Last Updated on June 8, 2023 by Georgie Smith
A wood planer is handy in reducing the thickness and smoothing the rough surfaces or natural flaws on your wood to produce high-quality pieces of furniture. Having the right wood planer means smooth, even cuts and a great finish.
For woodwork enthusiasts, benchtop surface planers are an ideal and popular choice. They are lightweight, small enough to fit in a garage, and for their cost, they offer fantastic customization features.
In that respect, DeWalt offers three lightweight and efficient benchtop plumbers namely the DW734 vs. DW735 vs. DW735X.
Moreover, in this article, we shall look at the salient features of all the three; DW734 vs. DW735 vs. DW735X, before pitting them and see how they compare.
Read on…
A Table Comparison of DW734 vs. DW735 vs. DW735X:
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DeWalt DW734
Brand - DEWALT
Material - Metal
Weight - 80 Pounds
Easy to use
DeWalt 735
Brand - DEWALT
2-Speed Planer 13"
Corded Electric
Weight - 45.36 Pounds
DeWalt DW735X
Brand - DEWALT
Material - Plastic
Weight - 101 Pounds
Easy to use
| DeWalt DW734 | DeWalt DW735 | DeWalt DW735X Planer |
|---|---|---|
| 12 ½ -inch blades | 13-inch blades | 13-inch blades |
| Single Speed Gear Box (96CPI) | Two Speed Gear Box (96 or 179 CPI) | Two Speed Gear Box (96 or 179 CPI) |
| Manual Carriage locking systems | Automatic Carriage locking systems | Automatic Carriage locking systems |
| 80lbs | 92lbs | 92lbs |
| No spare knives | No spare knives | Spare knives |
| Presence infeed and outfeed tables | Absences of infeed and outfeed tables | Presence of infeed and outfeed tables |
| Dust hood | Dust adapter | Dust adapter |
| No chip ejector | Presence of chip ejector | Presence of chip ejector |
In the section below, we shall first isolate each power tool, look at its features, performance, and pros and cons individually. After the individual review, we shall later compare each of the tools.
DeWalt DW734 Reviews:
The DeWalt DW734 is a mid-range wood planer that offers excellent wood finish at a reasonable price. The DW734 fills the gap between the entry-level power tools and the high-end line of models.
Features:
Powerful 15-amp, 20,000 RPM Motor:
Sporting a powerful 15-amp, 20,000 RPM motor, the planer is capable of handling deeper, larger, and cleaner hardwood cuts.
The DW734 is the strongest in its class courtesy of the powerful motor and even out-dos some of the high-end industrial-class motors.
With this planer, you can confidently buy rough stock and timber then end up with the smoothest boards that feel like they have come out of an ultramodern production line.
96 Cuts per Inch:
The DW734 treats you to a high rate of 96 cut per inch, meaning that you end up with polished results every time you smooth your timber. A smoothing task with this planer does not need any added touches or sanding.
Three knife cutter-head with 10,000 RPM:
When you combine the strength of the motor, the 10,000 RPM plus the sharpness of the cutter-head, you end-up with a finely finished product.
The high RPM allows the sharp blades on the DeWalt DW734 to run fast enough for them to cleave easily, even through the roughest patches.
Disposable Blades:
Rather than having to sharpen the blade until they break awkwardly, the DeWalt DW734 comes with a more practical solution. Replacement of the reversible and disposable blade with new and sharp one for a sleek and excellent finish.
Extra-Long In-Feed and Out-Feed Tables:
For material support and accommodation of your raw wooden boards and planks, the DeWalt DW734 provides you with a total of 33 ½ inches of material support.
Four-Column Carriage Lock:
A four-pillar carriage houses entire DW734 edifice. The carriage lock minimizes vibrations, and movements of the power tool during wood planing.
The carriage lock is vital in reducing user-fatigue, especially if you are going to use the power tool for an extended period.
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The DEWALT DW734 15 Amp 12-1/2-Inch Benchtop Planer design is with woodworkers and construction workers in mind.
Though it does not support industrial-level thickness projects, you can benefit from its snipe-free rollers, powerful motors, and cutter head with 30,000 RPM.
DeWalt 735 Reviews:
While the DW735 is by no means an industrial-type planer, it is an excellent choice for carpenters as well as DIYers.
With a weight of only 90 pounds, this model is an exceptionally lightweight and portable-a feature that is not common with other types of power tools.
What`s more? The DW735 comes with a simple, and modest design. It has a user-friendly and intuitive design, and if you are starting out, you will find this power tool extremely handy.
Finally, the tool has plenty of performance-oriented features, which we shall look at shortly.
Features:
Powerful 15-AMP, 20,000 RPM motor:
The DW735 achieves a cleaner, and deeper cut, courtesy of the powerful 15-Amp motors.
The powerful motor, in combo with the 13-inch blade, allows you to obtain deeper cuts even through the hardest wood such as oak.
Three-knife Head:
Aside from delivering a 30 percent longer knife life, the cutter board equipped with three knives makes changing knives fast and easy.
Two-Speed Gear Box:
Sporting a two-speed gearbox, you can change the feed speed to optimize cuts per inch (cpi) at 96 CPI and 179 CPI.
The 96CPI is suitable for dimensioning materials, while the 179 CPI is ideal for finer, and well-polished finish.
Fan-assisted Exhaust and Chip Ejection:
The DW735 has a superb performance ejection system, and you will love the way the motorized fan does an excellent job of breaking down all debris leaving the cutter-head and blowing it into a dust shroud.
The tool has two dust shrouds-one to disperse the wood chips onto your shop floor, and the other one provides a connection to either a vacuum hose or a dust collector.
Long Infeed and Outfeed Tables:
The DW735 offers a large holding capacity, thanks to the 33 ½ inches of material support.
For convenience, the turret depth offers easy depth adjustment by allowing you to keep the planer at a commonly used depth, which saves your time.
Moreover, for easy use, the planer comes with a 4-carriage lock. The lock reduces any potential movement on the planer, which reduces the chances of material damage and user fatigue.
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The simple and modest design of the DEWALT DW735 13-Inch, Two Speed Thickness Planer is a significant selling point for this tool. Though it is not suited for heavy-duty tasks, it`s an ideal option for small to medium sized-tasks.
DeWalt DW735X Reviews:
For its size, you might even wonder whether the 13-inch DeWalt Planer Package is a benchtop planer. However, with a weight of 90lbs, and sitting on an aluminum base, this planer is surprisingly lightweight for a benchtop planer at least.
Features:
Powerful 15 AMP, 20,000 RPM motor:
The powerful and robust 15amp motor on the tool allows you to make deep, large, and clean cuts on any wood material for the perfect furniture.
The motor powers 13 inches blades, which can achieve a maximum depth of cut 1/8 inch, and a depth capacity of 6 inches.
Three-knife Cutter Head:
The planer comes with a three-knife cutter head which is essential in delivering a 30 percent longevity of the knife.
The planer comes with an extra set of knives.
Fan-assisted Chip Ejection:
Like the DW735, the DW735X has a fan-assisted chip ejection, which allows for an easy, dust-free, and cleaner working environment.
Two Speed Gear Box:
The DW Planer Package is versatile at the very least. The planer comes with a two-speed gearbox, which allows you to vary or rather change feed speed to optimize cuts per inch.
Infeed and Outfeed Tables:
For maximum user capacity, the DW 735X features both infeed and outfeed tables with a drop feed rate ton14 feet/min.
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The DEWALT DW735X Two-Speed Thickness Planer Package, 13-Inch is the perfect planer package for you. It packs plenty of features and is versatile.
Comparing DeWalt DW734 vs. DW735 vs. DW735X Planer
DeWalt DW735 Vs. DeWalt734:
One of the first notable differences between the two is the size of their blade. The DW735 uses 13-inch blades, as opposed to the 12 ½ inch blades used by the DW734. From a general perspective, half an inch does not make much of a difference, but when this aspect translates into cut depth and surface flattening quality, the extra length becomes integral.
The second difference between the two is the carriage lock mechanism, which is essential for reducing the effect of snipes.
The DW735 features an automatic locking system, meaning you will not have to worry about locking it in place by yourself. On the other hand, the DW734 features a manual lock. So, with the DW734, you must manually turn a lever to get the lock in place.
If you are concerned about the weight, the DW734 is a suitable option as it weighs at only 80lbs, and its larger brother, the DW735 weighs 92 lbs. The 12lbs difference is a lot mainly if you are concerned with how easy it will be for you to move the planer from your home to the workstation.
Unlike the DW734, which has a single-speed gearbox, the DW735 comes with a two-speed gearbox, which allows you to vary the cuts per inch to suit the type of material you are working with at the time.
For industrial and regular uses, the DW735 beats the DW734 hands down. However, if you are an occasional user, and on a strict budget, the DW734 might be a suitable option for you.
DeWalt 735 Vs. DeWalt 735X
From their identical names, you can tell that the DW734 and DW735X are similar in many ways. Moreover, yes, they both offer the same specifications and features, but the DW735X provides additional features.
These extras in the DW735X are the addition of infeed and outfeed tables, and an extra set of disposable knives for the cutter-head.
Therefore, the choice or rather the decision to use the DW734 or DW735 essentially boils down to how important the spare knives and tables are to you in your work.
If you are starting out, however, the DW735X package planer is an ideal choice as it reduces the snipe significantly compared to the DW735.
Which One is the Best?
You can never go wrong with DeWalt power tools. DeWalt is synonymous with reliability, quality, and performance. Most of their products are time-tested and have excellent reviews.
When it comes to the DeWalt DW734 vs. DW735 vs. DW735X power tools, each of the planers is a possible contender and a favorite planer option.
Though there is a fine line that separates the three, the DeWalt DW735X Package Planer is the most ideal.
For a start, it has all the features plus a few added extras, meaning with the Planer Package, you get a 3-in-1 package but with added features.
Though the DW735X is more expensive than the DW734, it is far superior to the latter with regard to performance, quality, and build. With the DW735, you get the value for your money.
What are the Features to Look for in the Right Planer?
The two primary functions of a planer that is essential to consider are smoothness and accuracy. Therefore, when looking out for the planer features, you should always consider those features that are going to make your smoothing activity easier, more accurate, and more convenient.
After all, you are looking for a tool that requires the least amount of sanding and accurate thickness. However, this is not mean that you should ignore the other factors. Other factors that may influence your purchase decision are dust extraction, noise level, power, and price.
Let us look at the most important features to look for in the right planner.
Size of infeed and outfeed tables:
The infeed and outfeed tables are necessary to minimize the snipe and scallop. Snipe happens due to the up and down movement of wood when fed on the planer.
The scallop, on the other hand, refers to the ripple effect you get when the wood moves past the cutters.
The size of the infeed and outfeed table, particularly those with automatic locks is necessary for reducing the snipe effect on the planer.
Gauges and Stops:
A marked planer with a depth gauge helps in adjusting the thickness of the cut more accurately.
The gauge indicates how much wood removal happens with each pass and assists you in avoiding issues such as taking off too much from your piece of wood or taking too large a bite, which might result in a tear-out or deeper snipe.
You should also be on the lookout for benchtop planers with adjustable preset depth stops that prevent planning a board thinner than your targeted thickness. The adjustable pre-set is a handy feature when planning multiple project parts into identical thicknesses.
Dust Collection:
As with any wood-cutting tool, the ability to remove the sawdust, dust, and chips, which can generate a large mess is a huge benefit when it comes to cleaning up.
Some planers such as the DeWalt DW734 vs. DW735 vs. DW735X Planers have a dust collection system consisting of in-build fans that suck chips away from the cutter head and blow them out the dust port for improved performance.
Power:
The power of a cutting tool is essential as it determines the depth to which a machine can cut and the width of the wood it can cut.
Aside from determining the width and depth of material, you can work with; the power of a machine dictates the speed at which you will complete your task.
A powerful machine allows you to work faster. While there is no specific power level you should look up to, you should always aim for a power that will enable you to handle a decent job, without choking.
How Do Thickness Planers Work?
A thickness planer, also known as a thicknesser or planer is a woodworking machine that trims boards and wood to a consistent thickness throughout their length and flat on both surfaces.
The Function of Thickness Planers
A thickness planer planes a single surface or rather one side of a board at a time. By guiding the cutter head on the planer on the opposite side of the board, the planer gives the board a consistent thickness and sleek and smooth surface.
The thickness planer is excellent at producing flat surfaces and may do so in a single pass.
Most importantly though, the thickness planer, just as its name suggests, produces boards with a consistent thickness and avoids generating tapered boards.
By making passes on either side, a planer is perfect for the initial preparation of an unplaned board.
Operation of a Thickness Planer
Here is a step-by-step procedure of how to use or rather operate a thickness planer for a smooth and consistent board.
- Set the table to the desired height and switch the machine on.
- Feed the board to the machine until it gets into contact with the in-feeder roller, which grips the board and draws it into the machine and past the rotating cutter head.
- After that allow the knives to remove the material on the way through. The out-feed roller will pull the board through and eject it from the machine at the end of the pass.
Thickness Planer Operation Tip
If you are looking to finish a board with a flat and uniform surface along its length, it is necessary that you start with a board that has at least one perfectly flat reference face.
Feed the planer with the flat face so that the cutter head can remove an amount of material from the opposite face that is parallel to the reference face.
One significant disadvantage of using a thickness planer is snipe. Some of the major contributors of snipe in a thickness planer that you should look out for include incorrect feeding and misalignment of the in-feed and out-feed tables. You should also be cautious of the unnecessarily high setting of the rollers recessed in the surface of the in-feed table. (more)
Can You Use a Planer as a Jointer?
Both planers and jointers are tools necessary for milling wood, and therefore, they can as well come in handy to build furniture and other projects to the correct dimensions.
If your workshop does not have a planer to square up an edge or your wood is too large to fit through, you will be glad to know that you can still use a jointer to flatten and smoothen pieces of wood.
Using a planer in place of a jointer translates to passing boards through on edge and using the clamps to hold them stable. To do this, however, you need to ensure that the clamp clears the sides and does not touch the cutters.
Ideally, you should cut a single edge first, then use a circular saw and edge to do the planning.
Thickness Planer vs. Hand Planer
| Thickness Planer | Hand Planer |
|---|---|
| Surface cutting tools | Surface cutting tools |
| Large footprint | Small footprint |
| Provide control | Finicky |
| Expensive | Cheap |
Care and Maintenance
Your benchtop planer takes a beating in normal use. Give it routine maintenance for glassy-smooth results board after board.
Here are the top five maintenance tips for caring for your planer:
- If you are keeping working on keeping rust at bay, rub a little oil on it for protection
- Tighten the bolts regularly for utmost precision
- Sharpen cutting edges to achieve a smooth surface
- Store the planer away from water or humid conditions
- Lubricate the electrically powered wood planers to reduce friction
- Keep the planes clean and pay particular attention to the frog and throat areas for any debris.
- Clean the planer table with mineral spirits; then apply a coat of paste wax so boards will glide across smoothly as the feed rollers pull them
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the difference between a spare part and an accessory?
A: Spare parts are the extra parts that come with a planer for future use. Accessories refer to the necessary things needed to work a planer correctly or perfectly.
Q: What can I do to stop sniping?
A: There are two steps you can employ to stop sniping. First, plane before you cut the boards to the final length, and then trim later. The second step is to sand the project parts before assembly, regardless of how smooth they feel.
Q: How do I stop wood from sticking in the planer?
A: Unplug your planer, raise the cutter head, wipe some paste wax on the bed, then buff it off after it dries for 15 minutes.
Q: Do I need to register my product
A: No, you do not need to register your planner.
In Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed our review and comparison guide of the DeWalt DW734 vs. DW735 vs. DW735X Planer. However, regardless of the planer you choose, DeWalt provides quality and reliable products, and you will be satisfied with the machine`s performance.
If you have used the DeWalt planer before, we would love to hear from you. Share your experience with us in the comment section below. If you would please share this article across your social media outlets.
