I just read the Winter 2007/8 Tool and Shop Review on planers. My aging Ryobi just quit. I had selected the DeWalt 735 and Craftsman (tied for best in the review) for further checking. Just read horrible reviews of the DeWalt on epinions citing chipped blades and poor stock feeding after a few board feet. This is in such contradiction with the FW review. Any experience on this forum?
Discussion Forum
Get It All!
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
Start Your Free TrialCategories
Discussion Forum
Digital Plans Library
Member exclusive! – Plans for everyone – from beginners to experts – right at your fingertips.
Highlights
-
Shape Your Skills
when you sign up for our emails
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. -
Shop Talk Live Podcast -
Our favorite articles and videos -
E-Learning Courses from Fine Woodworking
-
-
Replies
I own the 735 as well. I have put roughly 400 - 500 bd ft through it and have not changed the blades yet. Although I probably will soon. I haven't used any other planers, so my opinion is limited to just this one. So far it has been a great machine.
Josh
I used the 735 in my shop for at least three years with no problem. I waxed the tables, took light cuts and all was fine.
The problem with things like epinions is that they seem to be hysterical and frequently do not tell the whole story abiout what they were doing to cause the failure. Certainly some are true but I hear from people all of the time that believe the tool should work the way they want it to or it is designed or manufactured wrong. They firmly believe their technique or demands have nothing to do with how fast something wears out or fails.
Tom Hintz
Because there is always more to learn!
I agree with THintz. I have a 735 and have had some blade issues but otherwise I'm happy. If there's anything you should consider it's that everything is extra. You'll need infeed and outfeed tables kit, chip extractor hose kit, an extra set of blades, and a stand. Most of these things can be fabricated with the exception of the $30-60 blade set.
If you purchase all this stuff your getting close to the price of a used regular heavy planer.
Vic
Sully,
Fear not. Tom hit the nail on the head. I've had mine for well over 2 years, and haven't had problem 1 yet. As Tom said, take light cuts, wax the table, clean the feed rollers occasionaly with mineral spirits, and clean your lumber!! I use a wire brush and blow it off outside. It's the finest on the market. Be careful about epinions. There's guys out there who would belly-ache about taxes if you GAVE them a million dollars.
Happy Thanksgiving
Steve
There are two secrets to keeping one's wife happy.
1. Let her think she's having her own way.
2. Let her have her own way. President Lyndon Baines Johnson
Mine works just fine. Get the dust collection thing if you don't have a real dust collection system. It connects to a trash can and works well, although you need to wear a mask unlse, like me, you open the garage door and out the tyrash can outside.
My DW735 is working GREAT right out of the box. I'm not sure where you are finding a lot of negative reports on them. If you do a search of the various WWing forums like I did you'll find that the positive comments far exceed the negative. The only negative I found is that it's hard to find a "deal" on the DW 735. Most places sell them at MSRP. As has been stated here, getting the infeed/out feed tables is necessary for preventing snipe. I found them on sale on Amazon with "free shipping." I got mine through WoodCraft when they were offering a mobile stand as a rebate. It it very handy and well made. Until this weekend I hadn't used the slow speed and had read that this is "overkill" in a planer. When I ran a piece of ash through I got some tear out where the grain changed direction. When I planed it using the low speed the tear out disappeared.
I have had one for about 2 or 3 years and overall I like it.
The dewalt blades do not hold an edge very long. Once the blades go dull - and you will know it, the planer runs very slow and the breaker doesn't take long to kick (even if the finish is still smooth). I bought a set from infinity and they last longer.
The head adjustment gears on the one I bought were made of some cheap powder metal formed parts, and they failed (fell apart) after about a year. the replacement gearsI bought looked like they might be machined, or at least cast and milled. no excuse for this part of the design, as these gears see little vibration or fast movement. I don't know if dewalt is using better materials on these parts now, but the fix wasn't too hard to do.
Maybe y'all could go over to ePiners (sarcasm, that) and write positive reviews en masse to balance the scales a bit. Amazon reviews are often out of whack, but ePiners is awful.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thank you all for your replies. After posting the message I figured out how to use the FWW Knots- my post was my first- and read so many messages on this subject. My conclusions are the writers who point out cleaning the wood and the machine are right on and knots may still be a problem. I am still considering the DeWalt but also the Craftsman and Rigid. The cost of "extras" will also be considered. Thanks again to all.
Sully
On Fine Homebuiling's breaktime, check out thread 97395.1
I've had my 735 for 3 years. I work almost exclusivly in Q-sawn white oak. Haven't had a lick of trouble, have never changed blades.
I have a very small nick so I'm thinking about changing the blades next April. Just like my spring bath, whether I need to or not...
Adjusting the blades sideways will usually take care of a small nick, esp. with a 3 blader.
Jim
Jim,
Yes I have considered that. However, does that mean I won't have to take my bath...???
Hell, I wouldn't. Waste not want not. I'd make it April 1 2009.
Jim
Not sure what issues peaple are having. Have had mine for a couple years now, put over 600BF of various woods (Pine, Cherry, Oak, and such) into it and only issue I have is I need to replace the blades now (first time) well flip them really, as they have a few nicks (nasty nots and such). Dont think you can move them sidewas as they are indexed.
Still I have not had the blades dull out. I generally run at the "faster" spead and tack the last cut slow.
I would buy one again. Only issue I have is the in/outfeed table can get knock out of alignment if you bumb it hard (ask me how I know) and the outfeed table will not flip up and stay unless the DC attachment is not on or the planer is in the max thickness setting (it needs to clear the DC pipe)
Doug
"Dont think you can move them sidewas as they are indexed."
My Delta has indexed blades and you can move them sideways. They have a slightly oblong hole instead of a round one to fit over the pins. Leave one alone, move the second right and the third left and you have no nicks (in the wood). The manual mentions it, tucked away in a corner somewhere. Worth a look.
Jim
North,
Depends on your circumstances. Back when I drove a truck, I pulled into a truck stop after having been on the road for a week with only stops for brief rest periods (NTSB be damned according to my dispatcher). While debating whether to drag myself in for a shower before sleep or sleep first, a portable pig pen backed into the spot beside me. A few minutes later, the driver knocked on the door of my truck. When I asked him what's up, he asked how long I would be there. When I said all night, he replied, "Well, one of has to move. The pigs are complaining!" So, it just depends about the bath. On the planer, just move one blade a fraction, and the problem is solved.
Keep on having fun.
SteveThere are two secrets to keeping one's wife happy.
1. Let her think she's having her own way.
2. Let her have her own way. President Lyndon Baines Johnson
You're my MAN, Holmes!!!
You know, taking a bath is just like washing clothes. Why waste the time, the're just going to get dirty again...?
An old woodsman once told me that ya ain't dirty till you can smell yursef. Problem with that is that folks have already been smellin ya for a week!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
3 years and you never changed blades!!Is your quarter sawn cutting board done yet?Hey I'm just busting you for a laugh :)
I wouldn't base my purchase of a machine based on just one or two reviews. It's not uncommon to find conflicts or even misinformation. In two published reviews of my Makita 2012NB planer one said it was "powerful", the other thought it was lacking power. It doesn't mean reviews have no value- if there are enough of them, taken in total they should give you a pretty good feel for a machine .......... which is why I shied away from the DW735. At the time I bought my planer the 735 was having drive sprocket and short knife life issues and after trying it at a tool show, I instead chose the Makita and would do so again.
Just to clarify, the sprocket issue mentioned above has long since been solved. It was restricted to the early part of the production run.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Well I guess you are getting the idea that the 735 is a pretty sound machine. It is in my epinion. Have had it for 2 years. approx 600 Bf and going fine on it's first set of blades.
The only thing I would change in design is the position of the chip exhaust if possible. Kinda gets in the way but no biggie.
Brian
Sully,
I've owned the Dewalt 735 for almost a year and put a lot of use on it. I don't use it every day, but on days that I do, I fill 1-2 garbage cans full of chips. The feed rollers seem to slip towards the end of the day and I find myself feeding stock manually (or assisting the machine).
That being said, it is definately a fine tool for moderate usage. Smooth finish - ready for a final scraping and two speeds. Lots of mass, so it doesn't move much if it's on a rubber pad. It has some positive stops for common thicknesses (though I wish it had a 3/8" setting).
Chris @ flairwoodworks
Chris,
Maybe you already know, but if you clean the feed rollers occasionally with mineral spirits, you will eliminate the slippage. Also, waxing the table is helpful. If you already knew this, never mind.
Make sawdust, not war.
Steve
There are two secrets to keeping one's wife happy.
1. Let her think she's having her own way.
2. Let her have her own way. President Lyndon Baines Johnson
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled