What's inside
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What we cover
The Short Answer
If you want the best DeWalt benchtop planer for a small workshop, the DW735X is the pick for most woodworkers: its two-speed gearbox, fan-assisted chip ejection, and included infeed/outfeed tables meaningfully reduce snipe and tear-out versus the cheaper DW734, which remains the right choice if you’re on a tighter budget, plane shorter boards, or need to save roughly 12 pounds of carry weight.
The Three Models That Matter
DeWalt’s benchtop lineup in 2026 is still anchored by three SKUs that share a cutterhead philosophy but differ in gearing, accessories, and capacity:
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- DW734 — 12-1/2″ planer, three-knife cutterhead, single feed speed, disposable reversible knives.
- DW735 — 13″ planer, two-speed gearbox (finish vs. dimensioning), fan-assisted chip ejection, automatic carriage lock.
- DW735X — identical machine to the DW735, bundled with infeed/outfeed tables and an extra set of knives.
Note that the “X” suffix changes nothing about the planer itself — it’s purely a bundle. If you already own or plan to build support tables, the bare DW735 is the same machine.
Spec Comparison
| Spec | DW734 | DW735 / DW735X |
|---|---|---|
| Max planing width | 12-1/2″ | 13″ |
| Max stock thickness | 6″ | 6″ |
| Max depth of cut | 1/8″ | 1/8″ (3/32″ recommended above 9-1/2″ width) |
| Motor | 15A, 20,000 RPM | 15A, 20,000 RPM |
| Cutterhead speed | 10,000 RPM | 10,000 RPM |
| Knives | 3, double-edge disposable | 3, double-edge disposable |
| Feed rate | 26 ft/min (single speed) | 14 ft/min (finish) / 26 ft/min (dimensioning) |
| Cuts per inch | 96 CPI | 179 CPI or 96 CPI |
| Chip ejection | Gravity port; 4″ dust hose recommended | Fan-assisted blower; can blow chips without a collector |
| Carriage lock | Manual four-post lock | Automatic (engages when cutterhead is set) |
| Weight | ~80 lbs | ~92 lbs |
| Folding tables included | No | DW735X only |
| Typical street price (general range) | Low-to-mid $400s | Mid $500s / upper $600s for the X bundle |
Head-to-Head on What Actually Matters
Finish quality and feed speeds
The DW735’s two-speed gearbox is the biggest real-world difference. At the slower 14 ft/min setting, knives hit the surface 179 times per inch, which visibly reduces scalloping and tear-out on figured maple, cherry, and oak. The DW734’s single 96 CPI rate is fine for dimensioning but often leaves a surface you still need to sand or scrape. If you sell finished work or hate sanding, that alone justifies the price gap.
Snipe control
Every benchtop lunchbox planer can snipe — the question is how much work it takes to prevent it. The DW735’s automatic carriage lock keeps the cutterhead from rocking when the board’s unsupported ends lift the feed rollers. The DW734’s four-post lock works but must be engaged manually each pass, which people forget. On either machine, snipe control also depends on support: boards over about 3 feet need infeed/outfeed support, which is why the DW735X bundle is often smarter than buying the bare DW735 and improvising roller stands.
Chip management and noise
The DW735’s built-in blower ejects chips forcefully enough to work without a dust collector — you can even run it outdoors with a bag or hose directed into a bin. The downside: it’s loud. Expect roughly 95+ dB under load with the blower running, versus the mid-80s for the DW734 on a collector. In a basement or shared-wall shop, hearing protection is non-negotiable on either, but the DW735 is notably more aggressive. The blower also means chips travel fast — a loose hose clamp will spray your shop in seconds.
Portability
Both are nominally “benchtop,” but 92 lbs with sharp edges is a two-hand commitment. If the planer lives on a rolling stand or gets carried to job sites, the DW734’s lighter weight and lower profile are a genuine advantage. The DW735 is better understood as a small stationary machine that happens to be liftable — it shines on a dedicated stand like DeWalt’s DW7350 mobile base, which adds another ~30 lbs but makes it a true move-it-with-one-hand setup.
Decision Matrix: Which One for Your Shop
| Your situation | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget under ~$450, mostly hobby work and short boards | DW734 | Saves ~$150-200; single speed is acceptable if you sand anyway |
| Small shop, no dedicated dust collector | DW735X | Blower ejects chips on its own; included tables cut snipe |
| Working with figured or interlocked grain regularly | DW735 or DW735X | 179 CPI finish pass is the whole point |
| Planer must travel or be stored on a shelf | DW734 | ~12 lbs lighter, slimmer body |
| Already have outfeed support and spare knives | DW735 (bare) | X bundle duplicates what you own |
| Long boards (6 ft+) for furniture or tabletops | DW735X | Folding tables matter more than any spec-sheet number here |
Ownership Realities the Listing Won’t Tell You
Knives are the main consumable. The double-edge disposable knives run roughly $40-60 per set of three. Each edge typically lasts through a modest hobbyist’s few months of use in hardwoods — less if you hit knots or dirty reclaimed lumber. The practical habit: check for nicks by holding a straightedge across a freshly planed board; a ridge means one knife is chipped and you flip or replace all three together (they index on pins, so it’s a 15-minute job with the included tool). Never plane painted, stained, or demolition lumber — one hidden nail costs a whole set.
Feed rollers and the blower housing get ignored. Pitch buildup on the rollers causes boards to slip mid-pass, which reads as random snipe but isn’t. A rag with mineral spirits every few sessions fixes it. On the DW735, the chip blower’s shroud clogs with wet or resinous stock (pine is the usual culprit) — you’ll hear the chip stream weaken before it jams.
Common mistakes: taking full 1/8″ passes on wide hardwood (the motor bogs, the board stalls, the knives burnish); sending boards through twisted instead of face-jointing first (a planer makes boards thinner, not flatter — it copies the reference face); and forgetting to lock the DW734’s carriage before the first pass of a session.
Is it worth stepping up to a helical head? Aftermarket helical cutterheads exist for the DW735 in the $400-500 range. The math: quieter cuts, far better on figured grain, and carbide inserts rotate instead of being replaced. If you plane more than a few hundred board feet of hardwood a year, it pays back within a couple of knife cycles. For occasional use, stock knives are fine.
FAQ
Will the DW735 replace a jointer?
No. It makes the top face parallel to whatever the bottom face is doing — it can’t remove twist or bow without a flattening jig or sled. For rough lumber, you still need a jointer, a sled, or a hand plane to establish the first flat face.
How loud is too loud for a garage shop?
The DW734 on a dust collector sits around the mid-80s dB — loud but tolerable for neighbors in a detached garage. The DW735’s blower pushes it into the mid-90s; in an attached or shared-wall space, plan your sessions accordingly and always wear hearing protection.
DW735 vs. DW735X — is the bundle worth it?
The tables and extra knives bought separately cost more than the typical $50-80 bundle premium. Unless you have a specific custom table setup planned, buy the X.
Bottom Line
Buy the DW734 if budget or portability drives the decision and you accept sanding after planing. Buy the DW735X if this planer will see regular use — the finish speed, carriage lock, blower, and included tables solve the four most common benchtop planer complaints (tear-out, snipe, chips, and setup friction) in one box. The bare DW735 is only the right call when the X’s accessories would be redundant.