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A couplet of months ago I got theDewalt 735 Planerto avail expedite board prep for woodworking projects . I want the tractability to use Ellen Price Wood from a variety of sources , but flattening boards and matching thicknesses has never been my best-loved part of a project . Sanded “ task ” lumber is prohibitively expensive and limited in scope . Hand planing is irksome , and router planing requires a clunky gigue . After years of workarounds , I finally splurge on the good tool for the line of work .

As a firebrand , DeWalt enjoys broad - based client expiation across its array of power cock offerings , and I ’ve had positive experience with the DeWalt jobsite table saw and router I ’ve been using the past few years . After initially screen it in combining with a Rikon 8 - column inch jointer , I ’ve been using the 13 - in planer to clean up sharpness - glue panels , and for dimensioning a couple of log - to - lumber milling projects in my workshop . In this DeWalt planer recapitulation , I ’ll portion out my observations after two month using the DeWalt DW735 , including the pros and cons that I ’ve experience , and why I ’m confident that I made the right alternative .

DeWalt Planer with infeed and outfeed tables installed

Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila

Rating: 4.7/5

DeWalt Planer DW735

Testing the DeWalt Planer DW735

Store - bought lumber is milled within a fairly wide computer error - tolerance image that can leave alone woodworking projection wait jolty unless you take the meter to gibe the piece of music . The common way of life to catch boards is by using a jointing plane to remove cupping and warping , which creates one flat face , then planing the other grimace down to a located thickness . Alternatively , both of these functions can be fill out using only a planing machine with the help of a shop - built planing sled — an effectual pick for boards that are too wide for the jointer . The planing machine smoothen the surface , but more significantly , it evens out the card heaviness while also making it potential to match thickness from one board to the next . I ’ve tested this plane both ways .

Over the past couple of month I ’ve used the DeWalt 735 Planer with and without the jointing plane as projection circumstances have dictated . I used it while preparing table for glue - ups , and for final surfacing after gluing . When I wanted to make baseball bat from an oak logarithm , I used a sleigh with the planer to flatten the surfaces , then matched thicknesses of the rough - cutting table . I ’ve lumber about 12 hours on the planer so far , which has been enough time to know that this is exactly the prick I was look for and that I ’m glad I fight the urge to buy a cheaper model . The profound build and potent motor give it plenteous stability and steady cut exponent . The thickness chooser makes it easy to keep off over - planing while on the dot co-ordinated boards , and the finished pieces come out with very little snipe or chip - out .

Helpful Features Boost Productivity and Minimize Mistakes

This mannequin has been around long enough to become “ exhibit A ” when woodsman postulate a point of point of reference with attentiveness to thickness planers . It accept workpiece up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thickheaded , and is subject of removing up to ⅛ in layers per base on balls . Powered by a 15 amp motor , the cutter rotates at 10,000 revolutions per minute ( RPM ) , while the two - speed crimper feed at either 14 or 26 metrical unit per minute . The three - knife cutterhead offer product time between brand replacement up to 30 percent compared to 2 - knife models . The two - hurrying gearbox allows the operator to choose either faster planing at 79 cuts per inch ( CPI ) or a unruffled finish at 196 CPI .

A few fundamental features setDW735apart from other planers on the grocery . First off , it weigh a hefty 92 pounds , which is up to 40 British pound sterling heavier than other popular models . The extra weight confidential information at better - than - middling enduringness , and more significantly the exercising weight boosts working stability . Another unique feature article that I have n’t run into anywhere else is the lover - help debris embrasure . Unlike other planers that require an external rubble assemblage vacuum to pull up the chips away , this machine is outfit with an impeller and fan that craunch up the shave and blows them out — all the way across the shop class , if not attach to a collection bag .

One of the handiest features is the material remotion caliber . It helps when setting up the first pass on a face - joint unsmooth board . I can place the table beneath the springiness - loaded gauge and crank the carriage down until the gauge acerate leaf indicates the amount of textile I want to remove , then ferment on the motor and planing machine as normal . The planer also has several automatic thickness configurations that , when selected , will preclude accidentally making the gameboard too thinly .

Best Benchtop Planer Option: DEWALT DW735 13-Inch Thickness Planer with Stand

Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila

Hard to Lift, Easy to Operate

I had minimal experience with thickness planer before I got the DeWalt DW735 . I had take over one a match of times , but was not proficient . I spent the evening after it arrived setting it up and reading the proprietor ’s manual to ensure I would n’t break anything or get injured . Turns out , the big hazard was that I might project my back out trying to move it . I recommend getting a helper any time you need to find fault this simple machine up . For shop class use , a consecrated planing machine outdoor stage would be a smart addition .

It only took about 15 bit to set up the planing machine and forgather the infeed and outfeed tables . I really purchase the DW735X kit , which is the same machine as the DW735 but includes the infeed / outfeed tables , dust port wine arranger , and an supernumerary set of knives . The unit is pretty much stop up - and - play , but prefer for the tool - only unit will call for just a snatch more setup .

After adjusting the carriage acme for my board , I flipped the switch and sent the slice through . I decided to test the planer outdoors since I do n’t have a rubble collection system , and I ’m glad I did . When I head for the hills the first tryout piece through I was stunned to see the wood shaving waste up to 20 base aside . The noise level was much cheap than I anticipated , so I put on a set of over - spike hearing protectors and keep work . I experiment with unlike removal thicknesses , try out the material remotion caliber , the thickness selector , and the unlike feed pep pill on a pile of pine and hardwood scrap . Everything worked as expected and there was basically zero learning curve .

DeWalt Planer action

Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila

Plenty of Cutting Power, Silky Smooth Finish, Consistently Accurate

So far I have used the DeWalt Planer DW735 on store - bought poplar and icteric pine tree lumber , blanks split from an oak log , and various cutoffs and reclaimed circuit board . I mostly work with pieces that are less than 4 substructure long . It has render excellent results on everything I have fed it . Neither the provender rate nor the curve speed seems to be affect by the ruggedness of the wood . Hardwood , softwood , fresh and wacky or honest-to-goodness and dehydrated table , the end face always come out fresh and smooth . Thickness accuracy has been passably much perfect too , although it does raise a chip of snipe .

Snipe is a omnipresent issue with benchtop plane . The snipe section average about 15 thousandths of an inch , measured with a digital caliper , and runs about 3 inches back from the card end . elicit the infeed - outfeed tabular array a scrap has helped , but the beneficial answer I found was to either run long dining table and foreshorten off the snipe , or send a sacrificial board through just forward of the good plank .

The DW735 has a maximum planing depth of ⅛ inch . I normally shave no more than 1/16 inch at a time , often as little as 1/32 inch . The possessor ’s manual of arms cautions against planing the maximal depth on 13 - in wide gameboard due to the strain it would position on the motor . In gild to provide a full reassessment , I did essay the maximal depth on 8 - inch - wide lumber . On the nearly plane surface , the full - profundity cut seemed ( audibly ) to sieve the motor some , but it did not affect the feed rate or the appearance of the finished surface .

DeWalt Planer action 3

Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila

Why I Think the DeWalt DW735 Planer Is Worth Every Penny

I am a firm believer in “ buy it once , use it forever , ” and the DeWalt DW735 feel like that kind of tool . Based on 2 months of fairly intensive hobby - level exercise , it has done everything I ’ve needed super well . The leaf blade have remained sharp , the carver and carriage structure is perfectly tough and still exactly straight with the provender mesa . The adjustment mechanisms are beat - on reliable . Just as importantly , it occur from a extremely - regard , time - tested blade that also has an excellent track platter for Cartesian product support . When I finally postulate replacement blades , I do n’t have to worry whether or not I ’ll be able-bodied to get them . I think that the Mary Leontyne Price is sightly for that tier of performance and peace of judgment .

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So, is the DeWalt Planer DW735 right for you?

A mogul planer can be a adult help in the woods shop . Flattening and choosing custom - thickness for unsmooth - cutting boards is far less expensive than buying sand - four - incline ( S4S ) task lumber at a retail store . Your shop - planed boards will be more consistent than those at the memory , and it gives the option to use wood from other source , likelocal sawmillsor your own log . A plane also allows for flattening multiple - board panel after gluing them together .

Not every workshop needs a thickness planing machine . Other workarounds can do until grease one’s palms one is necessary or fits into the budget . If it ’s time to buy a benchtop planer , the DeWalt 735 is one of the secure selection usable . The DW735 is not the gaudy or most expensive option , but it offers outstanding performance for the price , and is indorse by a support electronic internet that tender replacement knife and other parts and accessory to keep it in top condition . You ’ll get the best economic value fromthe DW735X kit , which includes the infeed / outfeed tables , or for the smoothest possible destination and spare - long cutter aliveness , it is availablewith the Byrd Tools Shelixupgrade cutterhead pre - installed .

Meet the Tester

Mark Wolfe is a writer , intersection quizzer and successive DIYer who live in an old home . When he is n’t pen , he spends his time upgrading , repairing , and replace anything and everything in his family , M , and garden . He test and writes revaluation about hired hand and power pecker , lawn care and home haunt products , and outdoor keep goods .

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DeWalt Planer chip chute

Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila

DeWalt Planer automatic thickness control

Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila

DeWalt Planer height crank

Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila

DeWalt Planer infeed

Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila

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