Craftsman CMEW320 15-Amp Benchtop Thickness Planer vs Porter-Cable PC305TP 12.5-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer
| Craftsman CMEW320 15-Amp Benchtop Thickness Planer | Porter-Cable PC305TP 12.5-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer | |
|---|---|---|
| From | — | $330 |
| Tier | Weekend Warrior | Weekend Warrior |
| Motor HP | — | — |
| Cut Height | — | — |
| Cut Width | — | — |
| Table | — | — |
| Weight | 62 lbs | 65 lbs |
| Dust Port | 4" | — |
| Voltage | 110V | 110V |
Craftsman CMEW320 15-Amp Benchtop Thickness Planer
This Craftsman is a casual and beginner planer that shows up often on sale pricing. The 15-amp motor and cast-aluminum base give steady stock removal for a benchtop, and the quick-change reversible knives keep maintenance simple. It rewards careful setup, so someone who wants a set-and-forget tool should look at a three-knife DeWalt instead.
Porter-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.