Great Deal on Dewalt DW735 Planer? Need one?

[Dan Clark]

Hi.  I love my Festools and they do almost everything I want to do with a very few exceptions.  The only major exception that I can't get past is thickness planing.  I've been thinking about getting a thickness planer for the past year.  Today, this post popped up -http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=55131 - discussing great deals on the Dewalt DW735 thickness planer.  I'm not a fan of Dewalt tools, but the DW735 has gotten great reviews. 

Questions:

- How do you deal with thickness planing?  Are there workarounds?

- Do any of you have a DW735?  What do you think of it? 

- Do you think this is a great deal?

- Is it feasible to use my CT22 with the D50 hose as a DC for this planer?  Anyone here do that?  Feasible if I attach a cyclone between my CT22 and a thickness planer?

Thanks for any feedback.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Dan Lyke]

I've got a nephew-out-law (we're not married...) who recently got a DeWalt 735, and I'm seriously lusting after one.

It's a fairly recent acquisition for him, so I don't know about longevity issues (I've heard of two things, an unexplained snipe that happens towards the end of blade life, and that the newer blades are a lot better), but at first blush it's awesome. Wouldn't want to use less than 400 grit sandpaper on the results 'cause it'd just rough up the surface...  ;D

The other cool thing is that I'm told (although I haven't seen this in action) that it's got an outflow fan on it powerful enough that you don't need a dust collector with it, just the (sold as an accessory) bag. Since a planer would fill up the bags on my little CT22 way fast, that's a feature that makes it additionally attractive.

 

[Lou Miller]

Just my $.02, but I wouldn't spend the money on a lunchbox planer unless shop space was a major issue. For not a whole lot more, you can get a 15" planer with an induction motor on it instead. The one I have has a mobile base built into it and moving it into a corner when not in use is very easy to do. I had a lunchbox for years and I'd never go back. There's no comparison between a lunchbox and a stationary planer, IMO. 

 

[clintholeman]

Hi.  I love my Festools and they do almost everything I want to do with a very few exceptions.  The only major exception that I can't get past is thickness planing.  I've been thinking about getting a thickness planer for the past year.  Today, this post popped up -http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=55131 - discussing great deals on the Dewalt DW735 thickness planer.  I'm not a fan of Dewalt tools, but the DW735 has gotten great reviews. 

Questions:

- How do you deal with thickness planing?  Are there workarounds?

- Do any of you have a DW735?  What do you think of it? 

- Do you think this is a great deal?

- Is it feasible to use my CT22 with the D50 hose as a DC for this planer?  Anyone here do that?  Feasible if I attach a cyclone between my CT22 and a thickness planer?

Thanks for any feedback.

Regards,

Dan.

Dan-

Workaround would be to use a hand plane.  I used to do it that way for years - it does take a little longer, but the results are just as good.

I have a DW735 which I like, but someone mentioned using a 15" with and induction motor and that makes a lot of sense to me.  Something like the Powermatic 15" would likely be a good candidate.  It is significantly more expensive - and not at all portable [if protablility to a job-site is important].

The biggest downside to the 735 is that is uses blades rather quickly.  It is easy to change them and they are double sided, but I figure a set of blades for every significant project.

I wouldn't try to hook up my CT-22.  The 735 has a good blower and I have a very sophisticated system where I use elastic cord to tie and 1 micron bag to the end of a hose.  It works for me - as good as my friends very expensive dust collector.  It is the only non-FesTool power tool I have

Sound attenuation is a must.  I use both earplugs and sound suppressors.  Everyone around knows when I fire that puppy up.

If you're budget driven - it is a very acceptable machine, IMO.  And a good value.

Have fun!

 

[Daviddubya]

...The biggest downside to the 735 is that is uses blades rather quickly...

Clint - I have seen posts that say Dewalt now has new blades that are supposed to last longer than the original blades.  Several folks have reported poor blade life to Dewalt and Dewalt sent a new set free.

Another source for higher quality blades for your DW735 is Infinity:
http://www.infinitytools.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HSSK-041

 

[clintholeman]

...The biggest downside to the 735 is that is uses blades rather quickly...

Clint - I have seen posts that say Dewalt now has new blades that are supposed to last longer than the original blades.  Several folks have reported poor blade life to Dewalt and Dewalt sent a new set free.

Another source for higher quality blades for your DW735 is Infinity:
http://www.infinitytools.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HSSK-041

Thanks!  I'll try some of the Infinity blades.  In truth, I often use a lot of very hard wood and all of my blades take a real beating.  I'm going to try sharpening the DeWalt blades - the guy I use thinks it may work - and he would charge me about $15. 

I appreciate the info!  Maybe I should whine to DeWalt about their blades and see if they'll send me a new set...

Have a great weekend!!

 

[Daviddubya]

Clint - One guy on Sawmill Creek says he is able to hone his DW735 blades and get two additional rounds of use from them.  As I recall he uses a sharpening machine, but takes off as little blade material as possible.  I asked my sharpening guy about it, and he does not try to sharpen them.  The trick, of course, is to get a sharp edge without removing an appreciable amount of the blade, since the blades are not adjustable.

 

[clintholeman]

Clint - One guy on Sawmill Creek says he is able to hone his DW735 blades and get two additional rounds of use from them.  As I recall he uses a sharpening machine, but takes off as little blade material as possible.  I asked my sharpening guy about it, and he does not try to sharpen them.  The trick, of course, is to get a sharp edge without removing an appreciable amount of the blade, since the blades are not adjustable.

You got it!  I'll talk to my sharpernext week - anything of note, I'll put up.

 

[Dan Clark]

Just my $.02, but I wouldn't spend the money on a lunchbox planer unless shop space was a major issue. For not a whole lot more, you can get a 15" planer with an induction motor on it instead. The one I have has a mobile base built into it and moving it into a corner when not in use is very easy to do. I had a lunchbox for years and I'd never go back. There's no comparison between a lunchbox and a stationary planer, IMO. 

Lou,

Shop space is a major issue for me.   I was thinking about mounting on some kind of stand like this.   That said...

What kind of planer you have and where did you get it.

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Dan Clark]

...
Workaround would be to use a hand plane.  I used to do it that way for years - it does take a little longer, but the results are just as good.

I have a DW735 which I like, but someone mentioned using a 15" with and induction motor and that makes a lot of sense to me.  Something like the Powermatic 15" would likely be a good candidate.  It is significantly more expensive - and not at all portable [if protablility to a job-site is important].

The biggest downside to the 735 is that is uses blades rather quickly.  It is easy to change them and they are double sided, but I figure a set of blades for every significant project.
...

Clint,

I thought using a plane, but all I have are a couple of block planes and a jack plane.  I think a decent jointer or fore plane would cost over $200.   

The Powermatic 15-inch planer on Amazon is over $1,400.  That's serious buckos.  Even this Grizzly 15" planer is $990!  I don't doubt that they are better, but that's some serious change.

Thinking... Thinking...

Thank,

Dan.

 

[Dan Clark]

...The biggest downside to the 735 is that is uses blades rather quickly...

Clint - I have seen posts that say Dewalt now has new blades that are supposed to last longer than the original blades.  Several folks have reported poor blade life to Dewalt and Dewalt sent a new set free.

Another source for higher quality blades for your DW735 is Infinity:
http://www.infinitytools.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HSSK-041

David,

Thanks for the link.  I"ver heard about the issue with the blades.  It's nice to know that there are options.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Corwin]

I wanted to get the DeWalt.  All the reviews looked great.  Most the customer reviews I found mentioned the blades as a problem.

Wish they had these other blade options earlier.  I chose another brand instead.  Somewhat sorry now with this news.

Corwin

 

[Lou Miller]

Just my $.02, but I wouldn't spend the money on a lunchbox planer unless shop space was a major issue. For not a whole lot more, you can get a 15" planer with an induction motor on it instead. The one I have has a mobile base built into it and moving it into a corner when not in use is very easy to do. I had a lunchbox for years and I'd never go back. There's no comparison between a lunchbox and a stationary planer, IMO. 

Lou,

Shop space is a major issue for me.   I was thinking about mounting on some kind of stand like this.   That said...

What kind of planer you have and where did you get it.

Thanks,

Dan.

I've got a Yorkcraft. Yorkcraft is only sold by Wilke. Wilkemachinery.com

Right now they are $699 (I forget what I paid for mine) at Wilke. Around Christmas time, they were a good bit less than that also. You do have to add in shipping, but you're getting a way better machine, IMO. The place you buy the machine from isn't important. All of the planers at this level are the same machine regardless of the name on them. Yorkcraft, Grizzly, Powermatic, Jet, Sunhill, etc. Buying the one that is the best price (delivered price, because shipping can be outrageous from some of these depending on where you are) is all that matters. They will all perform exactly the same. I've read lots of people say that the more expensive ones are different... nonsense! They're the same machine and you're only paying more for a name. The only differences are cosmetic and possibly customer service. The CS from places like Wilke is about as good as you can get though.

If you want to add a shelix head later on (or even get the head installed from whoever you buy it from), then you'd have one heck of a machine.

I'm not knocking the Dewalt or any other lunchbox. Its just that with the price of the low end stationary planers, the lunchboxes just don't seem to make much sense to me. The regular selling price of the Dewalt is what? $549???

 

[Daviddubya]

...The regular selling price of the Dewalt is what? $549???

Anyone that pays the regular selling price is not doing his/her homework.  This is not a Festool product - prices vary.  For example, one guy on Sawmill Creek just bought one for $385 after rebate, plus $32 for the extension tables.  That's a long way from $549.  Sears also had them on sale recently.  I got mine from Tools-Plus about three months ago for way less than the regular price.  If I had waited a couple of weeks, I would have had a $60 rebate instead of a free ROS.  Anyone want to buy a brand new Dewalt ROS?  Smile.

 

[Dan Clark]

Lou,

I have difficulty with the $550 price too, but when they drop into the $300's, then it starts making sense.    This 15" Yorkcraft is $699.  It looks like a very nice planer.   If the price difference was $150 ($699-$550), it would make sense to buy the Yorkcraft.  But at that price, I wouldn't buy either.  

I'm still thinkin', but I'm leaning towards buying the Dewalt.

Thanks and regards,

Dan.

 

[Dan Clark]

...The regular selling price of the Dewalt is what? $549???

Anyone that pays the regular selling price is not doing his/her homework.  This is not a Festool product - prices vary.  For example, one guy on Sawmill Creek just bought one for $385 after rebate, plus $32 for the extension tables.  That's a long way from $549.  Sears also had them on sale recently.  I got mine from Tools-Plus about three months ago for way less than the regular price.  If I had waited a couple of weeks, I would have had a $60 rebate instead of a free ROS.  Anyone want to buy a brand new Dewalt ROS?  Smile.

David,

I can't find a starting price of $500.  I just checked Home Depot.  There is a $75 discount + $60 rebate. But the starting price is $550, not $500. So the net price is $415 and NOT $365 or $385.  My target is in the mid $300's.

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[mysterium]

Dan,

I know room is an issue...

And $$$ are an issue...

But power is an issue... 

However going from a very functional "lunch box planer" and then move up to the power of a stationary planer...

You "wood"  ... have an issue going back to a "lunch box planer"...

For the extra $$$ you will send buying the stationary planer, you'll get a significate bang for the buck.

Listen to Lou... 

jim

 

[Daviddubya]

David,

I can't find a starting price of $500.  I just checked Home Depot.   There is a $75 discount + $60 rebate. But the starting price is $550, not $500. So the net price is $415 and NOT $365 or $385.   My target is in the mid $300's.

Thanks,

Dan.

Dan - Check out post #17 in this thread:
http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=55131

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Dan,
I have the DeWalt DW735 planer and I like it a lot.  As a matter of fact, I just got through planing all the hard maple for my new butcher-block counter top and it did a wonderful job!  As you probably know, it has two "modes": dimensioning and finishing.  I have used both modes and only see a slight difference, as the dimensioning mode leaves a glue-up-ready finish.  The controls are really smooth, with a nice big handwheel and an easy-to read ruler.

After running all the maple for my counter top, I finally had to switch the blades.  The blades are double-sided, so you get more use out of them.  A whole new set is expensive (about $50), so I am glad to hear that DeWalt has made them more long-lasting.

When I searched for a planer, I carefully compared the DW735 with the Ridgid, Delta, Makita, and other models.  In the end, it was a very close call between the Ridgid and the Dewalt.  I felt that the DW735 had just a bit more going for it.

This was my first planer, and I've learned a bit about planing while using it.  The DW735 is fairly expensive, especially if you outfit it, as I did, with the roller stand, outfeed tables, and dust bag.  Altogether, the package for me was about $620.  The dust bag does, at best, a decent job.  It does help with getting the majority of dust in one area, like a small garbage can, but when you remove the cover, a lot of the debris falls onto the floor.  Plus, it doesn't help too much with the finer dust.

Snipe is one of the issues that comes up with planers.  Since this was my first planer, I don't have anything to compare it to, but I have not had any problems with snipe.  The rollers pull the wood through nicely and the tables support stock well.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably go with a 15" or bigger planer, as some here have suggested.  I like the one Powermatic makes.  There have just been so many times when I could have used that extra 2" or 3".  But then again, if I had a 16" planer, I'd probably wish for a 20"...

The one thing to think about is blade changing.  With the DW735 it's unbelievably easy.  There are indexing tabs that put the blades right where you need them, aligned perfectly.  I think on some of the bigger planer, aligning the knives ends up being about the same as doing it in a jointer, and you know what a pain that can be.

Bottom line: The DW735 is definitely a nice planer, with really good blade changing and controls, but a bit on the expensive side.

By the way, I wrote a review of this planer on Amazon a while back, which can find by clicking here.

Matthew

 

[Matthew Schenker]

By the way, I have been toying with the idea of creating a sort of "non-Festool tool" board.  This discussion made me realize it's a good idea.

It's called "What Else is in Your Shop" and you can find it by clicking here.

Matthew