UPDATED Help with Dewalt DW735 Planer

[sl_1800]

I know this is the forum for Festool euipment but I was hoping someone could give me some advice about my new dewalt dw735 planer.  I just purchased it at Home Depot and it won't raise or lower, crank on the handle as hard as you want but no movement more than a 1/8 revolution of the handle.  I was hoping there was some type of lock or such that I just don't know about???

And yes I'm ordering a Festool 55 plunge saw and vac tomorrow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Eli]

The DW734 has a manual bar lock, It's a black bar that flips up and down, but I think the 735 is an automatic lock. Make sure you don't force it. I'd check the manual to make sure there isn't some kind of shipping lock that needs to be released.

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

I don't remember having to do anything to mine other than attach the depth adjustment crank handle. Have you checked to make sure that the allen screw for it isn't protruding thru and hanging up on something? Aha, there's a turret stop, manual page 6. Check it out. It can have a bearing on your problem. They warn you not to force the crank handle below the level that the turret stop indicates. Any help?

Mike

 

[sl_1800]

Thanks for the advice guys.  There is no lock on the 735 so that is not the problem, yet the unit is still locked.  Also the turret stop is set at 1/4 and the guage is showing 1 3/4 so it is well above the stop yet won't move up or down !!!!

 

[chughes]

I had the same problem with the same tool this summer.  I loaned the planer out and when it can back it was FUBAR.  Upon inspection I found that the handle for the height adjustment is connected to a gear that is in turn connected to a chain that runs around the outside of all four lift post in the corners of the machine.  The chain runs through a tensioner located under main cover on the infeed side of the tool.  If any of this is misaligned the result will be a failure to sinc the gears that lift and lower.  On a positive note, the big box vender replaced to tool no questions asked. 

 

[cdconey]

I ended up going thru 4 of them before I got one that wasn't broken.  I'd guess that it was likely damaged in transit.  One of mine did the same thing you are describing, but the box was damaged.  I'd exchange it if it were mine.

 

[Eli]

As I said, I had the DW734, and it was pretty good for me. It has a slightly smaller capacity, but it is a lot more portable which is why I got that instead. The lock was engaged by a bar that flipped up and down, still locked all the uprights. I ran a lot of junk through that and it took it no prob.

I have the Makita now and it. is. good.
Not as fancified, but pretty bombproof.

PS-once I had to thickness a 16' board in a space that was only 20' in length. So I ratchet strapped the planer to my skateboard and let it travel down the board.

 

[sl_1800]

Thanks guys, I'm taking the thing back to HomeDepot tomorrow!!!!!!!

 

[sl_1800]

FWIW I returned the Dewalt today and bought a Rigid R4330.  So far it is working really well other than a little snipe.  I need to adjust the infeed and outfeed tables to see if this makes any difference.

 

[poto]

I just got the R4330 as well. Let me know how the anti-snipe adjustments go with the infeed and outfeed tables. I haven't found the perfect solution yet...

 

[mastercabman]

if the ridgid doesn't do it for you,i would look at the makita.
just like eli said,real nice result ,very happy with it.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

PS-once I had to thickness a 16' board in a space that was only 20' in length. So I ratchet strapped the planer to my skateboard and let it travel down the board.

Very ingenious, Eli!!

Dave R.

 

[sl_1800]

I'm still working on the snipe issue.  I made sure the infeed table and and outfeed tables are level with the deck under the cutter head and it still has some snipe which can be taken care of with a sander.  The owners manual claims you can get snipe from not having the unit mounted on a solid stable surface.  Mine is not mouted as of yet so I wonder if that will have any affect.

 

[Eli]

PS-once I had to thickness a 16' board in a space that was only 20' in length. So I ratchet strapped the planer to my skateboard and let it travel down the board.

Very ingenious, Eli!!

Dave R.

Ta!

 

[clintholeman]

I would love to see pix of the planer on a skate board!!! ;D ;D ;D

Made me laugh so hard it hurt! 

 

[Eli]

I still have the skateboard, but not the planer. I've got much more room outside than I used to have at my old house too! I'll take a picture for you if I have to do it again. I'm sure there will be some sort of new space thing going on, my new shop is a no cat swing zone.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I'm still working on the snipe issue.  I made sure the infeed table and and outfeed tables are level with the deck under the cutter head and it still has some snipe which can be taken care of with a sander.  The owners manual claims you can get snipe from not having the unit mounted on a solid stable surface.  Mine is not mouted as of yet so I wonder if that will have any affect.

Try taking the ends of the in/outfeed tables up past level, not much, a 1/32" or maybe a 1/16".

 

[Michael Kellough]

I would love to see pix of the planer on a skate board!!! ;D ;D ;D

Made me laugh so hard it hurt! 

That is VERY funny! But, is is also a VERY clever idea. Good one Eli!

 

[Michael Kellough]

I'm still working on the snipe issue.  I made sure the infeed table and and outfeed tables are level with the deck under the cutter head and it still has some snipe which can be taken care of with a sander.  The owners manual claims you can get snipe from not having the unit mounted on a solid stable surface.  Mine is not mounted as of yet so I wonder if that will have any affect.

Try taking the ends of the in/outfeed tables up past level, not much, a 1/32" or maybe a 1/16".

In addition to raising the ends of the tables you should support, even lift the loose end of board, to counteract the lifting force of the cutter head. Basically you force the leading end of the board down using the in-feed roller as a fulcrum. The longer the board the more you need to lift up. You can use roller support stands jacked up higher than the planer bed but stand by to hold the board as it rolls off the stand or you can get a little snipe when the board springs.

You also need to provide more than level support for the leading edge when the planer is about to finish with the board.

 

[Fred West]

Eli, sane or not that is an ingenious use of a skateboard.  :

I have a Craftsman palner and almost always lift the boards up slightly to a lot depending on length and consequently get almost no snipe. Good luck with everything. Fred