My customer wants wainscoting in his bathroom. Ive built it before and i’m looking forward to building it again but when I built my own i did not use a thinckness planer and you can tell where the boards come together. This will be unacceptable for my customer so I guess its time for a thinckness planer. I was looking at the Dewalt 735 13″ planer. Do any of you guys have one and if so is it worth the cost? I generally try to buy the best tool I can afford since I figure i’ll have it for a long time and it will be used. So, whats your opinion on this tool? I’ve heard good things about it, does anyone have any real world experience with this tool?
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MSA1
I have the 13" Delta, I dont think its any better/worse than the Dewalt. But remember they are just portable planners.
We have a 18" Powermatic at work, it is much better!
Depends on what you plan on doing with it and how much.
Doug
Their have been some problems with the gearing on the default. Some guys have complained on another site I go to http://www.woodworking.org default may have corrected the problem by now. But I have the delta and I love it.
Darkworksite4:
El americano pasado hacia fuera ase la bandera
I don"t have any experience with the thickness planers mentioned but The Journal of Light Construction in this months issue has a review whih may be useful.
Greg in connecticut
I had to sell my old Rockwell 15" a number of years ago, a great planer but too big & heavy. I did some homework about 3 years ago and the magazines at the time came up with the Ridgid as the best buy. I had used the Dewalt and thought it was not bad but I bit and bought the Ridgid. I must say it has done very well over the last 3 years surpassing my expectations. The knives are very easy to replace and it can be taken apart and adjusted easier than others I have worked with. The Dewalt is not a bad choice however, and the Delta that I used maybe 6 years ago was horrible. They have since improved on it no doubt.
jer
There are three different Delta portable planners.
Maybe the one you used was the original, not the best of planners. The second and third Delta's are much better.
You're right about that now that I think of it. Unfortunately it was the only Delta portable I ever used.
I have the older model 12-1/2" Dewalt and its a great tool. FHB did a test a few months back and rated the nwer Dewalt #1 hands down. I think when you look at the top of the line tools by each company, Dewalt, Delta, etc., there will probably be little difference in the quality. I agree, I'd rather have a big Powermatic any day, though.
bought a Delta 13" two speed three years ago - very sweet - sharp blades (10 minute change, double edged disposibles, ~$35 for a set - no adjusting), slow feed, and no sanding is necessary - most places sell for about $400 - I've never regretted it..
perhaps the Dewalt is as good, wish I could comment on it...