which benchtop planer is best?
CrCronkleton
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
I am considering a benchtop planer to add to the shop, was leaning towards Dewalt, but just looking for recommendations.
Replies
The Dewalt 735 gets me vote and here's why:
1) This planer's depth adjusts on a a very robust mechanism that utilizes four, large diameter, matched lead screws and a single chain-drive -- this sytem helps ensure dead flat planing, repeatable/stable settings and also a long-life even at continuous duty. Most bench top units (lunchbox) only ride on two smaller screws.
1A) the hand wheel and screw drive adjust the depth of cut a consistent 1/32" for each full rotation.
2) This unit cuts powerfully and smoothly for a full 13" width! I don't think there any out there that match this.
3) The three cutter-head is very easy easy to access and replace the straight knives (each has two usable edges) and the are even manufacturers making carbide knifes should you want more edge life. And, if you choose to upgrade this model...Byrd makes a segmented, helix knife heads are available.
4) For smaller shops without robust dust collection, this unit's chip ejection has its own blower...makes more noise than the planer...but is shoots those chips clear.
5) Can be bought with steel table extensions that really go a long way to helping work with longer stock and reducing (already very low) snipe.
6) Rubber feed rollers are easy to clean with mineral spirits.
The unit is admittedly heavy...around 100lbs which is not exactly "bench-top"...better to have a rolling stand or designated spot in the shop than to plan on putting is away and taking it out every time you use it.
Just one ww'er 'spressin himself.
MK
I have a Delta, and if I needed to replace it now, I'd go with the DeWalt too. Makita a second choice. They both seemed better constructed.
DW735 gets the nod on this quite often despite the price. The DW734 does an equal job but, lacks the 2nd speed. These are different format machines; the DW735 elevation mechanism does not need a carriage lock, the DW734 has one and is fine. Many lunchbox planers lack a carriage lock. The old Delta Shop Master is an example and is affectionately known as the Snipe Masters ;-)
I'm on the DW735 bandwagon, too. I have had mine for several years and I love it. I would love to have the space for a larger planer, but this serves me very well in my basement shop. It also does a very nice job of dust collection when connected to my DC.
I had the older Dewalt (725?) and got tired of sharpening the knives every time I passed a couple of maple boards through it. So I replaced the head with a Byrd helical head with carbide inserts. Cuts nice, but has very limited depth of cut (I think it was 1/16th or less), so that wasn't great. Wound up replacing that with a Rikon, which comes stuck with carbide inserts (although not a true helical head). Much, much better.
I personally think that unless you only do softer woods, carbide is a huge benefit. Not only saves time on sharpening, but the staggered or helical heads all suffer from much less tear out on difficult woods. Every thing else, for me, is secondary to that. The Rikon takes a bit of a knack to avoid snipe (you want to support the infeed side of the board from the underneath with a slight upward pressure until it gets to the infeed table). But otherwise, I've had if for a few years and it keeps chugging away on oak, maple, cherry and more exotic woods.
I've had the Dewalt DW734 for about 15 years. Fantastic machine. If I was buying new today, I'd probably get the DW735, primarily because it has a three knife head, as opposed to the 734's two knives.
I've had the DW734 for several years and have run a lot of lumber through it; including cherry & oak. Even though it has one less speed and one less knife, the cut is always smooth and requires only minimal sanding to a finish surface. I'm still using the original knives. I do take them out and clean and hand hone them from time to time. If you want to save a few dollars, I would choose this one (if still available) and you won't go wrong. I haven't used the DW735 and I'm sure it is a fine machine but, it looks like it has a larger foot print and I wonder just how valuable the extra speed and knife are.
I have the dewalt 735 with the Byrd cutterhead upgrade, worth every penny and I loved it before the upgrade as well, but the blades can get expensive.
I also use it as a jointer sometimes for large pieces using a flat bench to reference against and gluing long pieces against the sides of the piece I want to flatten - I think you’ll find the method on FWW from Ed Pirnik I believe. cheers!
Just to clarify, the DW733 has two blades, the DW734 has three. It is a 12-1/2" width instead of the DW735's 13".
thanks a lot guys, I have always liked the features of the DW735, but your recommendations have definitely sold me on it
Agree with GeeDubBee, the 735 has 3 blades. I have had mine for about 10-12 years and have put lots of wood through it, primarily maple, cherry and walnut. It has done a fine job and has many good years left. I'm on my second set of blades.
GeeDubBee, You are correct. Mine is a DW733 not 734 as I said above. However, I stand by what I said about it. It is so good, I don't know how an additional blade or speed would improve it. I don't mean this to disparage either the 734 or 735. Never used either one.
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