What's inside
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The best DeWalt wood planer for most serious shop users is the 13-inch DW735 or DW735X, while the lighter DW734 is the better choice for smaller shops, occasional furniture work, and boards that fit within a 12.5-inch capacity.
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DeWalt planer models compared
DeWalt’s portable thickness planers are corded benchtop machines rather than battery tools. They share a three-knife cutterhead design, but their capacity, feed-rate controls, dust handling, and included accessories make them better suited to different woodworking situations.
| Model | Maximum board width | Maximum stock height | Feed rates | Approx. weight | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DW734 | 12.5 inches | 6 inches | 24 feet/minute | About 80 lb | Occasional use, small shops, furniture parts |
| DeWalt DW735 | 13 inches | 6 inches | 14 or 26 feet/minute | About 92 lb | Frequent use and improved surface control |
| DeWalt DW735X | 13 inches | 6 inches | 14 or 26 feet/minute | About 92 lb | Frequent use with tables and spare knives included |
Exact package contents can vary by region and production date, so confirm whether the model includes infeed and outfeed tables before buying. The DW735X is generally the accessory bundle, not a different planer body.
DW734: the practical 12-inch-class choice
The DW734 is often described in searches as a “DeWalt 12 wood planer,” although its actual maximum width is 12.5 inches. That extra half-inch matters when flattening standard 12-inch boards or wider glued panels that have been trimmed close to size.
Its single feed rate is about 24 feet per minute. That is quick for removing material, but it gives you less control over final-pass quality than the DW735’s slower setting. For common softwoods such as pine, spruce, cedar, and poplar, the DW734 can produce a clean surface when the knives are sharp and the cut is light. On figured maple, cherry, walnut, or other tear-out-prone hardwoods, you will need to reduce the depth of cut and use careful grain direction.
The usual maximum cut is approximately 1/8 inch on stock under 6 inches wide. As boards get wider, reduce the cut: around 3/32 inch for 6- to 8-inch stock and about 1/16 inch near the machine’s full width. These limits are more useful than treating the 1/8-inch figure as a normal everyday setting.
Choose the DW734 when you need a relatively movable machine, usually plane boards under 12 inches wide, and do not process large batches every week. Its lower price—often roughly $450 to $650 depending on availability and package—can leave room in the budget for a dust extractor, replacement knives, and a sturdy stand.
DW735 and DW735X: the better production-oriented option
The DW735 is the stronger head-to-head choice for a woodworker who regularly prepares rough lumber. Its 13-inch capacity is only slightly wider than the DW734’s, but the two-speed feed system is a meaningful advantage.
- 14 feet per minute: use this slower setting for a better finish, difficult grain, final sizing, and hardwoods.
- 26 feet per minute: use this faster setting for efficient rough dimensioning when the final surface will receive additional work.
- Three knives: the cutterhead provides a smoother cut pattern than a two-knife arrangement and spreads wear across more edges.
- Fan-assisted chip ejection: the planer actively moves chips toward the dust outlet, helping prevent the housing from filling during sustained work.
The DW735 and DW735X accept a 4-inch dust connection and work best with a high-volume collector. A small shop vacuum may capture some chips, but it can struggle with long runs of planer waste. Without effective extraction, chips can accumulate around the outlet, get recut, or blow back onto the work area.
The DW735X usually costs about $650 to $850, while the DW735 body may sell for somewhat less. The X package is worthwhile if you would otherwise purchase the folding support tables and spare knife set separately. For a permanently mounted machine, the standard DW735 can be the better value.
Which DeWalt wood planer fits your situation?
| Your situation | Recommended choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Limited space or occasional projects | DW734 | Lighter, simpler, and adequate for most boards up to 12.5 inches |
| Frequent furniture making | DW735 | Slower feed setting improves final-pass finish |
| Large batches of rough lumber | DW735X | 13-inch capacity, two feed speeds, and useful included accessories |
| Mostly pine, fir, cedar, or poplar | DW734 or DW735 | These woods plane readily; the model difference is mainly workflow and capacity |
| Mostly figured maple, oak, walnut, or cherry | DW735 or DW735X | The slower feed rate gives more control over tear-out and finishing passes |
| Boards wider than 13 inches | Neither | Use a wider stationary planer, a router sled, or a properly prepared glue-up |
Cutting depth and board-finish quality
A thickness planer does not flatten a badly twisted board by itself. It makes the upper face parallel to the face that is already riding on the bed. If the underside rocks, shim it, flatten one face with a jointer or sled, and then use the planer for thickness.
For rough stock, start with a shallow pass of approximately 1/32 inch. Check the grain, listen for changes in motor load, and increase only when the board feeds smoothly. A worked example shows why this matters: removing 1/8 inch from a 10-inch-wide hardwood board takes considerably more effort than removing 1/32 inch from a 6-inch board. The planer’s published maximum is a limit for suitable material, not a recommendation for every pass.
For a final surface on hardwood, select the DW735’s 14-feet-per-minute setting and remove only 1/64 to 1/32 inch. On the DW734, compensate for its faster fixed feed by taking lighter cuts and avoiding dull knives. Neither machine replaces sanding, but sharp knives and a light final pass can reduce sanding substantially.
Dust collection and shop setup
Planer chips are bulky, so collection capacity matters more than the fine-dust rating printed on a vacuum. Use a short, wide hose where practical, keep the collector filter clean, and leave room behind the planer for chips and board travel. The outfeed side needs support at least as long as the longest boards you normally process; otherwise the board can tip down and create snipe.
Because the DW735 weighs around 92 pounds, place it on a stable stand rather than a lightweight folding table. The DW734 is easier to move, but it still benefits from a rigid base. A level bed and properly aligned support tables improve finish quality more than adding extra pressure to the board.
Ownership costs and maintenance
The main consumable is the disposable double-sided knife set. Replacement sets commonly cost roughly $50 to $100, depending on the model and supplier. Do not continue using knives after a chipped edge appears: a damaged knife can leave repeated ridges, increase noise, and make the cutterhead unbalanced.
- Vacuum chips from the housing, bed, and cutterhead area after each substantial session.
- Clean and lightly protect the table so boards slide consistently.
- Inspect feed rollers for resin and compacted dust; dirty rollers can cause slipping and uneven feeding.
- Rotate or replace knives as a matched set according to the model instructions.
- Support long boards before and after the cut to reduce snipe.
- Never plane stock containing loose knots, nails, screws, or embedded grit.
The DW735’s heavier construction and two feed rates make it the strongest all-around wood planer DeWalt offers in this benchtop range. The DW734 remains the sensible buy when portability, lower ownership cost, and a 12.5-inch working width are more important than batch speed. In either case, sharp knives, shallow passes, sound dust collection, and proper board support determine the finished surface as much as the model number.