I am about to buy a (+/- 12 1/2″) portable thicknes planer and was pretty much set on one of the two Dewault models. I started looking into it and read a couple of seething reports which began to steer me towards perhaps a different make. I think my second choice would be the Makita. I am interested in hearing what anyone who has used one or both of these, or an altogether different make, has to say about the performance of them, I know the specifications for each. I intend to use it, currently, primarily for douglas fir and some maple.
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There's a review of portable thickness planers in either FHB or JLC within about the last three months. I like several brands. Unfortunately, my eight year old Delta won't die. I just replaced the blades and it works like new. On a new model, I would look for reduced snipe, a solid table extension, ease of raising and lowering the knives, easy blade change, and an accurate thickness scale that has reproducible results.
Thanks for the info. the comparison is in JLC's Sept. 04 magazine, I've found these type of head to head comparisons, when done by people who know what their doing, pretty informative and thus useful, I've ordered the back issue. I'll be interested to hear what their take is. I can post my abridged version if anyone is interested.
I have the original DeWalt... about 3 years old I think. Love it, never had a lick of trouble and blade changing is a snap.
I had the ryobi 10" planer until it died. It was a decent machine, but sniped pretty badly. But it was pretty easy to carry.
I currently have the Delta 13" planer, the newer one with 2 speeds.
It does a real nice job, but I wouldn't exactly call it portable ( OK, maybe if you're Hulk Hogan it is )
Fortunately, I don't take it to the job very much.
I have the new dewalt. I bought it because it was 20 percent of the regular price at the time which was $450. That was last year and I have only now started using it. I hate dewalt tools and this one is no exception. What are you going to be using it for? My needs are simply too much for a portable planer and I really need to own a stationary machine so part of my dislike of the machine is that it is not stationary. But to put it plainly, it has trouble planing 8 or 9 in wide boards when it is supposed to be a 13". As a point of reference I am planing beech (which is terribly hard) but even still... it is supposed to be a 13" planer. It is aggressively loud. Louder than anything in the world that I would ever want to stand next to. And for all that noise, it still doesn't cut wood like a crazed animal or something. The blades dull very quickly on hardwood stock. Yes you can flip them around but they are still $50 a set and carbide blades are not available because the blades are too thin to be carbide. The feed rollers are rubber and dry out so the stock sometimes slips in the machine. This is fixed by some sandpaper and hand lotion but I have yet to figure out a way to do this safely (that is cover the entire roller with hand lotion... it is not easily accessible).
My uncle has the rigid planer.... 13". Came out 2 or 3 years ago and is the first model they made. It cuts wood much better. Still a portable machine though still kind of heavy. Still not a stationary machine.
Here's my take. Machines that are intended to do more than one thing usually don't any of the multiple things very well at all (portable planer.... not very portable at 100 lbs and not a very good planer at 100 lbs either).
So again I ask, how do you intend to use this machine. I'll be selling the one I have and getting a yorkcraft for about $800. It's a 15" model available with carbide blades and portable enough when you put it on a mobile base.
Good luck with you decision,
Rob Kress
I have the newest 3 blade DeWalt DW735 and find it a great tool!
Has no in or out feed tables but I was planing 8'-10' 3/4" x 2 1/2" fine with out.
Surface is finished, bright and shiny with zero snipe. I've used only pro. floor model types in a shop atmosphere previously and while new this planer out performs them and they were good brands, Delta, Makita, others.
It's a rugged solid feeling tool that shoulod last for years. I know I read some bad reviews as well but it comes with a 30 or 90 no questions asked money back guarantee so push it for the first couple weeks and see what it does.
At roughly $100 more than the DW734 it's a great deal.
FHB/FWW Tools guide gives it the highest rating and best of class.
BTW Until recently I was no fan of DeWalt tools. I got sold on their belt sander by really comparing and looking close. Very well made machine with an innovative design. Same deal with the planer, a complete departure from other designs. DeWalts engineers/designers are to be commended. I'm impressed!
W
I agree that the engineers and designers went beyond the norm in developing the new planer but the fact still remains that it doesn't function as billed. It won't plane 13" stock (my rollers slip at about 7 inches and zero stock removal) and many have had drive gears break. I'm sure mine will and it's only a matter of time.
It's good to hear that you are having success with your machine. I hope that keeps up for you but this machine is definitely not a good one. So many dissatisfied users can't be wrong.
I'm sorry to be pushy about this and post a second reply but I have to stress again, this is an absolute no recommend in my book. I was even tempted by the belt sander (cause I need one really badly and their new one looks innovative and nice) but then I remember that I have literally hated every Dewalt tool I have ever used except for 2 (the miter saw stand and the bard nailer). Every other one, and I have used most of their line, simply sucks when run head to head with the other competing brands.
Rob Kress
Oh yea, and my miter saw stand broke after only 2 months of service.
Well... I agree somewhat. I've not been a huge fan of DW..But.... The belt sander is great, best balanced and more rugged than any others. I looked close and PC has plastic gears nowadays. A super well made machine My DW miter saw stand has been on about 30 jobs and is as good as new despite some scratches. The DW55155 compressor is also a great tool. I've nailed off roofs with a framing gun with one and it was fine. Easily shot a rack of 8s or 16s. The planer well I'm still on the first couple 100 bd ft so time will tell. I don't think your supposed to use the entire 13". Can the 12" plane 12"?? I recall using commercial machines and never jammed it up to full capacity. The boards could easily hang up on the rails. What's the widest you've planed? 12"? 12 1/2"? 9"? I've planed 10" no problem which was three boards and they all travelled at the same speed and came out perfect. Hey they give you 30 days no question asked return! I have a feeling folks have tried to hog 1/8" off a 12" hardwood board at 196 cut per inch setting and snapped a gear. I've seen planer abuse since the 1st day in a shop with knuckleheads pushing and pulling boards. These kinds of planers have limitations as well as assets. Bottom line is I give half my marks for a great tool 5 years down the road. Belt sander, Compressor and planer are 10s in my book so far. (Miter stand is great for the price..there are better).I've never used ones that work better on any level and as I said I've used commercial shop stationary machines. Let 'em break a couple times and I'll change my tune you can bet .Hope you have good luck with yours.W
We've had an older DeWalt planer (734?) until it died recently, and just got the newer one, 3-knife, large crank for the depth adjustment, etc. Not a bad machine as portable planers go, but I used to own a Boice-Crane 15" planer that I paid $750 for and it was a tank by comparison--all cast iron, 3 knives, nicely machined screws and ways, fast and clean cutting, would plane anything including chunks of concrete sidewalk, and it was already 40 years old when I got it. What happened to real machines? Now they're all plastic. Anyway, yeah, get a DeWalt, they're fine for what they are. If you use it carefully you can get some years out of it.
I have the Ridgid 13". It was voted as best machine a few years back in American Woodworker mag, and so I jumped. Love it. Very well made and easy to change blades. No trouble so far.
I've done some very good work with the Delta 13" two speed, but cannot offer any direct comparisons - sweet machine and I've seen it on sale recently...
Here's my 2 cents:
I had the older model Delta 12", using it for moderate hobby type work. It died while I was running some 5/4 birch through it...the bearing on the cutter head just died. I think it took a year.
After reading many reviews, I got the Makita. It was expensive, as far as portable planer go, and its price never really went down. Even now, 2 years later, the price is about the same. Anyway, I keep abusing it so it'd die so I could get some new fangled machine. I am at a more professional level usage now, but the thing works as well as the first day I got it. I've run some very hard exotics through it.
I really think its price is indicative of its quality of design and components. It's lightweight, quiter than any of the others, and I am never dissappointed with the cut.
I curious anyone own or know anything about the new hitachi I saw at blows. They also have a full size TS now too.
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