I gave away my last one to a family member and bought myself a new one. It was probably about 8yrs old when I gave it to him, and still works great after thousands of board feet of planing. Replaced blades and kept it clean and oiled, and I've never had complaints. The 13 inch width is only a little bit bigger than most benchtop units, but enables actually planning a 12 inch board. The double rollers makes for a smooth feed, and the two-speed transmission is nice to control the cuts per inch. I've kept it on fine for almost everything though. The three blade cutter head is a big plus here: my experience has been smoother planing. The depth of cut gauge (how much material you are taking off with this pass) is nice, but you really cant see how deep your cut will be until it's already too late (when the rollers catch the board). Recommend 1/16th inch cuts for best results. The height gauge (determines overall thickness of the board) is accurate, right out of the box. The hand wheel and height remain right where I put them, despite the machine's natural vibration. One unique feature is the depth stop on the left side. Once set accurately, you can get repeatable results for common thicknesses across batches. A couple pointers... dont buy this without the infeed/outfeed tables, as they are key to good cuts. Speaking of which, if you run into any planer snipe (a gouge in the cut on either end a couple inches from the end of the board), just look up the videos and adjust your tables. I have almost no snipe issues. Always run the board through twice: once to get the bulk, and a second time to ensure a smooth, even cut. Watch out for tearout by running the board through so the cut is with the grain. Clean the rollers every once in a while, as it will prevent slipping. If you are cutting wider boards, turn the feed speed down, as the motor will be under a heavier load. I recommend buying a set of carbide brazed cutters; the life and quality of cut will go up. If you can afford it, buy a true helical cutter head replacement, as this will dramatically improve the performance of planing hardwoods, figured woods, and end grain. Plus, it's very easy to turn a cutter if it gets chipped without going through the hassle of changing or flipping an entire cutter.
Overall, I would buy this thing over and over again. Its precise enough and heavy duty enough for an active shop, but affordable for hobbyists. It's also a great width for most applications, and the next steps up (15" or 20") are between double and triple the cost.
Highly recommended.
| Brand | DEWALT |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic |
| Product Dimensions | 21.75"L x 24.25"W x 22"H |
| Item Weight | 92 Pounds |
| Style | 2-Speed 13" w/Feed Tables & Extra Blades |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Base Material | Aluminum |
| Included Components | Dust hose adapter; Dust-ejection chute, extra knives |
| Amperage | 15 Amps |
| Manufacturer | DEWALT |
| Part Number | DW735X |
| Item Weight | 92 pounds |
| Item model number | DW735X |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Pattern | Planer |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 3 Year Limited |
