Thread: Hare & Forbes PT-300 at $1,859, or Woodfast 12" at $1,695?

First posting - hello all!

Sale time at H&F is coinciding with my desire to purchase a planer/thicknesser at under $2000.

The PT-300 is reduced from $2,035 to $1,859 (inc.GST) and is now somewhat comparable in price to the Woodfast ($1,695 at Carbatech).

Any strong opinions on which way to go?

Reading through previous postings and the Australian Wood Review (59?) review of thicknessers indicates posters are pretty happy with the Woodfast.

Don't know much re. the PT-300 but seems comparable if not better in capacity:
* longer table (1500mm vs 1250 for Woodfast)
* slightly bigger thicknessing capacity
* four knives (c.f. 3 for Woodfast)
* hugely heavier (316kg vs 175kg for Woodfast ~ is that any indicator of build quality??)

Happy to pay the extra if it's going to last me - can't see me buying more than one of these in the next 20 years, so it needs to be a good decision...

All input appreciated...