes on sale for about $100 to get a brushless drill and two 2.0 Ah batteries. I picked it last year for $99.99 and it’s a good value
John
4 years ago I bought a Kawasaki 18V cordless with 1.3 Amp battery for $39.95 delivered. It has a far better smart charger and I find it handy despite the crumby battery size. It can sit for 3 or 4 months without use and still drill a couple of holes before the battery needs a charge.
It may not be brushless but it’s just what us no longer tradie types (retired) want.
$90 – 100 is to much.
Bondo
From what I can see at my local stores Porter cable and kobalt being phased out and replaced by craftsmen.
Aaron
Looks like they are getting second billing but not eliminated at most stores. New kobalt OPE just rolled out alongside the Craftsman.
Seems like SBD still doesn’t know what they want Porter Cable to be. Maybe they’ll find some other chain to sell it exclusively, then nobody will ever have to price match another stores product!
Charles in Richmond
Porter cable used to be a great tool company. Now it’s junk . Given you can usually get an m18 drill with 1.5amp battery on sale for $99, I don’t know why anyone would buy this line, especially as it’s getting dumped for Craftsman. (That m18 isn’t brushless. But it is almost 66% more powerful – brushless here is just meaningless marketing speak)
Frankly, Craftsman looks equally bad. If you want a bad cordless too, go to harbor freight and at least pay far less. Or get Ryobi. I wouldn’t own one myself, but they are fair values for the price. Between HF and RYOBI is what I’d call the Lowes Sucker Zone.
Peter Beatty
Hi, we don’t seem to get porter cable in the UK, but I’m wondering if the Stanley Fatmax tools are the same thing rebadged ? Seems a bit harder to work out the ‘hierarchy’ over here !
Les
@Peter Beatty – We had Stanley FatMax 20V tools here starting in 2012 for a few years sold by Wal-Mart and Menards. The batteries were compatible with Porter Cable with some minor plastic cuts. I still have my Stanley FatMax 20V Hammer Drill. SB&D decided to phase out the Stanley 20V line here in the USA, but it was line the Porter Cable line which is only sold here.
Since the Craftsman line has come out at Lowes the Porter Cable line is now the red headed step child of SB&D, but currently most everything Porter Cable is as good as the new Craftsman except the top of the line Craftsman which are like Dewalt’s tools with different battery configuration.
I prefer to stay with Porter Cable for now since the batteries work in my Stanley drill and Black and Decker weed eater. You don’t have to worry about incompatible battery protocols on new lines of tools.
SB&D is selling Porter Cable at Costco, Auto Parts Stores, etc now. If you look careful though you can find Porter Cable cheap online and liquidation stores that carry Lowe’s stock. I bought their most recent Brushless Kit with drill and impact for ~$100 on ebay and picked up the wet/dry vac at a local Liquidation place for $40. If I was starting out new I would probably pick the Ryobi line or step up to Rigid line as a home user. I like the fact Ryobi has never changed their batteries, but I’d prefer the Rigid Octane line on price and power comparable to Milwaukee