Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 28, 2005 04:08am | #1

   I don't recall seeing a direct comparison between the two. Keep in mind, the DeWalt has one more knife, so the cuts-per-inch is greater with both speeds. That's one reason it finishes so well.

   Delta's dust collection will fall far short of that on the DeWalt, which has a forced-ejection arrangement (fan? can't remember). The DeWalt might end up costing a fair amount more, especially if you choose to get the table extensions. Probably a better planer though.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   RobbyP | Jan 28, 2005 04:19am | #2

   Hi Martin,

   I have the Dewalt planer and it is in a word AWESOME.  I had the 13" 2 speed delta planer for about 6 months and it just wasn't as good as I expected.  The cut quality was not much better then an old makita that I had been using.  The two speed function was also a gimmick.  I found little to no difference in the quality of the cut.  Lastly the dust collection duct (that you pay extra for) is always in the way and gets clogged really easy.  I lucked out though and had a friend that wanted it and bought it for $100 less then I paid for it.  I went out and bought the Dewalt and have never looked back.  The only complaint I would have would be that the knives do wear out fairly quickly although the finish it leaves is truly amazing.  I used it recently to surface some 8/4 curly bubinga and the boards came out nearly flawless. 

   If you have any more questions do not hesitate to write.

   Robby Phelps RP Custom Woodworks

3. 
   jes | Jan 28, 2005 05:09am | #3

   I can't offer you any comparison, but i also own the dw735; i've had it for about a year now.  The only downside is that the blades can't be re-sharpened (i'm not sure whether the deltas can be or not), it's ridiculously loud (you'll go deaf without ear protection)  and it's probably the heaviest 'portable' planer on the market.  Aside from that, i can't think of anything to complain about.  The user controls and depth setting/indicators/adjustments are the easiest and clearest i've used and the planer is a workhorse that is hard to bog down.  Snipe is very negligible (so long as your technique is good), and the results, so long as your blades are sharp, are incredibly smooth.  The fan ejected chip ejection works well.  I'm sure you've heard all this before if you've been researching planers, but i thought i'd throw my two cents in.   I've bought quality tools before, but still wondered afterwards as i strolled thorugh the hardware store if the other tools on the market have anything mine doesn't or would perform better, but not so with this planer.  I doubt you could do better in the portable planer dept.

    

    

   Jesse David
1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 28, 2005 06:21am | #5

   Jesse, in general disposable planer blades aren't resharpenable.   There are a few WWers who "sharpen" theirs, but I suspect it's more like honing than the actual sharpening that's done with blades of the big machines.  The geometry of the portable's blades, what with their self-indexing characteristic, just doesn't lend them to being sharpened.

   Noise is pretty much a problem with all portable planers, right?  Having universal motors rather than induction.....forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   jes | Jan 28, 2005 06:11pm | #9

   Jesse, in general disposable planer blades aren't resharpenable.

   ...which is why they are disposable.  I don't know which is most common, but before i had the dewalt i used a machine that had re-sharpenable blades, and it took a long time to get them set just right.  Personally, i quite like the ease of the self indexing blades, but i imagine some might not like the idea of buying a new set of blades every time they get dull.  Also, the dw735 does seem considerably louder than several other planers i've used.  For the most part I use ear protection as a rule, but there have been lapses.  But perhaps the extra decibles of the dewalt planer will actually save my hearing, by screaming so loud that i won't even consider not wearing the muffs!!

    Jesse David

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 29, 2005 12:33am | #11

   I've never had the pleasure of using a "real" planer, with non-disposable blades, but my impression is that it's a pretty close toss-up money-wise, since the disposables have two edges on each knife.

   Yep....my "hearing saver" is the big ol' Craftsman vacuum -- man, does it make a racket.  I'd be very tempted to pass on the earmuffles if it weren't for that.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   mvac | Jan 29, 2005 01:03am | #13

   Speaking of "hearing saver," I take my Craftsman 8 gal. 3hp shop vac hose and duct tape it into the chip ejection opening. It may sound silly, but it works like a charm. When I'm done I just remove the duct tape, along with my ear protection. :-)

   Mitch

   "I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."

   Edited 1/28/2005 5:04 pm ET by mvac

2. 
   mvac | Jan 29, 2005 12:58am | #12

   Jesse,

   I've heard that the cost of resharpening is about equal to the cost of replacement blades. And I'm assuming your turning the blade around when it dulls right?

   Is the financial comparison incorrect?

   Mitch

   "I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."

   Edited 1/28/2005 5:03 pm ET by mvac

4. 
   wrudiger | Jan 28, 2005 06:01am | #4

   I haven't used the DW so can't compare to the Delta but I do agree with the comments regarding dust collector location and effectiveness and that the 2-speed thing doesn't make a difference.

   I haven't had the dust collector chute clog, but I do get some chips kicking out the front.  Maybe if I had the 3 hp. DC...

   Now, the thing to consider when deciding between a DC and a planer is what a  planer does - makes tons of shavings!  If you don't mind shavings everywhere and cleaning your shop with a shovel go for it.  (Been there, done that).  The other side of the coin: unless you have a passion for lots of time at the bench with hand planes then get the planer - the DC doesn't help you make furniture but a planer will.

5. 
   elbert | Jan 28, 2005 06:29am | #6

   Martin, check the customer reviews on Amazon.com for some insight on the two products.  These tend to give you the good, bad and ugly (also some rants and raves), as compared to the more formal reviews.  Actually there is a recent review of several planners in this catagory in one of the magazines.  If I find it, will post.

    

   Elbert

1. 
   mkbug | Jan 28, 2005 06:44am | #7

   Thank to all for the comments.

   WoodTic I did read the Amazon comments. Sometimes those are so well written that you begin to wonder about the source. Most commented on the blades longjevity (sp) and the sprocket breakage. Though I believe the sprocket issue has been resolved unless you get an old model off the showroom floor. Did I see that link for the manufacturing coding on this forum. Please advise.

   Looks like I'll go with the DW735. There on 10% off HD cards available on Ebay. May have to invest a few $ to save $50.00. Check it out.

   Peace,

   MartinHeads I win, tails you lose.

6. 
   Dustmight | Jan 28, 2005 05:52pm | #8

   Pop WWing did a comparison last year.  The 735 took "top tool", the 22-580 took "best buy".

7. 
   DavidxDoud | Jan 28, 2005 09:24pm | #10

   Martin,  like others,  I do not have both,  so I cannot offer direct comparisons - I do have the Delta and will comment on it -

   the blades are not resharpenable,  but they are reversible so you get two sets of edges for your $35-40 - blade reversing/replacing is a 15 minute operation -

   those that would claim the 'two speed makes no difference' would not say so if they had run challenging wood thru it - thicknessing poplar,  you will notice little difference - but try some figured maple...

   personally,  I use it as a thicknesser,  taking stock to a uniform thickness and then finishing the job with hand planes and/or scrapers - the exception being when I use it surface wood for use in house trim - baseboard and such,  where the final pass at the slow speed leaves an acceptable finish surface for that application without sanding or further fiddling...

   quite possibly the DW will be equal - dunno - but I have been very happy with the Delta -

   I'm sure you will have a lot of fun with whichever you end up with....

    

    

   "there's enough for everyone"