The Porter-cable Pc305tp Thickness Planer is a Corded Thicknesser for Beginners Who Love Woodwork
What We Like
- Double-edged high carbon steel dual knives
- 15 AMP motor for optimal performance
- Sprocket feed roller
- Poly V belt cutter drive
- Ball bearings for head mounting
- Solid steel cutter
- Precision ground columns
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Some parts are plastic
Bottom Line
The Porter-Cable PC305TP Thickness Planer review above shows that it is a great benchtop thicknesser that is perfect for first time users who have no prior experience using a planer.
The 15 AMP-motor is powerful. It gives you more than enough power to handle small to medium-scale woodworking projects. The dual blades are made of high-carbon steel.
So, they are strong and sharp. However, they are also prone to rust like many other high carbon blades. Also, some parts of the planer are made of plastic which isn’t as durable as metal. The price of the Porter-Cable Thickness Planer is on the high side. You’ll need around $370 to $400 to purchase one.
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With the right set of tools, your woodworking projects will be completed professionally whether you’re an expert woodworker or not. However, there are many factors you need to consider when you’re looking for portable woodworking tools.
For example, everyone knows what thickness planers are meant for but not every thickness planer can be used for this purpose effectively. Corded planers are stronger than cordless ones, and some manufacturers create better planers than others.
The Porter-Cable PC305TP Planer is one of the best planers in the market. A simple Google search on the best thicknessers for beginners will show you a list of products and the PC305TP Thickness Planer will be one of them. This corded thickness planer has a portable cable, a 15 Amp motor, and many other great features that we will discuss below.
Related Reading: DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer
Features of the Porter-Cable PC305TP Thickness Planer
High Carbon Steel Double Edge Blade
Whether you’re dealing with a kitchen knife or a fighting sword, high-carbon steel blades will always be strong and durable. The blades are thin as they are just 1⅙ inches thick.
While you’d expect such thin blades to lack durability, the blades on the Porter Cable Planers are strong thanks to the high carbon content. They are also razor-sharp.
Both knives are double-edged so there are no blunt sides. Since they are both reversible knives, they last twice as long as their non-reversible counterparts.
It is important to note that the knives are more prone to rust than regular knives because of the high carbon content. To prevent this corrosion, try as much as possible not to keep the benchtop planer in a damp or hot place.
If you’re not going to use the device regularly, you should be ready to see rusted blades. The good news is that the quick blade feature allows you to change your blades quickly and efficiently before use.
15 AMP Motor for Optimal Performance
Like most of the best planers out there, this power tool comes with a powerful 15 AMP motor. The motor of the PC305TP is the part that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. The motor shaft feels the force generated from the torque and powers the entire device.
If a motor isn’t strong enough, the blade isn’t going to work properly no matter the level of sharpness. Thanks to the powerful motor, the Porter-Cable PC305TP Thickness Planer offers 16,000 cuts per minute with a cutter speed of 8,000 RPM.
This is far more than anything you would get from other portable thicknessers. For more durability and enhanced performance, the product comes with a solid steel cutter head.
Whether you’re trying to trim lumber into your ideal thickness level or you’re trying to generate planes, the Porter-Cable PC305TP Portable Planer will do just fine.
Related Reading: DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer
4 Cutter Elevation Columns
To ensure accuracy, the Porter-Cable PC305TP 12 inch Thickness Planer comes with 4 precision ground columns. These columns ensure that the cutter stays sturdy and stable with each cut.
There is also a rugged gearbox attached to the device that allows you to quick change the speed while the elevation columns keep things in check ensuring that the blade doesn’t lose its stability.
This is what allows you to cut wood without standing too close to the device or manually applying pressure on the wood you intend to cut. To maximize power transfer, there is a sprocket feed roller drive.
Sprocket drives offer 98% transmission efficiency. Sprocket drives are efficient and offer more power than belt drives. They are also cheaper to maintain over time as well.
Related reading: DeWalt DW735 Planer Review
Lightweight and Flexible
The dimension of the Porter-Cable PC305TP Planer is 23 x 15 x 17.7 inches and the weight is 64.8 pounds. So, it is neither too heavy nor too light. However, the weight is just enough to ensure that the device doesn’t lose its balance no matter the weight of the item.
The weight also makes the Porter Cable PC305TP more flexible than many other thickness planers on Amazon. You can easily move it from place to place when you want to change the position or when you want to give it to someone else.
It might be a corded planer but the cord is long. So, you’ll have enough space to work. You might only need to use an extension when you are trying to use the device outside and there is no power outlet outdoors.
Related Reading: Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer Review
Porter-Cable PC305TP Thickness Planer Review The Verdict
The Porter-Cable PC305TP Thickness Planer is a good option for everyone who is into woodworking. Whether you’re a first-timer who has never handled a planer or you’re a professional with years of experience, the Porter-Cable PC305TP will meet your needs.
Some plastic parts make the planer less durable than its fully metal counterparts. It’s also not what you would expect from a planer that costs almost $400.
Thickness planers with plastic parts usually cost between $150 to $200. So, you can understand why our Porter Cable Thickness Planer review condemns its plastic parts.
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