What's inside
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The DeWalt DW735 is still worth buying in 2026 for most hobbyist and semi-pro shops — its two-speed gearbox, three-knife cutterhead, and excellent snipe control keep it near the top of the 13-inch benchtop class — but buyers who process rough lumber daily may outgrow its duty cycle and should consider a 15-inch stationary machine or a helical-head alternative instead.
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What the DW735 Actually Is
The DW735 is a 13-inch, two-speed benchtop thickness planer that has been in DeWalt’s lineup for years with only minor revisions (the DW735X bundle adds infeed/outfeed tables and an extra set of knives). It sits one step below the DW734 in price positioning is inverted — actually, the DW735 is the more capable machine: it adds the two-speed feed and a fan-assisted chip ejection system that the single-speed DW734 lacks. Street pricing typically lands in the mid-range for benchtop planers, usually between roughly $500 and $700 depending on the package and sales cycles.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum planing width | 13 in (330 mm) |
| Maximum cutting depth per pass | 1/8 in |
| Cutterhead | 3-knife, ~10,000 RPM (about 96 or 179 cuts per inch depending on feed speed) |
| Feed speeds | 179 CPI (dimensioning) / 96 CPI (finishing) |
| Motor | 15 A, 120 V, ~20,000 RPM motor speed |
| Max stock thickness | 6 in |
| Dust port | Fan-assisted chip ejection, fits 4 in hose or 2.5 in shop-vac hose |
| Weight | ~80 lb (36 kg) |
| Knives | Reversible, disposable, double-edged (not resharpenable by design) |
The Two-Speed Feed: Genuinely Useful, Not a Gimmick
This is the feature that separates the DW735 from most of its competition. The gearbox lets you choose between two feed rates:
- 179 cuts per inch (faster feed): for dimensioning rough stock quickly. You remove material faster at a slightly rougher finish — fine for stock that will be jointed or sanded after.
- 96 cuts per inch (slower feed): nearly doubles the cutterhead’s effective work per inch of board, leaving a noticeably smoother surface that often needs only light sanding.
In practice, owners run rough passes on the fast setting and flip to the slow speed for the final one or two passes. The one caveat: the speed can only be changed while the motor is running — it’s designed to shift under power — and you cannot change it mid-cut. Plan your passes before the board goes in.
Snipe Control — the Best in Its Class
Snipe — the deeper cut a planer takes at the very start and end of a board — is the single biggest complaint about benchtop planers, and the DW735 handles it better than most. It uses an automatic carriage lock that engages when a pass begins, which keeps the cutterhead from rocking as the board enters and exits the feed rollers.
Realistically, you should still expect a small amount of snipe on long, heavy boards unless you:
- Use the folding infeed/outfeed tables (included with the DW735X bundle) and set them slightly elevated.
- Lift gently on the trailing end of the board as it enters, and on the leading end as it exits.
- Cut stock an extra 4–6 inches long and trim off the sniped ends — the standard shop workaround.
Compared with rivals like the Makita 2012NB or entry-level single-speed machines, the DW735’s snipe is measurably smaller and more consistent. Helical-head machines (e.g., the WEN PL1326 in the budget tier, or Grizzly/Jet carbide-insert models higher up) can match it on finish but cost more or sacrifice other conveniences.
Cutterhead and Blades: The Real Ownership Cost
The DW735 uses three reversible, double-edged HSS knives that are indexed for automatic alignment — swapping blades for the DeWalt DW735 planer is a 15–20 minute job with no knife-setting jig needed, which is a genuine advantage over machines requiring manual knife height adjustment.
The honest trade-off: the knives are the machine’s weak point. They are not designed to be resharpened, and they nick if they hit staples, grit, or knots. A fresh set of OEM planer blades for the DW735 (DW7352 for the 13-inch three-knife set) typically costs in the $45–$65 range, while aftermarket blades for the DW735 planer run $25–$45 for a set. Because each knife is double-edged, one set effectively gives you two cutting lives — flip them before replacing.
| Item | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Knife sets consumed per year | 1–2 (each side lasts roughly 60–120 board feet of clean hardwood) |
| Annual blade cost (OEM) | ~$50–$130 |
| Annual blade cost (aftermarket) | ~$30–$90 |
| 5-year blade cost | ~$150–$650 |
| Compare: helical carbide inserts | Higher upfront, but each insert rotates 4x and can outlast HSS knives 10–20x on abrasive stock |
What wears first: knives (by far), then drive chains (lubricate periodically), then feed rollers if you run dirty reclaimed lumber. The cutterhead itself is durable — head failures are rare; dull knives are blamed for most “weak planer” complaints.
Common mistake: planing reclaimed or painted wood. One hidden nail can chip all three knives at once, and the chip lines repeat across the full board width until you replace the set.
Noise and Dust Collection
The DW735 is loud — typically measured in the mid-90s dB range under load, loud enough that hearing protection is not optional. The fan-assisted chip ejection is excellent: it throws chips forcefully enough that it works reasonably even on a 2.5-inch shop-vac hose, though a proper 4-inch dust collector hose performs better and reduces the occasional clogging when taking deep cuts in wide boards. Keep passes under 1/16 inch on boards wider than ~10 inches to avoid both chip jams and bogging the motor.
Realistic Capacity
On paper the DW735 handles 13-inch-wide, 6-inch-thick stock. In real shop use:
- Full 13-inch width: works, but take light passes (1/32 in or less) in hardwoods — the 15 A motor is the limiting factor, not the cutterhead.
- Thickness: the 6-inch max is real, but anything over ~4 inches is usually better glued up from thinner stock anyway.
- Minimum stock: about 1/8 inch thick and 12+ inches long; shorter stock needs a sled or carrier board.
- Duty cycle: it’s a benchtop machine — running it continuously for hours on production work will heat the motor. A few dozen boards at a stretch is fine; a full kitchen’s worth of face frames in one session is pushing it.
Decision Matrix: Is the DW735 Right for You?
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Weekend hobbyist, mixed softwood/hardwood, moderate volume | Buy the DW735X bundle. The tables and spare knives are worth the small premium. |
| Tight budget, light use | Consider the single-speed DW734 or a budget 12.5-in planer; you’ll lose the finishing speed and stronger chip ejection. |
| Abrasive woods (teak, ipe) or reclaimed lumber frequently | Skip to a helical-head machine — blade costs will erode the DW735’s value quickly. |
| Daily production / professional shop | A 15–20 in stationary planer with induction motor; the DW735 is a good supplement, not a primary. |
| Small space, need portability | At ~80 lb it’s movable but heavy; fine on a rolling stand, less fine up stairs. |
Verdict
The dewalt planer dw735 remains one of the most complete benchtop planers available in 2026: two feed speeds that actually matter, class-leading snipe control, strong chip ejection, and painless knife changes. Its weaknesses — loud operation and ongoing knife costs — are predictable and manageable. Buy it if you’re a serious hobbyist or light professional; look elsewhere only if you routinely run abrasive or reclaimed stock, or need true production capacity.
FAQ
Are DW735 blades universal or interchangeable with other planers?
No. DeWalt DW735 planer blades are specific to the DW735 (13-inch, three-knife head). They do not fit the DW734 or 12.5-inch machines.
Can I sharpen the DW735 knives instead of replacing them?
They’re designed as disposable, but some owners hone light wear with a diamond stone. Deep nicks can’t be honed out evenly — replacement is the practical answer.
DW735 vs DW735X — what’s different?
Same machine. The X adds folding infeed/outfeed tables and an extra set of knives. The tables alone make it the better buy for most people.