DeWalt DW735 vs DW735X – Which Wood Planer is Best?

Dereck Wood planer 0

Our review looks at two DeWalt wood planers which are practically identical to one another. These are the DW735 and the DW735x. In this case, the ‘x’ stands for the extra pack of cutting blades (knives) that come with the DW735x power tool. However, both a pretty decent planers that appeal to both home DIYers and experienced professional tradesmen a like.

They provide a dual planing speed feature which is particularly useful when you are working with rough surfaced or tough wood work pieces.

Both wood planers have a base / table that is made from cast iron to provide greater rigidity and improved stability. They also come with some other nice to have functions and features that mean setting up the power tools and operating them are easy and keep you safe.

We would not particularly recommend any of these two wood planers for heavy commercial use however. Smaller, occasional jobs or the odd surfacing job are the upper limits for these particular power tools.

If you are wanting to do commercial grade jobs then we recommend purchasing a larger machine instead of any of these two DeWalt wood planers. Something like the Axminster Trade AT260SPT Spiral Planer Thicknesser is ideal for more heavy duty industrial work.

Also, those home DIYers / beginners with only an infrequent requirement to cut down the thickness of their work pieces should go for something like the DeWalt DW734 instead of one of these two wood planers.

If you are a fan of DeWalt power tools then check out their best table saws like the DWE7480.

DeWalt DW735

Table of Contents

This model comes with a 13 inch width capacity and dual speed capability. Its powerful 15 amp motor is able to generate up to 20,000 RPM and can easily handle larger cuts. The DW735’s cutter head is armed with three knives to deliver a 30% longer life span of the knife. It also means that knife changes can be made much faster.

It comes with a gear box that has two speeds meaning that the feed speed can be changed to make cuts at 179 or 96 cuts per inch.

Pros

Comes with lots of different features
A dual speed gear box makes light work of tough work pieces

Cons

Extension table does not come as standard

Check out the price of the DeWalt DW735

DeWalt DW735x

This model comes with a 13 inch width capacity and dual speed capability. Its powerful 15 amp motor is able to generate up to 20,000 RPM and can easily handle larger cuts. The DW735x’s cutter head is armed with three knives to deliver a 30% longer life of the knife. It also means that knife changes can be made much faster.

The wood planer has a wood chip ejection vacuum system that is assisted by a fan to ensure that any wood chips are directed towards the ground and do not shoot off in all directions causing injury. It comes with a gear box that has two speeds meaning that the feed speed can be changed to make cuts at 179 or 96 cuts per inch.

This model of wood planer comes with a couple of extras that are essential; an out feed and an infeed extension table and a replacement set of knives. The extra tables work to dramatically improve the operators ability to keep their work piece in a completely flat position at all times.

The replacement set of knives reduce the amount of downtime when the cutting blades dull and require changing as there is no need to visit the store or go online to get some new ones – it can, instead, be done instantly.

Pros

Easy to read the gauges
Comes with a spare set of knives and extension tables

Cons

A higher cost than the DW735

Check out the price of the DeWalt DW735x

Specifications of Each Model

120 Volts
15 Amps
13 Inch width capacity
1/8 Inch maximum depth of cut
6 Inch depth capacity
20,000 RPM motor no load speed
10,000 RPM cutter head no load speed
92 Pounds weight
179 and 96 Cuts per inch dual speed gear box

What Are The Main Differences Between the DeWalt DW735 vs DW735x?

As we have already stated, there is only one difference between these two wood planers, and that is the fact that the DW735x power tool comes with an extra set of cutting blades.

To highlight the similarity, and lack of differences, between the two models, we have taken a closer look at them and done a comparison. What is clear from doing this is that both are highly capable power tools when correctly used.

Performance – Tied

The movement that causes snipe is reduced thanks to an automatic carriage lock system. The operator has the ability to choose between two feed speeds depending on the size of the work piece thanks to a dual speed gearbox.

Wood chips are pushed to the floor and away from the cutter head thanks to a fan assisted wood chip ejection system. A 30% increased knife life span thanks to a three knife cutter head. The operator can simply set a precise cutting depth thanks to the extra large gauges.

The cast aluminium base gives greater stability. The operator can pre set the most frequently used thicknesses thanks to extra large turret depth stops.

Price – The DeWalt DW735

The DW735 is the cheaper option out of the two models. This is because it does not come with the replacement set of knives or the extension tables. Our recommendation is to shop around and try to source those two items to see if buying them separately, along with the DW735, works out cheaper than simply buying the DW735x on its own.

Durability – Tied

These wood planers come in a rugged yet compact design. A longer life and increased rigidity are promised as a result of their cast aluminium bases. Their housing works to reduce any debris and / or dust getting inside the power tool which helps to keep it in good working order.

Design – Tied

Both are easy to operate with oversized controls that are easy to see. The possibility of snipe is reduced thanks to the wood planers automatic carriage lock which stops the operator from forgetting to manually set it.

What Others Say About the DeWalt DW735 vs DW735x

As stated throughout this review, the only real difference is the replacement knives and extra tables that come with the DW735x. In this section of our review, we are going to look at some of the bad and some of the good parts about the DeWalt wood planers, as well as some comments about the accessories that come as standard with the DW735x.

In general, these two power tools are very well rated by those individuals who have purchased and used them. Here is what owners from a number of other reviews had to say:

“Beautiful finish! This comes up time and again. With the 179 CPI setting, it is easy to see why they are getting a buttery smooth surface.”

“Ease of use comes up regularly. A lot of new users comment on how easy they find it to use which bodes well for those of you looking for a planer who have not used one before. Experienced users also comment on the ease of use which often centers around control and gauge size.”

“The ability to handle just about anything the user can feed it completes the trifecta for this tool. Hardwood, softer wood, rough finish or dimensioned on all sides and in need of thinning. When a tool does what people expect, or a bit more, you end up with satisfied users. This is the case for the DW735 and DW735x.”

However, it was not all positive, below are some examples of reviews from customers that were not completely satisfied with their power tool:

“For these two DeWalt models, a common gripe is that it takes more passes to reduce a piece of hardwood than it does on other tools they’ve used before.”

“The knives reportedly dull rapidly and are expensive to replace. When the blades dull, the finish of the wood suffers, and the tool works harder.”

“Working harder leads to the thermal protection for the motor tripping. This can be a problem when it happens mid-board. Depending upon the planer head position, it can take some doing to free up the stock.”

“Last, snipe is reported, mainly when the tool is used without the extension tables.”

Conclusion

Because the two models are so similar, there is no poor choice when choosing between these two wood planers – you can not go wrong no matter which one you go for. Both the DW735 and the DW735x wood planer power tools produce high quality results. They are also both easy to use and set up, and come with more features than you would expect at this price point.

If you are able to afford the extra cost, then we would recommend going for the DeWalt DW735x. This is because it comes with the set of replacement cutting blades for when the others dull and the extension tables.