Thanks for the video. Let me just say for any wood workers out there: I’ve been woodworking since 1979 and in my own shop since 1997. I bought the 735 in 2001 and plane on average 300 board feet per year primarily Ash 65%, Black Walnut 25% and 10% mixed woods from Pine to Grey Elm. This is a garage unit that deals with all the ambient temperatures from 100°F to -15°F and it takes the abuse. I haven’t even had to replace brushes nor anything else just disassemble every 3 to 5 years to clean it up, reapply lubricant and ready to go again. Blades are cheap ($40ish for 6) easy to change and can be flipped and if chipped can be staggered to eliminate the chip. They last around 500 board feet before being flipped over and I always use the 179 speed. As the video stated, you’re getting a 220 or better finish on the boards so there is literally no reason to add a helix cutter to reduce your cutting depth and stress your motor - the design is already perfect. The only thing I’ve changed is I added a Wixey Indicator to nail the depth to the nearest thousandth of an inch. There you have it a 22+ year testimony. Wood Working is a long-term relationship, and you need your base tools to last and the DeWalt 735 makes the grade. Be Safe - Enjoy your hobby.
I have a porter cable planer similar in design to the 12.5 inch Dewalt. I have ran a lot of board feet through it. It has done a really good job, and if you pay attention to what your doing there is almost no snipe... Folks, I'm not a youtuber, I'm not sponsored from no one, and I don't have a million dollar shop either. I love dewalt tools! Don't get me wrong here... with respect to this guy and his video, you don't have to spend major money on any tools. One of my favorite sayings is "a good auto painter can use spray-bombs and have great results, but the other guy can have 2 million dollars worth of equipment and can't get metal chair to look right." Just sayin....
I also have the porter cable planer, love it. I'm not a Dewalt fan, I find that they are just a lot of flash and less function type of company with ridiculous price tags to go along with their flash. I also agree that snipe is almost non existent if you take your time, and you will get snipe on any machine no matter what the company says about their product lol.
I also started with the Porter Cable. Then later upgraded to the 735. After using both, I wish I had gone Dewalt from the start. Also the 734 and the porter cable are not comparable. The 734 is an upgrade from the porter cable in build quality. It has three blades and a two bar top. So they are similar looking but not really in the same ballpark when you look under the sheet metal. And the 735 is a class of its own. The porter cable got me started and it definitely worked but it is no way even close to the 735 or the 734 for that matter. Just my opinion for those shopping right now. For a planer just go ahead and get the 735 and you will save money in the long run because you are most likely gonna get one anyway. No need in wasting the money on the lesser machine to start. The porter cable will have snipe. At least with mine you can do all the setup you want but you are going to get 2 1/2 inches of snipe. I tried it all from sacrificial boards to putting the tables on an angle and everything between. Still had snipe. The 735 has snipe as well but it is way less pronounced and can be worked with and even eliminated. I guess I was one of those who ran all that bf through the porter cable and never figured it out. Lol. Get the 735 and thank me later.
There’s certainly truth to knowing how to use tools properly. However that’s not the point of the video. It’s a comparison and there are more and more people everyday that want to do less themselves and ask more of their machines. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing but usually the more expensive and fancier tool will do things better, faster, and easier. Also the shelix cutter head that can be swapped into the 735 is another level up. It makes the makes the cuts even cleaner and the tool way quieter while cutting. Again it’s not necessary, but another step up in functionality. The better and faster a planet cuts accurately, the less sanding needs to be done. And who lives sanding? I’m glad you’re happy with your planer so obviously this video wasn’t made for you.
Tools itself is not an issue,skill is and yes of course a good quality tool helps you do a better job,same way you can relay with some vehicles to last over 200 000 miles and not others
I've used industrial grade planers my entire life. As a matter of fact my last 12" planer weighed 550lbs and had a 7.5hp motor. When I moved into my new shop I was more interested in cnc and laser work so I purchased a 735. Other than how much can be removed in a single pass the 735 works better than any planer I have ever owned. The shelix head helps tremendously.
I ordered one of these off Amazon a few years back on a black Friday deal. Upon delivery notification, I found a very small box that obviously wasn't it. Since the UPS guy had just come, I was able to approach him and prove that he did not deliver the unit. It was deemed lost in the system, and insurance claimed. I then ordered another one from Lowe's the next day (if you can believe it for less than $450 at the time), and started using it. Then the other one from Amazon showed up the next day. I called and asked what Amazon wanted me to do with it, and they said since it was already claimed as lost, that I should just have a Merry Christmas and keep it. I will likely use the other one for parts, or perhaps make my own custom 13" jointer someday after following Matthias Wandel.
Worked on a project recently where the owner builder loved using reclaimed timber. In Australia, so most reclaimed timber is old dry eucalyptus and really hard stuff to work. He bought a 735 and we basically killed the regular blades on a couple of shallow passes, the edges were totally flogged out. He upgraded to the spiral tungsten carbide head and it plowed through anything we threw at it. Doesn’t like nails though! Otherwise, it hasn’t balked at even old iron bark, brush box, blue gum etc. so long as you don’t go crazy on the depth of cut.
NIce review. I have the 735 and used to run it with a shop vac as well. The reason you had chips coming out of the front of the planer was that the blower was pushing more air than the shop vac could handle. When I upgraded to a Oneida Supercell and hooked the planer to the 4" hose, this stopped happening.
I used my 734 for almost a decade and put thousands of board feet through it. Fantastic machine. After a decade it was showing it's age and there was a sale on the 735 so I bought one and sold my 734. I haven't put many boards through the 735 yet. but I have to say, I prefer the 734. The 735 is good, but has some irritating features like the exhaust port being as inconveniently placed as they could make it. Instead of being on the side, it's smack dab in the middle, preventing access to the wood coming out of the belt feed.
I run a 4 inch duct from my 735 and have zero issues with it. It has a nice sweeping 90° bend that goes to the side of the machine. Absolutely not in the way when done right.
@@rustic35 I did that too but I knocked the damn elbow and the dust port broke. It's only held on by a tiny bit of plastic. Very weak. Poor design in my view, the dust port should have vented from the top or side
19 years for a 735. I can't begin to imagine the board feet of wood I've run through mine. I did switch to an aftermarket straight blade that is a little thicker than the OEM blades and seem to last a bit longer. I can operate it continuously for over an hour planing 8-10" wide white oak or hickory with no problem. I've cleaned the feed rollers with 90% isopropanol maybe once a year. Every couple of years I open it up and blow out the roller chain that syncs the four posts. I wax the platten occasionally. Last year I added an iGauging DRO and I think I have just about the perfect small shop planer. I evaluated buying a Shellex head this year but for what I pay for HSS blades and that I am winding down my woodworking a bit, it wasn't worth the $400 cost. I had a Delta that was similar to the 734 and it was a snipe nightmare. My 735 has no snipe if I pay attention to feeding on a slight angle. The dust collection on the 735 is way superior.
I’ve had the DW735 for over 12 years. I bought it reconditioned. So I got it for about 1/2 price. I bought the in-feed and out feed and the DeWalt cart for it. This year I bought and installed the Shelix cutting system. And a number of years ago I purchased the digital depth gage and replaced the existing one. My review: 6 out of 5 stars with the Shelix, 5 out of 5 stars with the factory blades. I’ve had zero trouble during the 12 plus years. Save your money on the digital depth gage. Over 30 plus years I’ve found that “accuracy is relative” and my digital gage has been all I’ve needed. The depth wheel that locks the crank in at a specific thickness has served me well. That is on the left side of the 735, you missed that in your comparisons. This wheel keeps the thickness consistent during final finishing. The 735 has metal gears which I think is nice in a world of plastic. I had a Delta planer before this DeWalt and the gears were plastic. It lasted about a year. I have found that blades are important as to who makes them. I used the DeWalt brand and also blades from Amazon. The DeWalt blades lasted longer and stayed sharp longer in my opinion. The difference between blades and cutters,the Shelix cutters basically is the cutting action and the fact that the Shelix slices instead of cutting straight across creating a smoother cut. In short. I’m 77 come December and I’m taking my planer with me! 😮 (that’s a joke). But, realistically, someone is going to get a really nice planer in the Estate Sale.
Planers are a tool I put a lot of research into a little over a year ago when I was beginning to put thought into, thinking I might be starting bigger than I've ended up starting. While don't currently have the space for either, when I get to that place, I intend to go with the DeWalt 735x. Thanks for taking the time and care to give a new perspective on a great tool that DeWalt has continued to improve upon since it's debut.
I bought the 734 several years ago because it cost less. Since then, I have pulled the trigger and put a Shelix head on it. Best thing one can do for any planer out there. It greatly reduced the noise and improved how the motor runs. The finish is smooth as could be, though I don't have another planer to do a comparison. But I am quite happy with the finish I get. I made a four foot infeed/outfeed table for it out of melamine, another great improvement as that all but eliminated snipe . Would recommend that as another upgrade to any planer with these types of infeed/outfeed tables. Thanks for the good review on both.
As someone who wants to begin woodworking, I have a plan to start kind of backwards by purchasing a thicknesser/planer before almost anything else. This is because what inspired me to start woodworking was youtubers who use scrap wood and make heavy use of the thicknesser/planer. While I understand the importance of learning to use manual tools, I have a lifetime to practice my hand planing while I produce sellable work using machinery.
Having run several brands and sizes of planers over the years, both at home and at various cabinet and furniture shops I've worked in, I can confidently say that the extra 1/2 inch doesn't matter at all - until it does. When you have to run something bigger than your planer's capacity to satisfy the needs of a client, that extra capacity is invaluable. You and I can use our CNC routers to surface some of these projects, but we both know that is a lot slower than using a planer, and not everyone has a CNC at their disposal. As for the heads up comparison between these two planers, I thank you for doing it. I'm eyeballing the 735X right now (to replace a 20 year old Delta lunchbox planer) so I was very interested in the comparison. Something I would like to see is a further examination of the quality of cut on each of them - particularly when it comes to snipe. Keep up the great videos, and thank you for this one!
Agree wholeheartedly. I recently worked a project that needed a 12.25 inch surface, which worked with my 734, but it was tight. My biggest WOW on this new one was the 179 CPI level. Left a butter smooth finish. There was a little snipe on it, but I didn't do anything to mitigate it. Just let it run with no support to see how bad it would be . Very minor, but it was there. Appreciate the continued support!!
I put my 735 to work one time. I built a Paul Sellers style hand wood working work bench with two 12-1/2” wide by 4-1/4” by 72” long laminated pieces with a 4” tool trough in between. I laminated dry, old, lumber that I scavenged from my remodeling projects. They were all whacky after glue-up and I hand planed them until they were flat, but not perfect, on one side. Then I put 735 to work, planing off my reference side until clean, then planing opposite until parallel. I wound up with two dead straight, dead flat bench top pieces. Could not ask for anything more.
Thank you. I really appreciate the very detailed comparison. I have been shopping for a planer over the last few weeks have been doing my homework. I never used one so there was a lot to learn. I have been comparing brands, figuring out the blade differences and learning about the "extra" stuff that makes using these so great. I almost made a mistake and ordered a cheaper Craftsman two blade and quickly canceled it when I mentioned it to a couple of people and they suggested upgrading to three blade at minimum (Whew that was close). This meant more research before I invest more. I was unsure about going with the DW735X or the 734 (as it is on sale more) but I love the added finishing cuts per inch, the thicker more sturdy bolts and the upgraded blower. Those are worth the extra right there. Plus I like the measuring depth gauge, although I don't know if that was as important as the finishing cut. This is the first video I saw that has done such a great comparison. No kidding. Some of the caparisons were completely lame and I knew there was more than just the width, extra blades and the trays. This was really great.
I appreciate that. Since I actually bought both, and had them side by side, I figured that the direct comparison would be useful, and it's proven to be one of my most popular videos. Appreciate the compliment.
Nice review. I'm not sure I've seen a side by side comparison before. I bought a 734 myself last year and don't regret it. I think I might have gone with the 735 if I didn't have to think about dollars and cents, but it'll be interesting to see if ever my eye wanders over to the 735 or another upgrade in the coming year or two. Thanks for this!!!
Great video, just retired a 2 year old Harbor Freight planner I bought to see if I really needed and would use it enough. I do want a planner, the HF planner broke after 2 years and tech support passed me to second level"expert" that admitted she was using TH-cam to answer questions Yours is the best video of the 8 that I've watched
I got a 734 for $80, bc the switch was broken & it had no dust port. One $20 switch & $25 dust port later, I had the best tool I've ever owned. And yet, your video showed me that I'll get a LOT more benefit out of uograding than I thought. Why? 1) The 735 has the blower for the dust collection. I spend way too much time cleaning maple shavings out of a clogged up 734 port. I had no idea a blower was available. 2) The 400-grit level cutting speed. I work almost exclusively with reclaimed wood, meaning the wood hardness is off the scale, & sanding takes forever. This sounds like it would add hours of free time to every week of my life. Thanks for the info!
You're welcome. I don't wanna go on record with the "400 grit" comment, it was an off the cuff comment while I was filming, but you do get an incredibly smooth finish, one that you don't even have to sand! And regarding the blower, I don't even connect it to my shop vac any more, I just have it attached to a bucket, which works like a charm, so no extra ductwork. It does clog on occasion, but not as often as my 734 did.
Thank you for this thorough side-by-side! Stepping into the planing world for the first time, I feel ready to purchase my 735x! The finishing pass option is what sold me.
My 734 is still on its first blades... my religious use of a metal detector wand and mostly new wood is probably the reason for that. I've used it on pine, fir, cedar, popular, and walnut so far. No complaints at all to date.
I have the 734 with the shop vac hooked up to it. The planer works well, but the dust collection is garbage. I don’t know if it’s average garbage or below average garbage dust collection, but I waste more time dealing with that than I do planing…I constantly have to stop the machine and clear clogs. The only reason I got the 734 at the time versus the 735 was that there were a few more less favorable reviews on the 735. You have me realizing my mistake 😂 And for what it’s worth, I never lock down the bar and I’ve never noticed any unwanted movement in any direction as a result of not locking it, and I use digital calipers very often while planing. I may need to pull the trigger on 735 if I see a good Black Friday deal
I own the 734 and use it often. It serves my purpose but there are a few things I really don't like about it. 1. I hate the dust port. It is awkward and a pain to remove and remount. 2. The manual carriage lock is a pain, I find myself not putting it down sometimes,(forgetting). But, all in all I don't think these things are enough to upgrade to 735. Good video Thanks.
For me the two big things are the finish cut and the depth gauge. I have the smaller one, it is older and does not have any dust collection. The problem with the depth gauge is that is leaves a mark in soft wood. Even medium hard wood will leave a mark but it will sand out very easily. But if you have soft wood, the mark is more of a gouge and take a fair amount of sanding to remove. I always plane soft wood where it won't hit the depth gauge, if it is not too big so I can.
I have the 13 inch model. I work it's guts out. It's job is to take rough sawn pine upbton16 feet long and 11 inches wide down to 3/4. I use the 2nd gear exclusively. One half crank at a time. And amazingly the steel blades will do about 300 feet per set and does a really nice job.
As a person currently building up a shop and about to pull the trigger on a thickness plane I loved the very straightforward "apples to apples" take on these products. Finding out about the Blower on the one actually makes a fairly large difference for me, and make the 735 more appealing for that fact alone. You did a great job laying out the info without showing a leaning towards one or the other, which something others need to learn to do. Thanks!
Appreciate that. If money allows, I really think the 735 is the way to go. While I didn't include it in the video, because at the time, I didn't fully realize it, you don't even need to hook the 735 up to your dust collection system. I simply connect it to a bucket and the blower pulls sawdust into it.
Got my MiL a 735x for Christmas because she's started doing a bit more serious woodworking stuff. I plan to run her a couple dedicated 20A circuits to the garage for it, and some of her other stationary tools. This was another fantastic review that gives more confidence that my research into a thickness planer for her was correct, and she's been given a solid tool to elevate her work to new heights. Thank you very much for this! +1
I just purchased the DW735 I haven't yet used it as I was a dummy and threw my back out unloading it from my car, Not to mention all the rain we have had here in Kentucky.
Great vid, thanks for sharing. I am learning about planers before investing in my first one. The DW 735 so far seems to be my best option. Cheers from the Mighty Alberta - Canada!!!
Nice review. I had the 734 and usually cutting redwood, but occasionally cutting various hardwoods. The finishes were excellent, the clean up easy until further use and then it took a while to clean it out. Not a big deal. But the bigger deals were the lock, getting the cut precise and the snipe. Neither were all that bad, but sometimes I'd forget to lock the bar down, and getting the cut precise for small work took a little time and practice. The snip was the most irritating. To fix it I'd use a longer piece and trim the ends. The in and out panels are somewhat loose and need to be set & fixed just right or you get snipe. I had the same dust collection system as you and it was OK, but after a full day in my small shop, I'd come out with a nose full of wood dust. (I just couldn't handle wearing amask all day.)
I want to really thank you because I'm considering getting a planner at some point. I know i'm gonna get a dewalt one, but I did not now about different models, and your review kinda shown me that I should get the 735x. I also really laught at your dust collection system because it is exactly the same as mine. I have the same shop vac, and also built a little cyclone attachement to prevent me changing my bags really often... So dust collection is def something i'm looking into. All other features are nice to have, and I think I better take the fool-proof automatic lock. I'm a pretty dumb guy.
I really appreciate that. Once I got a little more experience with the 735, I realized that the blower is so powerful that I really don't even need to hook it up to my shopvac. It blows right into a large bucket, which is easy to dispose of. I recorded this video several months ago, and I still stand by what I said before. I'd take the 735 any day of the week for the extra amount charged.
Just the manual carriage lock uas me sold on the 734. Automatic systems are all well and good sometimes... But if I'm trying to get a very precise design or measurement or whatnot knowing that it's not going to accidentally get bumped out of place is useful.
Great review of both units. I have the 734 and it works very well for my needs, dust collection is pitiful at best and just use it outside if I need to run more than 1 small thing. The price difference between the two is typically $250, so if you can find a deal it's a smart upgrade in features.
I had the 735 years ago and used it so much that I wore out the feed rollers, the exhaust fan twice and the dust eventually wore away the plastic shroud around the fan. Can’t complain at all about the performance of the 735.. On a side note… the screws that hold down the shroud inside are garbage.. I replaced them with long bolts double nutted.
I bought a 735 about a year ago to replace a Delta that I'd had for many years. Overall I've been pretty pleased with it, although I don't think it really lives up to the hype. My biggest issue is that, even with my dust collector attached, it doesn't do a very good job of removing shavings, despite having the blower. I end up with a bit of a mess, and many shavings end up on top of the workpiece, and make little dents when they go under the rollers. Also, in the beginning, many of my workpieces were "stalling" going through the planer, so I would have to push/pull the piece through by hand. I solved this by putting a coat of paste wax on the planer base, but I don't think I should have had to do that. Also I was getting a lot of snipe. I fixed that by raising the ends of the infeed and outfeed tables slightly above the bed. Overall I do like the dual speeds and the cut indicator. I give mine about a 7/10.
You got that right for snipe. Sometimes you need to adjust (if possible) roller pressure to get it balanced. I have the same jamming problem but it's better than not having the planer. Solution is to cut thinner. Wood sliding through will build up a sticky shellac on the bed. It must be cleaned off. No way around it. Clean with thinners, and then wax it or silicon spray. Reduces friction and overheating/over-working motor. I've had a 734 for 20+ years and it's never overheated. These small portable tools use a different motor than the stationary versions. It's like a skill-saw motor. Loud and low torque. Take thin passes. The wetter the wood, the thinner the cut. Last best tip is to have an absolutely flat bottom on the wood. If not and there is no jointer, make a sled for shimming twisted stock, so you can flatten one side. Use the sled later for beveling stock or supporting extra-long stuff.
I am in the market to buy a new planer, and i have narrowed it down to three. This video goes a long way if i choose a Dewalt. Great video. Good job on the presentation. Thanks
Glad it was helpful! I recorded this video 7 months ago, and I still recommend the 735 over the 734. Actually, I've come to realize that I don't even need to connect the 735 to my dust collection, as the blower does an awesome job of removing sawdust. Best of luck no matter what you choose!
I bought mine from Dewalt as a warranty repack so about half the price of a new one. It has been used hard for about 10yrs. Also it has a very strong blower so I just put a hose and a filter bag off of a small dust extractor which works very well.
Yup. When I did this video, I didn’t realize that, so since then I’ve done the same thing. Just connected a hose to a bag, and I don’t even use a vacuum any more.
I always work with rough cut lumber, since, I believe, it gives me better control over my finished work. As a result, a planer is a necessary part of my shop. I've had several planers in the past, all of which have disappointed me until I purchased ther 735. While there are several features I really like (you mentioned most of them), for me, the main benefit of the 735 is its cut rate. The high cut rate and rsulting silky smooth finish dramatically reduces the amount of sanding needed on a completed project. This is very beneficial when making cutting boards as well as other projects.
I agree. I have a saw mill close by that sells some awesome spalted maple, walnut, sycamore, and other species, and I like to support my local businesses, so I try to load up there. As a result, like you, my planer is a VERY important part of my shop.
Wow! I must be WAY behind times! I'm still using a DW733 planer but thought about buying a DW735, but my 733 works fine! It has served me for many years faithfully! I only had to replace a drive belt once after neglecting maintenance on it. Beside that, the space in my garage is limited and I would have to get rid of my old friend 733! Thanks for the video and the comparison!
Very nice review well explained! One thing I noticed that you moved the speed control lever while the planer wasn't turned on, you definitely don't want to do that it could screw-up your planner it happened to mine when I had a friend over his son was moving the speed lever but I didn't notice until later when using the planer now it is stuck in high speed, the lever still moves back and forth but I only get high speed now. I hope in your case because you only moved it to the middle straight up between speed 1 a nd 2 maybe it didn't screw yours up. I wish there was a better way to avoid this other than the small notice on the speed control dial to prevent this. The DW735 is the better planner in many ways I looked at both before buying and defiantly wanted the DW735. Yes Now you have the best desktop planner!
You're going to love that planer - I've had both myself, and love the 735, 734 is great as well but really like the added features of the 735. Now get yourself a helical head on that thing! :)
On dust extraction: I have the DeWalt 735 so this comment is from experience. @ approx 8:22 in video it shows a lot of chips coming out front of 735. This is caused by the fact that there is only a 2" or 1.5" vacuum hose out the back of the 735, seen at at approx 8:02. You will find that if you totally disconnect the 2" or 1.5" vacuum hose there will be no chips coming out of the front. I have seen this with actual experience. What is happening is that the blower in the 735 is so powerful that the 2" or 1.5" vacuum hose does not have the capacity to deal with it and so chips come out the front. If you hook up a 4" vacuum hose into something that will deal with the volume there will be no chips, of VERY few, out the front. Hope this is useful to those interested.
The "Upgraded." dust port on the DW735 puts out so much air flow that my shop vacuum can't keep up with it. You'll need at least a more robust shop vacuum than the 18V Ryobi thing that I have. Alternatively you can run the dust hose right out the door into your yard, or a large breathable cloth bag. I've never had mine trip the overcurrent protection but it does bog down a bit when putting through 10" wide hard maple.
I salvaged a rusty 734 from a leaky shed, five days of tearing it down and removing rust I think it is in decent working order, blades and motor were fine, not too good for some of the other parts though.
I've got the 735X, love it except i wish it came factory fitted with a helical cutter, as i use a lot of Jarrah and the knives scream as Jarrah is super hard, it cuts pine like butter, but not a fan of Pine except Huon Pine. Good video, well presented. Cheers
I own a DW735x with a Helical head. The Helical head did cost extra but it is worth it. I wouldn't give up my 735, I really like this machine. I've owned other finish planers before, but this one out preforms anything of them.
I used a 734 for about 10 years but always wished I had spent the extra money on the 735 mostly because it is relatively easy to upgrade to a helical cutting head. My biggest problems with the 734 were slippage on the feed rollers and snipe. I also have a Delta 2 speed planner and I also had slippage problems with that so I think that may be a problem with the type of wood I plane (mostly hardwood). As the price keep going up on the 735 I figured I would never get one but Amazon had a really good deal this Summer so I pulled the trigger and ordered one. I had no trouble at all selling my 734 so it didn’t cost me all that much. I haven’t used it much so far so it’s hard to make a comparison but I do like the blower as my 734 would often clog the 4 inch hose going to my Grizzly dust collector.
Thanks for making this video as I am looking at what planer to get. I was wondering the main differences between the 734 in the 735. This is a great start. Take care.
I inherited the 734 with a shellix helical head in it, from my father. I have thought about upgrading to the 735 for the reasons listed in this video, but the helical head is the only reason I have not so far.
Hey, if you got something and it works, then rock on. I never had problems with my 734, and was able to sell it for almost what I paid for it, it’s still a great machine.
Great video, thanks. Subbed after watching. Years ago I wanted to save about $75, so I got the 734. It's done well for me, but I still kick myself for being cheap back then.
I have a 735 X sitting in the garage. My white oak tree that I had cut down this year, has been sawed into slabs is air drying now. Have not even turned it on yet. 1 year plus dry time.:(
I bought the 735 and within a year it wouldn't plane for over 5 minutes without the breaker tripping. A year and a half in the motor burned out. I bought the Ridgid and it's been working like a horse ever since.
Thanks for a straightforward review of an item I plan to purchase. You pointed out some key features that helped me decide which one to buy. I just finished a floor- to-ceiling fireplace/entertainment centre project that could have benefited from a thickness planer.
Is it the type 1 or the 12 ? It seems that since it is made in China (type 12) instead of Taiwan several users have experienced problems with the motor of this new version. You can see the type right next to the serial number. I'm asking you this because it's on a big discount here in Canada (-$220 off the regular price $899 canadian dollar). The demonstrator in store was Type 1 but the one I just bought is Type 12 so I wonder if I will return it. Has anyone experienced any issues with type 12 vs type 1? THANKS !
I have had a 734 for years; but I rarely use it anymore. The problem is the knives. Dewalt Knives seem to fold over with little effort. I'm tired of sharpening and buying them. Anyone know a compatible set of blades that aren't made of tinfoil?
excellent review..I have the 735 and comparing it to my previous planer is night/day...fortunately, I have a 'Jet" dust collector and it's not an understatement how much difference this makes with debris extraction..the 2 speed option is a valuable option that also separates this unit from others..thanks for sharing!
Is the 735 worth the price? Depends on you. If you operate your planer more than ten hours a month I think it is likely worth the increase in price over the rest of the tabletop planers. If you use a planer less, buy a less expensive option. I got a Ryobi AP10 when they first came out. It's gotta be close to 35 years old. One set of brushes (altho it's due for another), two sets of blades. I get the blades resharpened when req'd and keep a tuned-up pair on hand at all times. I don't plane as much as I used to, but can see a need to up my time with the machine as I move on to lighter weight projects...something to do with age and knowing your limits. When my Ryobi dies, I will have it bronzed (just kidding...maybe) and look hard and long at the 735, as well as some of the more inexpensive units equipped with insert style cutting heads. Based on the $350 purchase price in the late nineties, the Ryobi has cost me more in blades and sharpening than it's original price. I can only hope my next one can follow that act.
I always hated swapping blades out on my lunchbox planer. I found it really finicky to get them set properly. The 735 blade changes are simply foolproof and i don't get why more people don't talk about how easy it is. That was the single biggest factor for me and i don't regret it. The only thing I don't care for is the wheel on the side for adjusting depth of cut. I find i rub/bump against it with my gut lol.
Nice little review! I like your channel as you're always come across very honestly - as well doing some interesting projects. I was hoping you might have commented on the issue of snipe from both of these planers - any difference between the two?
Thanks for the compliment. I appreciate it. I did see a little snipe on the results of the 735, but it really wasn't any different from the 734 in my opinion. It was slight, and I didn't do anything to limit the amount of snipe. I didn't support the wood in any way. I couple of people have asked about it, but it was slight, and nothing that couldn't sand off or trim off.
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Thanks for the video. Let me just say for any wood workers out there: I’ve been woodworking since 1979 and in my own shop since 1997. I bought the 735 in 2001 and plane on average 300 board feet per year primarily Ash 65%, Black Walnut 25% and 10% mixed woods from Pine to Grey Elm. This is a garage unit that deals with all the ambient temperatures from 100°F to -15°F and it takes the abuse. I haven’t even had to replace brushes nor anything else just disassemble every 3 to 5 years to clean it up, reapply lubricant and ready to go again.
Blades are cheap ($40ish for 6) easy to change and can be flipped and if chipped can be staggered to eliminate the chip. They last around 500 board feet before being flipped over and I always use the 179 speed. As the video stated, you’re getting a 220 or better finish on the boards so there is literally no reason to add a helix cutter to reduce your cutting depth and stress your motor - the design is already perfect. The only thing I’ve changed is I added a Wixey Indicator to nail the depth to the nearest thousandth of an inch. There you have it a 22+ year testimony.
Wood Working is a long-term relationship, and you need your base tools to last and the DeWalt 735 makes the grade. Be Safe - Enjoy your hobby.
I have a porter cable planer similar in design to the 12.5 inch Dewalt. I have ran a lot of board feet through it. It has done a really good job, and if you pay attention to what your doing there is almost no snipe... Folks, I'm not a youtuber, I'm not sponsored from no one, and I don't have a million dollar shop either. I love dewalt tools! Don't get me wrong here... with respect to this guy and his video, you don't have to spend major money on any tools. One of my favorite sayings is "a good auto painter can use spray-bombs and have great results, but the other guy can have 2 million dollars worth of equipment and can't get metal chair to look right." Just sayin....
I also have the porter cable planer, love it. I'm not a Dewalt fan, I find that they are just a lot of flash and less function type of company with ridiculous price tags to go along with their flash. I also agree that snipe is almost non existent if you take your time, and you will get snipe on any machine no matter what the company says about their product lol.
I also started with the Porter Cable. Then later upgraded to the 735. After using both, I wish I had gone Dewalt from the start. Also the 734 and the porter cable are not comparable. The 734 is an upgrade from the porter cable in build quality. It has three blades and a two bar top. So they are similar looking but not really in the same ballpark when you look under the sheet metal. And the 735 is a class of its own. The porter cable got me started and it definitely worked but it is no way even close to the 735 or the 734 for that matter. Just my opinion for those shopping right now. For a planer just go ahead and get the 735 and you will save money in the long run because you are most likely gonna get one anyway. No need in wasting the money on the lesser machine to start. The porter cable will have snipe. At least with mine you can do all the setup you want but you are going to get 2 1/2 inches of snipe. I tried it all from sacrificial boards to putting the tables on an angle and everything between. Still had snipe. The 735 has snipe as well but it is way less pronounced and can be worked with and even eliminated. I guess I was one of those who ran all that bf through the porter cable and never figured it out. Lol. Get the 735 and thank me later.
There’s certainly truth to knowing how to use tools properly. However that’s not the point of the video. It’s a comparison and there are more and more people everyday that want to do less themselves and ask more of their machines. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing but usually the more expensive and fancier tool will do things better, faster, and easier. Also the shelix cutter head that can be swapped into the 735 is another level up. It makes the makes the cuts even cleaner and the tool way quieter while cutting. Again it’s not necessary, but another step up in functionality. The better and faster a planet cuts accurately, the less sanding needs to be done. And who lives sanding? I’m glad you’re happy with your planer so obviously this video wasn’t made for you.
Tools itself is not an issue,skill is and yes of course a good quality tool helps you do a better job,same way you can relay with some vehicles to last over 200 000 miles and not others
I've used industrial grade planers my entire life. As a matter of fact my last 12" planer weighed 550lbs and had a 7.5hp motor. When I moved into my new shop I was more interested in cnc and laser work so I purchased a 735. Other than how much can be removed in a single pass the 735 works better than any planer I have ever owned. The shelix head helps tremendously.
When I was first getting started last year, I took the advice of fellow woodworkers and bit the bullet on the 735x. I'm so glad that I did.
I ordered one of these off Amazon a few years back on a black Friday deal. Upon delivery notification, I found a very small box that obviously wasn't it. Since the UPS guy had just come, I was able to approach him and prove that he did not deliver the unit. It was deemed lost in the system, and insurance claimed. I then ordered another one from Lowe's the next day (if you can believe it for less than $450 at the time), and started using it. Then the other one from Amazon showed up the next day. I called and asked what Amazon wanted me to do with it, and they said since it was already claimed as lost, that I should just have a Merry Christmas and keep it. I will likely use the other one for parts, or perhaps make my own custom 13" jointer someday after following Matthias Wandel.
Worked on a project recently where the owner builder loved using reclaimed timber. In Australia, so most reclaimed timber is old dry eucalyptus and really hard stuff to work. He bought a 735 and we basically killed the regular blades on a couple of shallow passes, the edges were totally flogged out. He upgraded to the spiral tungsten carbide head and it plowed through anything we threw at it. Doesn’t like nails though! Otherwise, it hasn’t balked at even old iron bark, brush box, blue gum etc. so long as you don’t go crazy on the depth of cut.
Good to know as a fellow Aussie, croweater in fact.👍
I bought a 734 as well, and after getting the chance to use a friend's 735 I can wholeheartedly say it is 100% worth every penny more.
NIce review. I have the 735 and used to run it with a shop vac as well. The reason you had chips coming out of the front of the planer was that the blower was pushing more air than the shop vac could handle. When I upgraded to a Oneida Supercell and hooked the planer to the 4" hose, this stopped happening.
Excellent. Thank you for the info. I'll take a look.
I have my 735 connected to an Oneida cyclone 😊dust collector,using a 4” hose and all the dust gone up and out, very little,left on the planner
I used my 734 for almost a decade and put thousands of board feet through it. Fantastic machine. After a decade it was showing it's age and there was a sale on the 735 so I bought one and sold my 734. I haven't put many boards through the 735 yet. but I have to say, I prefer the 734. The 735 is good, but has some irritating features like the exhaust port being as inconveniently placed as they could make it. Instead of being on the side, it's smack dab in the middle, preventing access to the wood coming out of the belt feed.
I run a 4 inch duct from my 735 and have zero issues with it. It has a nice sweeping 90° bend that goes to the side of the machine. Absolutely not in the way when done right.
@@rustic35 I did that too but I knocked the damn elbow and the dust port broke. It's only held on by a tiny bit of plastic. Very weak. Poor design in my view, the dust port should have vented from the top or side
19 years for a 735. I can't begin to imagine the board feet of wood I've run through mine. I did switch to an aftermarket straight blade that is a little thicker than the OEM blades and seem to last a bit longer. I can operate it continuously for over an hour planing 8-10" wide white oak or hickory with no problem. I've cleaned the feed rollers with 90% isopropanol maybe once a year. Every couple of years I open it up and blow out the roller chain that syncs the four posts. I wax the platten occasionally. Last year I added an iGauging DRO and I think I have just about the perfect small shop planer. I evaluated buying a Shellex head this year but for what I pay for HSS blades and that I am winding down my woodworking a bit, it wasn't worth the $400 cost. I had a Delta that was similar to the 734 and it was a snipe nightmare. My 735 has no snipe if I pay attention to feeding on a slight angle. The dust collection on the 735 is way superior.
I’ve had the DW735 for over 12 years. I bought it reconditioned. So I got it for about 1/2 price. I bought the in-feed and out feed and the DeWalt cart for it. This year I bought and installed the Shelix cutting system.
And a number of years ago I purchased the digital depth gage and replaced the existing one.
My review: 6 out of 5 stars with the Shelix, 5 out of 5 stars with the factory blades. I’ve had zero trouble during the 12 plus years. Save your money on the digital depth gage. Over 30 plus years I’ve found that “accuracy is relative” and my digital gage has been all I’ve needed. The depth wheel that locks the crank in at a specific thickness has served me well. That is on the left side of the 735, you missed that in your comparisons. This wheel keeps the thickness consistent during final finishing. The 735 has metal gears which I think is nice in a world of plastic. I had a Delta planer before this DeWalt and the gears were plastic. It lasted about a year.
I have found that blades are important as to who makes them. I used the DeWalt brand and also blades from Amazon. The DeWalt blades lasted longer and stayed sharp longer in my opinion. The difference between blades and cutters,the Shelix cutters basically is the cutting action and the fact that the Shelix slices instead of cutting straight across creating a smoother cut.
In short. I’m 77 come December and I’m taking my planer with me! 😮 (that’s a joke). But, realistically, someone is going to get a really nice planer in the Estate Sale.
Love it. Thank you!!
Planers are a tool I put a lot of research into a little over a year ago when I was beginning to put thought into, thinking I might be starting bigger than I've ended up starting. While don't currently have the space for either, when I get to that place, I intend to go with the DeWalt 735x. Thanks for taking the time and care to give a new perspective on a great tool that DeWalt has continued to improve upon since it's debut.
I bought the 734 several years ago because it cost less. Since then, I have pulled the trigger and put a Shelix head on it. Best thing one can do for any planer out there. It greatly reduced the noise and improved how the motor runs. The finish is smooth as could be, though I don't have another planer to do a comparison. But I am quite happy with the finish I get. I made a four foot infeed/outfeed table for it out of melamine, another great improvement as that all but eliminated snipe . Would recommend that as another upgrade to any planer with these types of infeed/outfeed tables. Thanks for the good review on both.
As someone who wants to begin woodworking, I have a plan to start kind of backwards by purchasing a thicknesser/planer before almost anything else. This is because what inspired me to start woodworking was youtubers who use scrap wood and make heavy use of the thicknesser/planer. While I understand the importance of learning to use manual tools, I have a lifetime to practice my hand planing while I produce sellable work using machinery.
It's the smartest way to go. A planer will pay you back fast. It'll only take a few board feet to pay for it.
Having run several brands and sizes of planers over the years, both at home and at various cabinet and furniture shops I've worked in, I can confidently say that the extra 1/2 inch doesn't matter at all - until it does. When you have to run something bigger than your planer's capacity to satisfy the needs of a client, that extra capacity is invaluable. You and I can use our CNC routers to surface some of these projects, but we both know that is a lot slower than using a planer, and not everyone has a CNC at their disposal. As for the heads up comparison between these two planers, I thank you for doing it. I'm eyeballing the 735X right now (to replace a 20 year old Delta lunchbox planer) so I was very interested in the comparison. Something I would like to see is a further examination of the quality of cut on each of them - particularly when it comes to snipe. Keep up the great videos, and thank you for this one!
Agree wholeheartedly. I recently worked a project that needed a 12.25 inch surface, which worked with my 734, but it was tight. My biggest WOW on this new one was the 179 CPI level. Left a butter smooth finish. There was a little snipe on it, but I didn't do anything to mitigate it. Just let it run with no support to see how bad it would be . Very minor, but it was there. Appreciate the continued support!!
I bought the 735X and so far so good no complaints we shall see over time.
I put my 735 to work one time. I built a Paul Sellers style hand wood working work bench with two 12-1/2” wide by 4-1/4” by 72” long laminated pieces with a 4” tool trough in between. I laminated dry, old, lumber that I scavenged from my remodeling projects. They were all whacky after glue-up and I hand planed them until they were flat, but not perfect, on one side. Then I put 735 to work, planing off my reference side until clean, then planing opposite until parallel. I wound up with two dead straight, dead flat bench top pieces. Could not ask for anything more.
Thank you. I really appreciate the very detailed comparison. I have been shopping for a planer over the last few weeks have been doing my homework. I never used one so there was a lot to learn. I have been comparing brands, figuring out the blade differences and learning about the "extra" stuff that makes using these so great. I almost made a mistake and ordered a cheaper Craftsman two blade and quickly canceled it when I mentioned it to a couple of people and they suggested upgrading to three blade at minimum (Whew that was close). This meant more research before I invest more. I was unsure about going with the DW735X or the 734 (as it is on sale more) but I love the added finishing cuts per inch, the thicker more sturdy bolts and the upgraded blower. Those are worth the extra right there. Plus I like the measuring depth gauge, although I don't know if that was as important as the finishing cut. This is the first video I saw that has done such a great comparison. No kidding. Some of the caparisons were completely lame and I knew there was more than just the width, extra blades and the trays. This was really great.
I appreciate that. Since I actually bought both, and had them side by side, I figured that the direct comparison would be useful, and it's proven to be one of my most popular videos. Appreciate the compliment.
I have the 735x and it's amazing. A wixey attachment makes it as accurate and repeatable in board thickness as you can get. I'd recommend it!
Nice review. I'm not sure I've seen a side by side comparison before. I bought a 734 myself last year and don't regret it. I think I might have gone with the 735 if I didn't have to think about dollars and cents, but it'll be interesting to see if ever my eye wanders over to the 735 or another upgrade in the coming year or two. Thanks for this!!!
Great video, just retired a 2 year old Harbor Freight planner I bought to see if I really needed and would use it enough.
I do want a planner, the HF planner broke after 2 years and tech support passed me to second level"expert" that admitted she was using TH-cam to answer questions
Yours is the best video of the 8 that I've watched
Wow, that’s a great compliment. Thanks
I got a 734 for $80, bc the switch was broken & it had no dust port. One $20 switch & $25 dust port later, I had the best tool I've ever owned.
And yet, your video showed me that I'll get a LOT more benefit out of uograding than I thought.
Why?
1) The 735 has the blower for the dust collection. I spend way too much time cleaning maple shavings out of a clogged up 734 port. I had no idea a blower was available.
2) The 400-grit level cutting speed. I work almost exclusively with reclaimed wood, meaning the wood hardness is off the scale, & sanding takes forever. This sounds like it would add hours of free time to every week of my life. Thanks for the info!
You're welcome. I don't wanna go on record with the "400 grit" comment, it was an off the cuff comment while I was filming, but you do get an incredibly smooth finish, one that you don't even have to sand! And regarding the blower, I don't even connect it to my shop vac any more, I just have it attached to a bucket, which works like a charm, so no extra ductwork. It does clog on occasion, but not as often as my 734 did.
The industrial triple cutter head planer we had at our cabinet shop was only 18” and it worked great for 35 years…
Thanks brother 🏆👍 great comparison … DW735 is the way to go … I’ve been looking for a quality plainer
Thank you for this thorough side-by-side! Stepping into the planing world for the first time, I feel ready to purchase my 735x! The finishing pass option is what sold me.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, my son is a beginner woodworker and I’m impressed with the dewalt wood planer thank you
My 734 is still on its first blades... my religious use of a metal detector wand and mostly new wood is probably the reason for that. I've used it on pine, fir, cedar, popular, and walnut so far.
No complaints at all to date.
I have the 734 with the shop vac hooked up to it. The planer works well, but the dust collection is garbage. I don’t know if it’s average garbage or below average garbage dust collection, but I waste more time dealing with that than I do planing…I constantly have to stop the machine and clear clogs. The only reason I got the 734 at the time versus the 735 was that there were a few more less favorable reviews on the 735. You have me realizing my mistake 😂
And for what it’s worth, I never lock down the bar and I’ve never noticed any unwanted movement in any direction as a result of not locking it, and I use digital calipers very often while planing.
I may need to pull the trigger on 735 if I see a good Black Friday deal
I own the 734 and use it often. It serves my purpose but there are a few things I really don't like about it. 1. I hate the dust port. It is awkward and a pain to remove and remount. 2. The manual carriage lock is a pain, I find myself not putting it down sometimes,(forgetting). But, all in all I don't think these things are enough to upgrade to 735. Good video Thanks.
For me the two big things are the finish cut and the depth gauge. I have the smaller one, it is older and does not have any dust collection. The problem with the depth gauge is that is leaves a mark in soft wood. Even medium hard wood will leave a mark but it will sand out very easily. But if you have soft wood, the mark is more of a gouge and take a fair amount of sanding to remove. I always plane soft wood where it won't hit the depth gauge, if it is not too big so I can.
I like DeWalt equipment a lot, drills, saws and cut off saw.
I have the 13 inch model. I work it's guts out. It's job is to take rough sawn pine upbton16 feet long and 11 inches wide down to 3/4. I use the 2nd gear exclusively. One half crank at a time. And amazingly the steel blades will do about 300 feet per set and does a really nice job.
Thanks for the review and after a lot of research I chose the 735x on sale no less.
As a person currently building up a shop and about to pull the trigger on a thickness plane I loved the very straightforward "apples to apples" take on these products. Finding out about the Blower on the one actually makes a fairly large difference for me, and make the 735 more appealing for that fact alone. You did a great job laying out the info without showing a leaning towards one or the other, which something others need to learn to do. Thanks!
Appreciate that. If money allows, I really think the 735 is the way to go. While I didn't include it in the video, because at the time, I didn't fully realize it, you don't even need to hook the 735 up to your dust collection system. I simply connect it to a bucket and the blower pulls sawdust into it.
Got my MiL a 735x for Christmas because she's started doing a bit more serious woodworking stuff. I plan to run her a couple dedicated 20A circuits to the garage for it, and some of her other stationary tools. This was another fantastic review that gives more confidence that my research into a thickness planer for her was correct, and she's been given a solid tool to elevate her work to new heights. Thank you very much for this! +1
Thank you! Appreciate that.
I just purchased the DW735 I haven't yet used it as I was a dummy and threw my back out unloading it from my car, Not to mention all the rain we have had here in Kentucky.
I Just ran across your channel and watched a few videos. I like the fact that are to the point and don’t ramble on. Keep up the good work.
I appreciate that!
Great comparison, I have the 734 and it has been great although given the option I will buy the 735
I got the smaller one for my workshop a few years ago. No complaints so far!
awesome!
Great vid, thanks for sharing. I am learning about planers before investing in my first one. The DW 735 so far seems to be my best option. Cheers from the Mighty Alberta - Canada!!!
Nice review. I had the 734 and usually cutting redwood, but occasionally cutting various hardwoods. The finishes were excellent, the clean up easy until further use and then it took a while to clean it out. Not a big deal. But the bigger deals were the lock, getting the cut precise and the snipe. Neither were all that bad, but sometimes I'd forget to lock the bar down, and getting the cut precise for small work took a little time and practice. The snip was the most irritating. To fix it I'd use a longer piece and trim the ends. The in and out panels are somewhat loose and need to be set & fixed just right or you get snipe. I had the same dust collection system as you and it was OK, but after a full day in my small shop, I'd come out with a nose full of wood dust. (I just couldn't handle wearing amask all day.)
I want to really thank you because I'm considering getting a planner at some point. I know i'm gonna get a dewalt one, but I did not now about different models, and your review kinda shown me that I should get the 735x.
I also really laught at your dust collection system because it is exactly the same as mine. I have the same shop vac, and also built a little cyclone attachement to prevent me changing my bags really often... So dust collection is def something i'm looking into.
All other features are nice to have, and I think I better take the fool-proof automatic lock. I'm a pretty dumb guy.
I really appreciate that. Once I got a little more experience with the 735, I realized that the blower is so powerful that I really don't even need to hook it up to my shopvac. It blows right into a large bucket, which is easy to dispose of. I recorded this video several months ago, and I still stand by what I said before. I'd take the 735 any day of the week for the extra amount charged.
Just the manual carriage lock uas me sold on the 734. Automatic systems are all well and good sometimes... But if I'm trying to get a very precise design or measurement or whatnot knowing that it's not going to accidentally get bumped out of place is useful.
Good call. Never been an issue for me, but I can see where you're coming from.
Great review of both units. I have the 734 and it works very well for my needs, dust collection is pitiful at best and just use it outside if I need to run more than 1 small thing. The price difference between the two is typically $250, so if you can find a deal it's a smart upgrade in features.
I had the 735 years ago and used it so much that I wore out the feed rollers, the exhaust fan twice and the dust eventually wore away the plastic shroud around the fan. Can’t complain at all about the performance of the 735..
On a side note… the screws that hold down the shroud inside are garbage.. I replaced them with long bolts double nutted.
I bought a 735 about a year ago to replace a Delta that I'd had for many years. Overall I've been pretty pleased with it, although I don't think it really lives up to the hype. My biggest issue is that, even with my dust collector attached, it doesn't do a very good job of removing shavings, despite having the blower. I end up with a bit of a mess, and many shavings end up on top of the workpiece, and make little dents when they go under the rollers. Also, in the beginning, many of my workpieces were "stalling" going through the planer, so I would have to push/pull the piece through by hand. I solved this by putting a coat of paste wax on the planer base, but I don't think I should have had to do that. Also I was getting a lot of snipe. I fixed that by raising the ends of the infeed and outfeed tables slightly above the bed. Overall I do like the dual speeds and the cut indicator. I give mine about a 7/10.
You got that right for snipe. Sometimes you need to adjust (if possible) roller pressure to get it balanced. I have the same jamming problem but it's better than not having the planer. Solution is to cut thinner. Wood sliding through will build up a sticky shellac on the bed. It must be cleaned off. No way around it. Clean with thinners, and then wax it or silicon spray. Reduces friction and overheating/over-working motor. I've had a 734 for 20+ years and it's never overheated. These small portable tools use a different motor than the stationary versions. It's like a skill-saw motor. Loud and low torque. Take thin passes. The wetter the wood, the thinner the cut. Last best tip is to have an absolutely flat bottom on the wood. If not and there is no jointer, make a sled for shimming twisted stock, so you can flatten one side. Use the sled later for beveling stock or supporting extra-long stuff.
P.S. Sometimes a sled will sort out the sniping problems. There's no fine adjustment on these models in feed and out feed tables.
Very concise and informative comparison of the two planers. Thank you
Well done. I have the 735 and it really meets my needs. I think it is a great value .
I was going to get the 734 but now I'll save for the 735x thanks.
I am in the market to buy a new planer, and i have narrowed it down to three. This video goes a long way if i choose a Dewalt. Great video. Good job on the presentation.
Thanks
Glad it was helpful! I recorded this video 7 months ago, and I still recommend the 735 over the 734. Actually, I've come to realize that I don't even need to connect the 735 to my dust collection, as the blower does an awesome job of removing sawdust. Best of luck no matter what you choose!
Had a 734 until it got flooded and had to get a new one. Went with the 735. That was 16 years ago. Just get the 735.
I bought mine from Dewalt as a warranty repack so about half the price of a new one. It has been used hard for about 10yrs. Also it has a very strong blower so I just put a hose and a filter bag off of a small dust extractor which works very well.
Yup. When I did this video, I didn’t realize that, so since then I’ve done the same thing. Just connected a hose to a bag, and I don’t even use a vacuum any more.
I always work with rough cut lumber, since, I believe, it gives me better control over my finished work. As a result, a planer is a necessary part of my shop. I've had several planers in the past, all of which have disappointed me until I purchased ther 735. While there are several features I really like (you mentioned most of them), for me, the main benefit of the 735 is its cut rate. The high cut rate and rsulting silky smooth finish dramatically reduces the amount of sanding needed on a completed project. This is very beneficial when making cutting boards as well as other projects.
I agree. I have a saw mill close by that sells some awesome spalted maple, walnut, sycamore, and other species, and I like to support my local businesses, so I try to load up there. As a result, like you, my planer is a VERY important part of my shop.
Wow! I must be WAY behind times! I'm still using a DW733 planer but thought about buying a DW735, but my 733 works fine! It has served me for many years faithfully! I only had to replace a drive belt once after neglecting maintenance on it. Beside that, the space in my garage is limited and I would have to get rid of my old friend 733! Thanks for the video and the comparison!
Thank you!!
Well spoken and clear simple information. Congrats
Thank you!
Very nice review well explained! One thing I noticed that you moved the speed control lever while the planer wasn't turned on, you definitely don't want to do that it could screw-up your planner it happened to mine when I had a friend over his son was moving the speed lever but I didn't notice until later when using the planer now it is stuck in high speed, the lever still moves back and forth but I only get high speed now. I hope in your case because you only moved it to the middle straight up between speed 1 a nd 2 maybe it didn't screw yours up. I wish there was a better way to avoid this other than the small notice on the speed control dial to prevent this.
The DW735 is the better planner in many ways I looked at both before buying and defiantly wanted the DW735.
Yes Now you have the best desktop planner!
You're right. I made that mistake in the video, but I've made sure to correct myself in the future. Thankfully, no problems have arisen.
You're going to love that planer - I've had both myself, and love the 735, 734 is great as well but really like the added features of the 735. Now get yourself a helical head on that thing! :)
That's the plan!
On dust extraction: I have the DeWalt 735 so this comment is from experience. @ approx 8:22 in video it shows a lot of chips coming out front of 735. This is caused by the fact that there is only a 2" or 1.5" vacuum hose out the back of the 735, seen at at approx 8:02. You will find that if you totally disconnect the 2" or 1.5" vacuum hose there will be no chips coming out of the front. I have seen this with actual experience. What is happening is that the blower in the 735 is so powerful that the 2" or 1.5" vacuum hose does not have the capacity to deal with it and so chips come out the front. If you hook up a 4" vacuum hose into something that will deal with the volume there will be no chips, of VERY few, out the front. Hope this is useful to those interested.
Appreciate that. Good to know
Why does the thumbnail say, "don't waste your money"? This seemed like a glowing product review.
Because I wasted my money on the 734 before springing on the 735
The "Upgraded." dust port on the DW735 puts out so much air flow that my shop vacuum can't keep up with it. You'll need at least a more robust shop vacuum than the 18V Ryobi thing that I have. Alternatively you can run the dust hose right out the door into your yard, or a large breathable cloth bag. I've never had mine trip the overcurrent protection but it does bog down a bit when putting through 10" wide hard maple.
I stopped using a vacuum with it. I just have it blow into a bucket now.
I will muddle along with a Ryobi 3.25. It would have been nice to see well lighted close ups of the board faces.
I salvaged a rusty 734 from a leaky shed, five days of tearing it down and removing rust I think it is in decent working order, blades and motor were fine, not too good for some of the other parts though.
You did a great job.......I look forward to checking out more of your stuff
I appreciate that!
I've got the 735X, love it except i wish it came factory fitted with a helical cutter, as i use a lot of Jarrah and the knives scream as Jarrah is super hard, it cuts pine like butter, but not a fan of Pine except Huon Pine. Good video, well presented. Cheers
I own a DW735x with a Helical head. The Helical head did cost extra but it is worth it.
I wouldn't give up my 735, I really like this machine.
I've owned other finish planers before, but this one out preforms anything of them.
The helical head is on my list of upgrades. Good to know.
THANK YOU for this video, this exactly the kind of side by side comparison I've been looking for!
I used a 734 for about 10 years but always wished I had spent the extra money on the 735 mostly because it is relatively easy to upgrade to a helical cutting head. My biggest problems with the 734 were slippage on the feed rollers and snipe. I also have a Delta 2 speed planner and I also had slippage problems with that so I think that may be a problem with the type of wood I plane (mostly hardwood). As the price keep going up on the 735 I figured I would never get one but Amazon had a really good deal this Summer so I pulled the trigger and ordered one. I had no trouble at all selling my 734 so it didn’t cost me all that much. I haven’t used it much so far so it’s hard to make a comparison but I do like the blower as my 734 would often clog the 4 inch hose going to my Grizzly dust collector.
I haven't sold my 734 yet, but I feel the same way about being able to sell it relatively easily.
Thanks for making this video as I am looking at what planer to get. I was wondering the main differences between the 734 in the 735. This is a great start. Take care.
Glad it was helpful!
Mark the center of your wood on both ends of your blank and center punch it so you can put the points in and turn your blank round first.
Thank you for your honest opinion!
Excellent job! Addressing all the salient points in a brief update.
Thank you
I got mine for free. Amazon reported my package lost but it was on my door step so a wins a win.
Thank you for the comprehensive comparison.
I inherited the 734 with a shellix helical head in it, from my father. I have thought about upgrading to the 735 for the reasons listed in this video, but the helical head is the only reason I have not so far.
Hey, if you got something and it works, then rock on. I never had problems with my 734, and was able to sell it for almost what I paid for it, it’s still a great machine.
I've have a 735 have worked it quite a hard for many years and it's sure stood up to the wear and tear - fwiw - also great review
That’s good to know. I’ve run mine pretty hard for about 6 months and I love mine!
Thanks for the information. I am actually looking at the different brands. Dewalt would be my LAST choice though.
Great review 👍 shame the 735 is not available in the UK, we only have the 733 which I think is the equivalent to the 734.
Great video, thanks. Subbed after watching. Years ago I wanted to save about $75, so I got the 734. It's done well for me, but I still kick myself for being cheap back then.
I'm the same way. At least I can sell the 734 and recoup a little of my money.
I have a 735 X sitting in the garage. My white oak tree that I had cut down this year, has been sawed into slabs is air drying now. Have not even turned it on yet. 1 year plus dry time.:(
The current price difference between these machines in the UK, if buying from a UK retailer, is £800.
I bought the 735 and within a year it wouldn't plane for over 5 minutes without the breaker tripping. A year and a half in the motor burned out. I bought the Ridgid and it's been working like a horse ever since.
Its a wood shop some debris isn't an issue...our 24" with helical knives still has some debris, but is so much quieter.
Thanks for a straightforward review of an item I plan to purchase. You pointed out some key features that helped me decide which one to buy. I just finished a floor- to-ceiling fireplace/entertainment centre project that could have benefited from a thickness planer.
Glad it was useful. I recorded this video about 5 months ago, and it’s as good as I said then.
Thanks for the review! I am looking at getting a planer for my garage shop, and was looking specifically at the Dewalt series.
Glad it was helpful! I still love mine.
Is it the type 1 or the 12 ? It seems that since it is made in China (type 12) instead of Taiwan several users have experienced problems with the motor of this new version. You can see the type right next to the serial number. I'm asking you this because it's on a big discount here in Canada (-$220 off the regular price $899 canadian dollar). The demonstrator in store was Type 1 but the one I just bought is Type 12 so I wonder if I will return it. Has anyone experienced any issues with type 12 vs type 1? THANKS !
I like the dewalt but I could not justify the cost
I bought a wen 13.5 and is very good for me
I was getting ready to buy one thanks for the info!
Thank you, Sir. Great comparison. Greetings from the UK!
My pleasure!
Thanks for the vid. These were the exact models i was considering
Thank you for a good review
Thank you this was very helpfule
I have had a 734 for years; but I rarely use it anymore. The problem is the knives. Dewalt Knives seem to fold over with little effort. I'm tired of sharpening and buying them.
Anyone know a compatible set of blades that aren't made of tinfoil?
As Dewalt in their 'wisdom' never exported the 735 to the UK, that just leaves the 734 with a hundred other non-yellow options.
There's even a 220v50hz version available, just not in Europe (and it's neighbouring countries...)
excellent review..I have the 735 and comparing it to my previous planer is night/day...fortunately, I have a 'Jet" dust collector and it's not an understatement how much difference this makes with debris extraction..the 2 speed option is a valuable option that also separates this unit from others..thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I'm envious, I plan on upgrading my dust collection this coming summer but for now I still just have a couple of shop vacs to do the trick.
I upgraded my 735 to a spiral cutter head. It really takes it up another level. No more nicked knives. I can see this planner lasting a lifetime.
Yup, that's on my list of upgrades in the near future but I'm not there yet.
Is the 735 worth the price? Depends on you. If you operate your planer more than ten hours a month I think it is likely worth the increase in price over the rest of the tabletop planers. If you use a planer less, buy a less expensive option.
I got a Ryobi AP10 when they first came out. It's gotta be close to 35 years old. One set of brushes (altho it's due for another), two sets of blades. I get the blades resharpened when req'd and keep a tuned-up pair on hand at all times. I don't plane as much as I used to, but can see a need to up my time with the machine as I move on to lighter weight projects...something to do with age and knowing your limits. When my Ryobi dies, I will have it bronzed (just kidding...maybe) and look hard and long at the 735, as well as some of the more inexpensive units equipped with insert style cutting heads.
Based on the $350 purchase price in the late nineties, the Ryobi has cost me more in blades and sharpening than it's original price. I can only hope my next one can follow that act.
I always hated swapping blades out on my lunchbox planer. I found it really finicky to get them set properly. The 735 blade changes are simply foolproof and i don't get why more people don't talk about how easy it is. That was the single biggest factor for me and i don't regret it. The only thing I don't care for is the wheel on the side for adjusting depth of cut. I find i rub/bump against it with my gut lol.
Thanks for the information boss. Keep these coming.
You bet. I've actually added a few more pieces of equipment to the shop. I'll probably do a couple of more reviews this summer.
Nice little review! I like your channel as you're always come across very honestly - as well doing some interesting projects. I was hoping you might have commented on the issue of snipe from both of these planers - any difference between the two?
Thanks for the compliment. I appreciate it. I did see a little snipe on the results of the 735, but it really wasn't any different from the 734 in my opinion. It was slight, and I didn't do anything to limit the amount of snipe. I didn't support the wood in any way. I couple of people have asked about it, but it was slight, and nothing that couldn't sand off or trim off.
I have had the the 734 for a little over a year now, and I love it. I did look at the 35, but settled on the 34 as it was on sale for 1/2 price.