Porter Cable 315 Types

315-1 Builders Saw

• The 315-1 Builder's saw was sold in a metal carrying case. Contractors were attracted to the saw because the tool was protected by the case, and the saw's accessories stayed in the case, where the contractor could always find them. The top handle saw features a vertical depth adjustment mechanism, Therefore, the saw's handle was always in the same position relative to the saw blade and foot plate. This tool was one of the first to feature a heavy-duty 1/4-inch thick aluminum foot plate, which dampened the tool's vibration and made the tool much smoother to use.

Type One

• Type One was the basic model. The saw's first generation was all metal, and featured a 5-toot, high-quality rubber cord that was pointed away from the tool. Because the cord pointed directly away from the work area, rather than out the back of the tool like other saws, the carpenter was less likely to cut the cord, making the saw safer to use than many of its competitors.

Type Two

• The 315 Type Two featured a separate air baffle around the motor spindle. In Types 3 and 4 of the tool, this part cast into the gear housing, so the separate part was unnecessary. This model also has an inferior-design O-ring and fan end bearing. Repair bulletins recommended that the parts be changed whenever the tool came in for repair and maintenance work.

Type Three

• Type 3 was the only generation of the saw that featured any visible modifications. The vertical adjustment guide and the telescoping blade guard were available in three different configurations. The variations were interchangeable with two other Porter Cable saws that entered the market as replacements for the aging 315.

Type Four

• Type 4 featured a newly formulated internal lubricant. The old petroleum-based lube was replaced with synthetic lubricant. The Type 4 lube is incompatible with the previous lubrication and should only be used after all previous-generation lube is cleaned from the tool. The synthetic grease resists thermal breakdown, and therefore lasts longer than the original formulation.