What's inside
- DeWalt Benchtop Planer Options Compared
- DW735: The Best DeWalt Bench Planer for Regular Use
- DW734: The Sensible Choice for Occasional Planing
- Snipe Control: What the Machines Can and Cannot Do
- Decision Matrix: Which DeWalt Planer Fits Your Shop?
- Replacement Costs and Long-Term Ownership
- Setup for Smoother, Flatter Boards
- Final Verdict
- Related Guides
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The best DeWalt bench planer for most woodworkers is the DW735: its 13-inch capacity, two-speed feed, three-knife cutterhead, and fan-assisted chip ejection make it the strongest choice for frequent stock preparation, while the lighter DW734 is better for occasional use and a tighter budget.
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DeWalt Benchtop Planer Options Compared
DeWalt’s portable thickness planers are designed to flatten one face and bring boards to a consistent thickness; they do not replace a jointer for creating a flat reference face. Among the commonly available corded models, the DW734 and DW735 are the important buying choices. The DW735X is essentially a DW735 package that includes an additional knife set, although bundle contents and availability can vary.
| Model | Maximum width | Maximum depth of cut | Feed speeds | Knife system | Approx. weight | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DW734 | 12.5 in | 1/8 in | 26 ft/min | Three disposable double-edge knives | 80 lb | Occasional use and lower initial cost |
| DeWalt DW735 | 13 in | 1/8 in | 14 or 26 ft/min | Three disposable double-edge knives | 92 lb | Frequent use and better finish control |
| DeWalt DW735X | 13 in | 1/8 in | 14 or 26 ft/min | Three disposable double-edge knives | About 92 lb | DW735 buyers who want spare knives included |
Both machines use a 15-amp motor and accept stock up to 6 inches thick. Their 13-inch-class capacity is enough for most furniture parts, shelving, cutting boards, and cabinet components. A 12-inch board technically fits, but allow extra width for uneven edges, slight board movement, and safe handling.
DW735: The Best DeWalt Bench Planer for Regular Use
The DW735 earns the top recommendation because it gives you a practical choice between speed and surface quality. Its slower feed setting produces more cuts per inch, which normally leaves a cleaner surface on figured wood and reduces the amount of sanding required. The faster setting is useful when removing material from straight-grained boards or processing a large batch of rough lumber.
The cutterhead uses three double-edge disposable knives. When one edge becomes dull or nicked, the knives can be turned once before replacement. A three-knife arrangement spreads the cut across more edges than a two-knife head, helping maintain a consistent cut and reducing the load placed on each knife.
Its fan-assisted chip ejection is another important ownership advantage. With adequate dust collection, chips leave the machine more reliably than they do from a simple gravity-discharge planer. Without collection, the blower can throw chips forcefully, so the discharge area should be directed into a suitable hose or collection container.
The tradeoff is weight. At roughly 92 pounds, the DW735 is portable in the sense that one person can move it with care, but it is not a machine most people will want to carry up and down stairs repeatedly. A mobile stand, folding planer cart, or permanently positioned infeed and outfeed supports makes a major difference.
DW734: The Sensible Choice for Occasional Planing
The DW734 has a 12.5-inch capacity and a single feed speed. It lacks the DW735’s selectable feed rates and dedicated blower, but it still provides the essential capability needed to thickness boards accurately. For a homeowner making a few projects each year, the simpler design can be enough.
Its lower weight, at approximately 80 pounds, makes it somewhat easier to store. It is still too heavy to treat casually, so plan where it will sit before buying it. A stable work surface is more important than a small difference in portability; a planer that shifts during a cut can worsen snipe and produce an inconsistent finish.
The DW734 is usually the better value when your material is mostly straight-grained softwood, construction hardwood, or already-flattened stock. The DW735 becomes easier to justify when you regularly plane figured hardwood, process multiple boards in one session, or want to slow the feed for a finer finish.
Snipe Control: What the Machines Can and Cannot Do
Snipe is the shallow dip often created at the beginning or end of a board as it passes through the cutterhead. Neither DeWalt planer eliminates it automatically. It is caused by the board lifting or dropping slightly when only one roller is gripping it.
- Set infeed and outfeed tables or support rails so they are level with the planer bed.
- Support long boards before they enter and after they leave the cutterhead.
- Keep the board flat against the bed instead of pressing down on its leading or trailing end.
- Make a shallow first pass and inspect the result before removing substantial material.
- Use sacrificial leader and follower boards when the project allows, keeping the cutterhead engaged across the entire pass.
- Reserve the final pass for a light cut after the board has stabilized and reached the target thickness.
In practice, setup has more influence on snipe than the difference between the DW734 and DW735. The DW735’s heavier frame and stronger chip-ejection arrangement help with general operation, but they do not remove the need for correctly aligned support.
Decision Matrix: Which DeWalt Planer Fits Your Shop?
| Your situation | Recommended choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest reasonable initial cost | DW734 | Provides 12.5-inch capacity without paying for the DW735’s slower feed and blower features. |
| Weekly furniture or cabinet work | DW735 | Two feed rates, stronger chip management, and a 13-inch opening improve productivity. |
| Small shop with limited storage | DW734, if its capacity is sufficient | It is about 12 pounds lighter, although both need a safe storage solution. |
| Frequent figured maple, oak, or other demanding hardwood | DW735 | The slower feed can improve the final surface and reduce cleanup sanding. |
| Processing long boards alone | Either model with dedicated supports | Infeed and outfeed support matters more than the model choice for preventing dips and damage. |
| Want spare knives immediately | DW735X, where available | The included extra knife set can offset part of the package’s higher price. |
Replacement Costs and Long-Term Ownership
Planer knives are the main consumable. General market pricing for compatible replacement sets is commonly around $30–$60, while genuine branded sets or bundled knife packs may cost more. The DW735X’s extra set can therefore have meaningful value if you expect to plane reclaimed lumber or rough boards that may contain hidden grit.
A useful ownership calculation is cost per knife edge. A three-knife set has six usable cutting edges because each double-sided knife can be turned once. If a $45 set lasts through 12 moderate projects, the knife cost is about $3.75 per project. That figure can rise quickly when boards contain dirt, paint, staples, or embedded mineral deposits. Inspect reclaimed wood with a metal detector and remove fasteners before it reaches the cutterhead.
The knives are not the only parts that wear. Feed rollers can become glazed with resin and dust, the cutterhead area can accumulate compacted chips, and the elevation mechanism can become stiff if debris is allowed to settle around it. Clean the bed regularly, keep the rollers free of buildup, and follow the manual’s lubrication and adjustment guidance rather than applying random oil near wood-contact surfaces.
Setup for Smoother, Flatter Boards
- Flatten one face first. A thickness planer makes the opposite face parallel to the face riding on the bed; it cannot correct a severely twisted reference face by itself.
- Measure the thickest section. Set the planer above that measurement and take a light pass. Removing too much in one cut increases motor load and can worsen tear-out.
- Use dust collection. Keep the discharge path clear, particularly with the DW735’s powered chip ejection.
- Plane both sides progressively. Once one face is flat, alternate faces while reducing the depth in small increments. This helps balance stresses in some boards.
- Finish with the slower feed on the DW735. Use a light final cut for a cleaner surface, then inspect across the grain before sanding.
- Check thickness at several points. Measure near both ends and the middle. Differences reveal support, feed, knife, or board-flatness problems before parts are cut to final size.
Final Verdict
Choose the DW735 if the planer will be a regular part of your workflow, especially when surface quality, throughput, and better chip handling matter. Choose the DW734 when you want a capable DeWalt bench planer for occasional projects and can accept one feed speed. Choose the DW735X only when its included spare knives cost less than buying the equivalent accessories separately.
Whichever model you select, budget for stable support, dust collection, and replacement knives. Those accessories and maintenance habits have a larger effect on smooth, flat boards than a small difference in headline specifications.