{"id":29361,"date":"2017-03-16T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-16T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.protoolreviews.com\/?p=29361"},"modified":"2021-08-10T16:47:47","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T20:47:47","slug":"dewalt-dw735-planer-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.protoolreviews.com\/dewalt-dw735-planer-review\/","title":{"rendered":"DeWalt DW735 Planer Hands-on Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lately, we’ve been working on quite a few custom woodworking projects including pieces such as desks, credenzas, dining tables, even a couple of custom mahogany gates. Each of these pieces requires the use of various hardwoods. In the past, we’ve had our lumber milled and planed at the lumber yard, mostly because our small benchtop planer in the shop wasn’t quite up to handling a large amount of hardwood. However, as we’ve picked up more custom work, it became clear that having a decent planer would help save time and money, so it was time to upgrade. We decided that the DeWalt DW735 13-inch, 2-speed planer would fill the gap between our smaller underpowered planer and a large industrial planer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Impressions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Upon first receiving the DeWalt DW735 Planer we noticed that not only was the box pretty large, it was also heavy. But that was to be expected. Most benchtop planers have some heft to them, however, the DW735 weighs in at 92 pounds. That realization prompted us to quickly build a rolling base for the planer to stand on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The overwhelming feeling when opening the box was that the DeWalt DW735 is already a large step up from our previous planer based on build quality alone. The machine sits on a cast aluminum base, and although the casing is molded plastic, it’s solid. Overall, the DeWalt DW735 seems to jump across the line into the professional realm from a small-scale standpoint<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dual Speed DeWalt Planer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the unique features the DeWalt DW735 Planer has is two feed speeds – one meant for quick thickness planing and the other for detailed finishing. Speed 1 slows the automatic feed, allowing the blades to cut the workpiece 179 times per inch which leaves a nice smooth finish. Speed 2 increases the automatic feed speed, lowering the number of cuts per inch to only 96, but makes dimensioning lumber quicker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"DeWalt<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Upon first setting up the planer, we questioned whether we would need to use the finishing speed very often. However, we found ourselves using it quite a bit more than we initially anticipated. If nothing else, we use it on the last pass of each board we run through the planer because the smooth finish allows for a lot less sanding time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s worth nothing that you have to have the unit on when you’re changing speed in order for it to effectively change gears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DeWalt DW735 Dust collection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One thing that DeWalt has done with the DW735 is add a built in blower for clearing wood shavings from the blades. It has a surprising amount air flow, and if used without some type of dust collector, it will shoot wood shavings everywhere. It does a wonderful job at keeping dust and shavings from building up on the blades, thus lengthening their life. We were able to hook our shop dust collection up to the planer (a 4-inch connection is recommended) and it’s been working great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"dust<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Seeting the Planing Depth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Occasionally we’ll have the need to plane several boards to the same thickness. In most cases, the rough cut lumber we receive from the lumber yard varies in size. This is where the depth setting dial comes in really handy. The depth setting dial has several incremental depth stops at standard measurements from 1\/8th of an inch to 1-1\/4 inches. This feature was a major help when we needed to plane several reclaimed oak boards for a desktop down to 1-1\/4 thick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"depth<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Changing the Blade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The DeWalt DW735 comes with a handy Allen wrench that you use for loosening the screws for the plastic cover of the cutter head and the blades themselves. The reason we highlight blade changing on this model as a favorite feature is that it’s quite easy, especially considering the ample room inside the cutter head once the cover is removed. Also, we thought it was kind of cool that the Allen wrench includes a couple of magnets on the handle for easy removal of the blades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n