Bauer 63445 12.5-Inch Portable Thickness Planer vs Porter-Cable PC305TP 12.5-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer
| Bauer 63445 12.5-Inch Portable Thickness Planer | Porter-Cable PC305TP 12.5-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer | |
|---|---|---|
| From | $350 | $330 |
| Tier | Weekend Warrior | Weekend Warrior |
| Motor HP | — | — |
| Cut Height | — | — |
| Cut Width | — | — |
| Table | — | — |
| Weight | 64.7 lbs | 65 lbs |
| Dust Port | — | — |
| Voltage | 120V | 110V |
Bauer 63445 12.5-Inch Portable Thickness Planer
The Bauer is the lowest-cost way into a benchtop planer, sold only at Harbor Freight, and owners get solid results on a wide range of hardwoods and softwoods when they take light passes. Owners regularly report years of steady use out of it. It's an entry-level machine that depends on careful setup, so anyone planning aggressive full-width hardwood work should step up a tier.
Buy at Harbor Freight $350Porter-Cable PC305TP 12.5-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer
The PC305TP is an easy-to-set-up benchtop for dimensioning and light hobby work, and owners rate its cut as good as anything in its class thanks to four precision columns. The 15-amp motor even handles glued-up panels. Its weak spot is snipe, so someone who wants to avoid building infeed tables should look at a planer with adjustable feed-roller tension.
Buy at Amazon $330Specs sourced from manufacturer documentation. Owner feedback reflects community reports from r/woodworking, Sawmill Creek, and Amazon verified reviews. Prices may vary by retailer and change over time.