Replies

1. 
   highfigh | Jul 15, 2007 08:20pm | #1

   If, by 'nothing', you mean that you haven't seen the replacement blades, call them back. If you mean that they didn't make a difference, call them back.

   How much of a cut are you making? if you're removing too much material, the blades won't last long because of the heat generated. If the wood is rough cut and dirty, you should consider having it sanded before you plane it.

   Aftermarket replacement blades are available- you may consider going that route.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
1. 
   JohnWW | Jul 17, 2007 07:04pm | #8

   Sanding, as suggested by someone else, will leave enough grit in the wood to also lessen blade life.  I brush off dirty wood with a steel dust pan style brush to clean it up. 

   If the wood is really dirty it is worth the cost of having it rough planed at the mill before you take it.  Wood that has been splashed with muddy water, or had grit ground into by people walking on the stock, is best left for someone else to buy. 

   Also cutting off both ends of the board before running it through the machine will eliminate grit embedded in the end grain.

   The first pass should be a moderate depth one if possible.  Very light passes can dull the blades without removing the grit completely.

   John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine 

2. 
   Railyn | Jul 15, 2007 09:18pm | #2

   You could try "dressing" the blades in the planer. I bring the blades up to top-center and use a flat diamond hone dressing back and forth across the edge. It will sharpen the edge as well as strengthen the edge because of the difference in angle. Keep the hone level and stroke each blade equally.

   Ray

3. 
   mapleman | Jul 16, 2007 05:51pm | #3

   Dave,

   This topic keeps coming up over and over again. The dewalt blades seem to be garbage. Your best option is to find an aftermarket supplier that uses better steel.

   Good luck,

   Lee

4. 
   forestgirl | Jul 16, 2007 05:57pm | #4

   As queried by another responder, what does "one month later.....nothing" mean?  I would have waited no longer than 10 days before calling them back.

   Infinity Tools makes replacement blades for the DeWalt.  The last time this blade issue question came up, one of the members was going to be trying them, but I don't think we've heard from him.  Perhaps you could try them and let us know how well they work? 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   vincentedwards | Jul 19, 2007 06:06am | #12

   I just ordered a set of infinity blades this week... I'll get the report in as soon as I've planed enough wood to know something . I have been enjoing a borrowed 20" 5hp industrial planer for the past month or so... but now it needs to go back home so it's time to get the DW back in shape. Let me just say, however, that the 20" planer had HSS knives and I ran about 200-300 bd feet through it with not even the slightest hint of wear. It's good to hear that dewalt agreed to send new blades. The 2nd side of mine only did 50bd feet of maple before leaving major streaks. I spent several hours hand planing all the ridges. I'll have to get on dewalt to send me some free blades. Maybe they'll be an improvement. At least I'll have some blades to swap out with the good ones if I need to run some junky wood. vincent

5. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 16, 2007 06:17pm | #5

   Dave,

   As another possibility perhaps down the road:

   http://www.infinitytools.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HSSK%2D041

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/18/2007 10:26 am ET by KiddervilleAcres

1. 
   Cincinnati | Jul 18, 2007 04:19pm | #10

   Bob,I don't believe those will work. The factory blade is about 1/16 thick, the ones at your link are 1/8" thick and 13.125 wide (I believe the factory blade is 13"). Have you had any success in going with these thicker & longer knives, or did you mean to post a link to the Infinity replacement for DW 735?http://www.infinitytools.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HSSK%2D041Greg

   <!---->•••••••

   Exo 35:30-35<!---->

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 18, 2007 05:26pm | #11

   Greg,

   Good catch. 

   I did mean to post a link to the replacement blades.  Thanks for the correction.  I'll edit my post to eliminate confusion.

   Regards,

    Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

6. 
   mgumaer | Jul 16, 2007 10:55pm | #6

   Seems like the possibilities are:

   1) bad blades;

   2) too big of a cut; or

   3) feeding in the wrong direction (blades really not dull yet but getting a bad result).

   I've got the same planer and have had good luck with my blades although I haven't planed a ton of hard maple (some, just not a lot). How big of a cut are you taking? Have you tried reversing the direction of the cut?

   The DeWalt blades certainly might not be the best blades on the planet but they shouldn't be that bad. Maybe someone overheated them when sharpening. Did they last longer when you first used them?

   If DeWalt said they'd send you another set of blades, I would follow up with them. I'd be surprised if you had the same problems with a new set (assuming proper technique). Good luck.

   Matt

1. 
   Frozen | Jul 17, 2007 03:55pm | #7

   For completeness, I would add dirty (grit-contaminated) lumber to the list of possible causes of premature blade deterioration.

1. 
   mgumaer | Jul 18, 2007 04:20am | #9

   Good point. Thankfully, I haven't experienced that problem yet (as least that I know of).Matt

7. 
   vincentedwards | Jul 21, 2007 10:03pm | #13

   Just installed my new infinity blades on the DW735. I honed them a little bit on a 4000 grit water-stone and then my hard felt polishing wheel because the factory grinding was a little bit coarse (i noticed a burr in places and that's not good)

   First few boards are smooth as GLASS.

   I'll keep you posted on the long term performance of these blades vs. the factory knives.

   I sure hope this solves the DW735 blade conundrum for good!

   Vincent

1. 
   skyking09e | Jul 22, 2007 06:38pm | #14

   Thanks for your reply.  Please let me know how the blades perform over time.  Dave