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Dewalt DW735 Planer Performance VS Used Stationary Planer

5K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  AlaskaGuy 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
How does the performance of the Dewalt DW735 compare to 15" stationary planers from Jet or even Grizzly? I currently have an older lunchbox planer and I'm ready to upgrade. My budget is less than $1000. From what I see, my best options are:
1. Buy a new Dewalt DW735 planer for around $600-650
2. Patiently watch craigslist for a used stationary planer from Jet, Grizzly, etc.

The extra capacity is nice but isn't that big of a deal. I don't run in to capacity issues very often with my 12" planer. I don't care about mobility either. The deciding factors would be cut/finish quality and power. Obviously a stationary planer running on 220v will have more power and higher feed rates. How does the finish/surface quality compare if you have sharp knives on both? Obviously I'd be comparing a used stationary planer vs brand new DW735 for them to be in the same price range.

Does anyone have experience with both? Any feedback on either platform is welcome and appreciated!
 
#3 ·
I use my Dewalt735 quite a lot and when the knives are sharp, they leave a very nice finish. The adjustments are easy to make and I can dial in a board to a particular thickness pretty easily. I do have the extension wings and they are set up with a touch of an angle to keep snipe to a minimum.

I have found that when the knives go dull (which can happen quickly with harder woods or dirty boards) the machine bogs down and when I pull it out to the driveway with a long extension cord on a 15 amp circuit, it trips all the time. I know that some of this is of my own doing (not replacing blades, using a shorter cord run and not using the 20 amp circuit in my shop) but it's something to consider.

I am going to get a helical carbide cutter replacement once I go through this last set of knives and I'm hoping that it'll work even better like many reviews have hinted.
 
#4 ·
Some stationary planers have 2 speeds so you can slow them down for finishing cuts. You'll save time hogging rough lumber to size using a stationary, or milling 1/2" stock from 3/4". If saving that time isn't important to you the DeWalt probably has more happy owners than any new planer on the market.
 
#5 ·
The DeWalt will give a better finish, the 15" will be slightly faster and longer lasting(in theory).

I don't own either, but have Recent experience with both. I was not impressed with the 15". Kinda disappointed in the power/depth of cut.

If I were to invest in a stationary planer, I would start looking at 7hp and up models
 
#7 ·
I've had 735's since they were out. I also have almost always had a 15 or 20" stationary planer at the same time. Cutting just off knives the DeWalts will give a better finish for that length of time that the knives are sharp. Once dull a stationary planer can still work, you just are going to see the difference in quality. The Dewalts can get to the point where they just about stop working with dull knives.

With a Shellix, Byrd, or Helical whatever brand head it's pretty much a wash. Also more cost.

Your choice is just picking how much planer do you need. Make no mistake, even though they can give a great finish the DeWalts are Hobby level tools as far as production. Most all of the stationary tools will work as long as you want to stay on it. So minutes of run time, versus hours, and hours.
 
#9 ·
IMHO - there is no comparison between one of the Asian made 15" planers and Chiu Ting Machinery produced Delta sold DW735. They are not designed for same market, or use.

1) Planers are designed for reducing thickness, not creating a finish ready surface.

Both machines are designed for thinning wood, but with different end goal.

-15" planer will run 8 hours a day, plane thousands of bdft of lumber between blade changes, and happily whack off 1/8" on 15" board at a tiime.

- Lunch box planer is made for intermittent use, needs new blades every 100-500 bdft, and struggles to remove more than 1/16" on full width cut.

2) Blade type - Straight or Helical:
Blade choices determine the quality of cut, lifetime of knives, and should be suited to your shop use profile.

- Regardless of machine; Straight blades create smoothest surface finish on majority of woods. Exception being heavily figured wood with many reverse grain changes. On figured woods; straight blades can/will have more tear out. There are some techniques to reduce the tear out, but rarely make it zero on highly figured wood.
Straight knives can be bought with tool steel edges or carbide. Carbide last longer, but can not be made as sharp as tool steel. When planning 'fuzzy' woods like cottonwood or palm, carbide will leave a rougher surface.

Lunch box planers (like DW735) with fresh sharp straight knives can make a finish ready surface thanks to very light cut depth. This makes hobbyist happy for initial stack of boards, as everyone hates sanding. But happiness fades as knives dull.
Repeat, reducing thickness, not creating a finish ready surface.

15" planers are designed for bigger bite and use segmented in feed roller with 'edges' to pull in rough cut lumber. When 15" planer set up for rough lumber to cut a thin pass, it tends to leave compression lines in top of board. The machine can be adjusted to minimize the witness lines, but few folks are willing to adjust 15" industrial planer during a all day run to solve this issue. Leaving the 15" planer set up for light cut, usually means rough lumber can have feeding issues. The range of setup options makes it less common for unknowing to achieve finish ready wood off the 15" planer, but not impossible.
Repeat, reducing thickness, not creating a finish ready surface.

- Helical heads use carbide knives that have longer life, but cut differently. Byrd Shellix heads cut at angle to reduce tear out issues on figured wood. Spherical heads cut small bite parallel to head, with cutter staggered from each other. Both helical types have less tear out issues with figured woods, but leave same finish as straight blade on straight grain wood.
Helical heads do not plane wood as smooth as straight blade. There are usually lines (often invisible to naked eye) on surface due the cutting angle of carbide cutters and row of different cutters. Most of time these lines don't show up until you apply some stain on un-sanded surface. Some units may not 'see' lines until helical head begins to wear, the lines become more pronounced. While the cutting edge may still be sharp the corner has worn enough to leave these planer tracks down the board.
Repeat, reducing thickness, not creating a finish ready surface.

3) IME -
The DW735 is small shop hobby planer, that can used everyday; but it guzzles blades like NFL fans drink beer - many during each event. Hated mine when I had it. Solution to DW735 blade life issue is adding a $500 helical head. Dewalt has even realized that daily planer users need better blades and they sell an OEM helical head version. Helical head on DW735 is a step backwards in value for hobby shop unless all you run in figured wood. The helical blades last longer, but the hidden lines require just as much or more sanding. The DW735 is also full of plastic moving parts that will not last your wood working lifetime. If you read the forums you will see reports of how DW735 plastic gears break with age and/or extended use.
BTW - The DW735 is not a true lunch box planer, you store under your bench easily. It weighs almost 100lbs and requires strong body/mind to pick it up and toss it under the bench. As soon as you put the DW735 on stand, it takes up nearly same floor space as 15" model; which means you there is little shop space savings over a more capable 15" planer.

Every shop should have a 15" planer. :)
If you regularly buy stacks of rough lumber, once you use the larger 15" planer; you will giggle like little girl with delight every time it is used. Sometimes I don't want to stop feeding it lumber, it is such a joy to use. They are low maintenance once set up. Shot of oil on the feed roller bearings every use, and gear box oil change once every year or three. They are hard to kill, and run for decades with proper care. Blades last forever compared to lunch box planer. Have rebuilt a couple of 30+ year old machines from professional shops, where a new set of bearings, new out feed roller; and they are ready for another 30 years of every day use.

Thanks for reading my opinion.

Best Luck finding a 15" planer. :)
 
#10 ·
That would be a great deal? How do you find prices that low? Do you have any tricks to share or do you just search for it every day?
- MikeUT
Amazon deals can usually be found via https://camelcamelcamel.com/
The challenge is camel site only tracks a single PN. If Dewalt releases a special model that gets listed under a different code, you miss it.

Fleabay occasionally offers tool coupon deals that put the DW735 below $500.
Last year during holidays, the base model without extension tables or stand, was available for below $400 with coupon. The best coupons were only good for a few hours, or a single afternoon; so again you have to register and save searches for things you want.

Typically you will see the Dewalt planer deals posted in this thread:
HOT DEALS 2.0: Coupons, Sales, Black Friday, eBay, Amazon, BORG, Zoro, Woodcraft, etc.

If you dig through the old posts you might last years deals. :)

Cheers!
 
#11 ·
I have stationary and a Dewalt planer. The stationary one is my go to. It (stationary) planer is just more rugged, can take off more wood without stressing the machine.

I use the dewalt for smaller stuff and because it has rubber rollers it will take a smaller cut than that the stationary plane with its steel rollers without leaving marks. If I need to take a 32 second off something the dewalt works well.

I couldn't care less what the finish is off a planer. The planer is not a finishing tool. Its adimensioning tool. The stock still need to be scrape, sanded or hit with a smoothing plane.
 
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