Porter-Cable PCB575BG 8" Variable Speed Grinder with Work Lamp

I've only had it one day, but compared to the other brand I returned here's what I see. More powerful motor with a relatively faster start up. I put a wire brush on one side and it really digs in. The other brand would not even start up due to some of the brush wires rubbing against the guard. The removable side guard panels are at least twice the thickness and very sturdy. The tool rests could be a bit stronger, but the surfaces are machined and should be adequate. Haven't tried the light yet, but one person said he taped some stiff wire to the goose neck to prevent it from moving during operation. It will probably be needed. The eye guards are strong and easily positioned to accommodate various shaped pieces. All in all a good find.

Decent quality. The gooseneck lamp is not stiff enough to resist the vibration of the grinder at full speed and flops around. I also wish they didn't put that deep groove in the left rest. It is supposed to help with drill sharpening but it makes the rest useless when you just want to slide a tool left and right. These are things I can work around, but it would be better if I didn't have to tweak it. The variable speed is a nice feature and the grinder is very heavy. This design seems to be common across several brands. I would imagine they all come from the same factory.

To be fair, I must say that I have several Porter Cable power tools and I've never had a problem until now...I received the grinder yesterday...the outer shipping box was undamaged...upon opening the outer box, I found the inner factory box had been dropped on something, and it had a 4-inch puncture hole...Upon opening the inner box I found the grinder's left wheel covering was bent and the wheel itself was broken... The stone, in three pieces, fell off its axel and I was able to see that the axel was rust covered...Now begins the product return process and it's fair to say I'm not happy with Porter Cable right now...Will let you know the resolution of the problem...

I was considering the Delta (exact copy of this grinder from Lowes, w/ cheaper parts) but I was lucky to get this right after they lowered the price. It works perfectly! It did have a bit of vibration but that was fixed by moving the eye shields down towards the wheel bases. Now there's no vibration, the wheels are true and straight. The light is a different story though. Even the slightest vibration makes the light move either down towards the wheels or back behind the grinder, eventually falling down. I'm considering looping a piece of stainless wire between the tops of the two wheel housings and looping it around the lamp post. All in all, it was well worth waiting for. Update: Still working great, worth the 5 stars !! Don't get cheated by going to Lowe's, they thrive of selling crap. Lowe's does NOT sell Porter Cable grinders.

Upgraded from an old 6". Variable speed, light, bench rests and safety screens are a nice addition. Tried out, no vibrations, feels good and strong. Easily customizable for different applications etc. Recommended.

I finally got this on a stand and finally used it. It work great at sharpening my lawn mower blade and fixing the tips of some old screwdrivers. I believe a 6" one would have worked but hey this is a beast and wokrs great and hopefully it will last the rest of my life. Now I had to dock a star because the wheels wobble a little bit. One of my friends has a grinder and his wheels do not wobble at all. Not sure if is the wheels or the machine so I will live with it until I need to change a wheel out and will determine if it the wheel or machine. Overall been needing a grinder for years and finally broke down and got this one. Is a good product? I would have to say yes and it does what I got it for. I have bought a few different Porter Cable tools lately and they all seem fairly good for the price

A most excellent tool, on par with other Porter-Cable tools I've owned for decades. Very smooth operation at any desired speed

They just don't last. Three out of three blew a fuse inside. Can't find the fuse anywhere. Finally bought a heavy duty Jet and it will last a lifetime.