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Porter-Cable PCCK647 Review

This run-of-the-mill tool failed to win any accolades but should do a decent job with most products
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Porter-Cable PCCK647 Review
Price:  $150 List
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Manufacturer:   PORTER-CABLE
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Sep 17, 2022
64
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#5 of 11
  • Speed - 35% 7.0
  • Torque - 25% 8.0
  • Convenience - 20% 6.0
  • Battery - 15% 4.3
  • Noise - 5% 3.0

Our Verdict

Earning a spot in the middle of the group, the Porter-Cable PCCK647 couldn't clinch an award but is far from our least favorite impact driver. It's fast, it packs a surprising amount of power, and it has a solid set of convenience features to help you get your projects done faster and more efficiently. However, it does drive in screws noticeably slower and has less torque than the the best impact drivers, along with a significantly lower score in our battery test.
REASONS TO BUY
Solid torque
Decently speedy
Convenient to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Loud
Battery life could be better
Editor's Note: We updated this Porter-Cable review on September 12, 2022, to highlight other impact drivers that may better suit your tool quiver.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Impact Driver
Editors' Choice Award
Best Tool-Only Impact Driver
 Editors' Choice Award
Best 12 Volt Impact Driver
Price $150 List
$127.50 at Amazon
$220 List
$119.99 at Amazon
$135 List
$117.00 at Amazon
$129 List
$92.90 at Amazon
$120 List
$99.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line While the PCCK647 didn't claim an award, we think it's a decent product that can handle most tasks fairly wellIf you want an ultra-fast and strong impact driver with an efficient battery, this model is the oneThis impact driver offers fantastic speed and torque in a compact packageIf you want a high performance impact driver that can hang with the best, this is a good choiceWhen it comes to 12-volt impact drivers, it's hard to beat the performance of this model
Rating Categories Porter-Cable PCCK647 Kobalt XTR Max 24V Milwaukee M18 Fuel... Makita XDT13 Milwaukee M12 Fuel...
Speed (35%)
7.0
10.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
Torque (25%)
8.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
6.0
Convenience (20%)
6.0
6.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
Battery (15%)
4.3
10.0
5.7
6.6
3.6
Noise (5%)
3.0
3.0
2.0
3.0
3.0
Specs Porter-Cable PCCK647 Kobalt XTR Max 24V Milwaukee M18 Fuel... Makita XDT13 Milwaukee M12 Fuel...
Average Measured Total Time for Lag Bolt Test 32 seconds 13 seconds 16 seconds 21 seconds 37 seconds
Average Measured Time: Plywood Ledger Screw Test 7 seconds 3 seconds 3 seconds 4 seconds 6 seconds
Average Measured Fastening Torque 257 ft-lb 300 ft-lb 300 ft-lb 282 ft-lb 143 ft-lb
Average Measured Breaking Torque 300 ft-lb 300 ft-lb 300 ft-lb 300 ft-lb 275 ft-lb
Average Measured Time: 3-2'x12' Ledger Screw Test 3.9 seconds 2.1 seconds 2.0 seconds 2.8 seconds 3.7 seconds
Battery Test Screws Driven 52.5 117 68 78 44
Measured Length 147 mm 139 mm 116 mm 126 mm 132 mm
Average Measured Decibels While Using 98 dBa 96 dBa 99 dBa 97 dBa 97 dBa
Impact Driver Model # PCC647 KXID 124B-03 2853-20 XDT13 2553-20
Quick Bit Insert Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Bit Holder Yes No Yes No No
Multiple Fastening Modes No Yes Yes No Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

We think the Porter-Cable PCK647 is a solid option for most DIYers or weekend warrior homeowners but might not have the battery life, speed, or torque required by a pro or an avid DIYer.

Performance Comparison


porter-cable pcck647 - although it will likely help you get your project done, the...
Although it will likely help you get your project done, the Porter-Cable PCCK647 doesn't quite stand up against the more impressive impact drivers.
Credit: Laura Casner

Speed


The PCCK647 made an impression on us with its faster-than-average speed at driving in screws, particularly with larger lag bolts. This impact took about 26 seconds to fully set a ½" by 3" lag and 12 seconds to remove it — almost on par with the fastest times of around 15 seconds to insert and six seconds to remove. It also did relatively well in our ledger screw test, only taking an average of four to seven seconds to fully seat a 3-⅝" long screw in stacked 2x12s or plywood. This result is just a bit slower than the best impact drivers, taking only three to four seconds to accomplish the same task.

porter-cable pcck647 - the porter-cable was pretty quick at sinking lag bolts.
The Porter-Cable was pretty quick at sinking lag bolts.
Credit: Laura Casner

Torque


We were quite impressed with the performance of the PCCK647 in our torque tests, especially with its great result when it came to cracking loose already tightened fasteners. This impact driver almost held its own with the top tools overall when it came to tightening a nut, falling just a little bit short. It managed to tighten a ¾-10 nut to an average of 257-foot pounds, but we found it far less consistent than other products. Our results with the Porter-Cable PCCK647 ranged from a maximum tightening torque of 200-foot pounds up to 300-foot pounds throughout our tests — a much larger range than the typical 10- to 15-foot pounds we saw with the other tools in the review. It did match the best products in terms of breaking torque, able to reliably loosen a ¾" nut that had been torqued to 300-foot pounds after about 9 seconds.

porter-cable pcck647 - the torque produced by the porter-cable would be hard to beat.
The torque produced by the Porter-Cable would be hard to beat.
Credit: Laura Casner

Convenience


On top of those solid driving performances, the PCCK647 has some handy features that we found made it much more convenient to use. This impact driver provides a decent amount of light from an LED at the base of the tool that stays on for 20 seconds or so once you let go of the trigger. The bit does cast a small shadow due to the location of the light, but we didn't find this to be too much of an issue.

porter-cable pcck647 - despite the weird shadow, the led light is more than enough to work...
Despite the weird shadow, the LED light is more than enough to work in dimly-lit areas.
Credit: Laura Casner

You don't need to release the locking mechanism when inserting a bit, and this impact isn't overly long, only measuring 147 mm from the end of the chuck to the back of the tool. It even has a built-in holder for an extra bit on the right side of the tool.

porter-cable pcck647 - the bit holder on the porter-cable is located in a convenient spot.
The bit holder on the Porter-Cable is located in a convenient spot.
Credit: Laura Casner

Battery


This impact also delivered lackluster results in our battery test. We assessed this by alternating between setting 14 of the 3-⅝" ledger screws to their full depth and then driving in and removing the ½"x3" lag bolt. The PCCK647 only completed three cycles of this before its 1.5 amp-hour battery gave out, whereas the top impact drivers completed over five cycles. We also didn't love that this impact lacks operating modes with different torque settings.

porter-cable pcck647 - the porter-cable pcck647 will go full-bore for a little while, but...
The Porter-Cable PCCK647 will go full-bore for a little while, but not very long.
Credit: Laura Casner

Noise


Our biggest gripe with the Porter-Cable PCCK647 is the amount of noise it generates for the operator while in use. We measured an average of 98 decibels at ear height for the person using it. This can exceed what is typically considered acceptable sound levels without hearing protection, depending on how long you are using the tool, so you should always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper personal protective equipment.

porter-cable pcck647 - although its loud, at least the noise produced by the porter-cable...
Although its loud, at least the noise produced by the Porter-Cable PCCK647 lines up with its power and speed.
Credit: Laura Casner

Should You Buy the Porter-Cable PCCK647?


The Porter-Cable PCCK647 delivered decent results when it comes to speed and torque, combining that with an average battery test result and a solid set of features to make it quite user-friendly. We think it's a fairly uninspiring impact driver, but it should get most jobs done without too much difficulty. It could be a great addition to a DIYer's tool arsenal, especially if you already own some other cordless tools with a compatible battery system.

What Other Impact Drivers Should You Consider?


While we didn't think the PCCK647 is necessarily the best value option, if you already own tools that work on this battery platform, you can save some dough by buying the bare tool without the battery and charger. But if you are just building your tool kit and want to prioritize battery life, we suggest looking at the Makita XDT13 driver.

David Wise and Austin Palmer