Porter Cable / Rockwell 315 Circular Saw

[OilyRascal]

"They" cut the cord on my Ridgid while "they" were supposed to be cutting lookouts on the gable rafters.  I decided that while I was fixing cords, I'd also line this guy up for repairs.  Got in trouble for spending time on it while I should have been moving some furniture.

I had picked it up last Thursday at the pawn.  It sounds nice and tight.  Cord needed help.  It took me about an hour of cleaning old grease.  Had to sand on the bottom of the base.  Got a new blade.

No idea on the age.  I'm not used to 11.5 amp on a 7-1/4, but I hope I'm pleasantly surprised.  The height and bevel adjustments are foreign to me in this form.

Here it is:

[turnnut]

the patent number on your saw;2,861,607 was issued to A.N. Emmons, Nedrow, N.Y. and he assigned the patent to Porter-Cable Co.  on Nov. 25, 1958

the patent covered; Jack shaft and guard unit for wood working saws.

this may help you put a close date on yours.

Frank

[Bill Houghton]

P-C sold the 315 "drop foot" saw for years.  The argument for the depth setting was that the handle stayed at the same angle as you changed depth settings.  A lot of people loved them.  I have the sense that they were particularly popular for work where the worker was above the work, like cutting decking in place while kneeling on the decking.

Like so many of P-C's good tools, they went away when the company was purchased by Satanley/Blackened Drecker, and the new owners took the brand down-market, so as not to compete with other company brands.

[OilyRascal]

P-C sold the 315 "drop foot" saw for years.  The argument for the depth setting was that the handle stayed at the same angle as you changed depth settings.  A lot of people loved them.  I have the sense that they were particularly popular for work where the worker was above the work, like cutting decking in place while kneeling on the decking.......

I won't lie, I found the handle arrangement to be awkward today, though I wasn't doing a bunch of cutting.  It seems as if its tilted upward to much.  I can see where it would be an improvement to be above the saw.  My initial thinking is it may be uncomfortable for all day use at waist level (e.g. working off the horses cutting decking).  My horses are generally 34"....I guess I could drop them down a tad.

I found I like HEAVY in a circular saw, and this is heavy.  I cut like a laser with weight, and look like a wet noodle using these newer 6lb saws.

[rusty]

Yeah, I am always chasing the line with the battery saws, they don't weigh anything. And carbide blade makes it worse, the kerf is so wide the saw goes wherever it feels like...

On the other hand, the little saws just stop when they get stuck, 12 amp monster saws do evil things when they get stuck ;P

[OilyRascal]

On the other hand, the little saws just stop when they get stuck, 12 amp monster saws do evil things when they get stuck ;P

{knocking on wood}