What's inside
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
The DeWalt DW735X is the version of DeWalt’s 13-inch two-speed benchtop planer worth buying for most people, because the “X” bundle adds infeed/outfeed tables and an extra set of knives that meaningfully reduce snipe and lower your cost of ownership over the first few years. If you’re trying to decide whether the dewalt 735x planer justifies its price over cheaper 12.5-inch machines, the short answer is yes for anyone planing hardwoods regularly, and probably no if you only flatten the occasional softwood board.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
What we cover
What the DW735X Actually Is
The DW735X is a 13-inch, three-knife, two-speed thickness planer built around a 15-amp motor. Unlike many benchtop planers that lock the cutterhead to the chassis, the DW735 uses a four-column carriage lock design that keeps the head rigid during the cut — the main reason it controls snipe better than most of its competitors. The “X” designation is purely a bundle: the base DW735 is the same machine without the extra tables and spare knives.
| Spec | DW735X Detail |
|---|---|
| Motor | 15 amp, 120V |
| Max planing width | 13 inches |
| Max planing height | 6 inches |
| Min stock length | ~12 inches |
| Cutterhead | 3 knives, 10,000 RPM |
| Feed speeds | 96 or 179 cuts per inch (two-speed gearbox) |
| Depth removal per pass | Up to 1/8 inch |
| Weight | ~92 lbs |
| Footprint | ~24 x 22 in. base; roughly 42 in. wide with tables extended |
| Knives | Disposable, double-edged, reversible (2 sets included) |
| Included extras | Infeed and outfeed tables, spare knife set, dust hose adapter |
Cutting Performance
The two-speed gearbox is the feature that separates the dewalt planer 735x from single-speed rivals. At 179 cuts per inch the machine feeds fast and removes material quickly for rough dimensioning; switching to 96 CPI slows the feed and produces a noticeably finer finish on figured or interlocked grain. In practice, you rough out on fast speed and take your final pass on slow — a workflow that eliminates a lot of sanding.
The 15-amp motor handles full-width passes in hard maple and oak at shallow depths without bogging. Where users push it too far is taking the maximum 1/8-inch cut on 13-inch-wide hardwood — the machine will do it, but the finish suffers and the circuit breaker may complain. Two passes at 1/16 inch produces better results and is easier on the knives.
One limitation worth knowing: the knives are disposable rather than resharpenable. They’re reversible, so you get two edges per set, and the DW735X ships with a spare set — effectively four edges of cutting life before you buy replacements. On knotty or reclaimed lumber, expect to flip or swap knives sooner; one hidden nail can nick all three knives and leave a raised line on every board until you offset or replace them.
Snipe Control
Snipe — the deeper cut at the first and last few inches of a board — is the biggest complaint with benchtop planers, and it’s where the DW735’s carriage lock earns its keep. Engage the locking lever after setting depth and the head can’t flex under feed pressure, which reduces snipe dramatically compared to unlocked designs.
Realistic expectations: the lock reduces snipe rather than eliminating it. The included infeed and outfeed tables help more than most people expect because they support the board level through the cut. To minimize snipe further:
- Always attach both tables and confirm they’re level with the planer bed.
- Plane boards slightly long and trim the ends afterward.
- Lift the trailing end slightly as the board enters, and the leading end as it exits.
- Feed boards back-to-back so each board supports the next.
Noise and Dust Collection
The DW735X is loud — louder than lunchbox-style competitors — because its blower-assisted chip ejection runs constantly. Plan on hearing protection as a requirement, not a suggestion. It’s a machine you run when the neighbors are out.
The chip ejection system is genuinely good, though. The built-in fan actively blows chips out the port, and with a 4-inch dust collector hose (or the included adapter on a shop vac), the machine ejects almost everything — it can push chips through a surprising length of hose. The common mistake is running it with no dust collection at all: chips will pack into the shroud or blow back at you. Budget for a hose and a decent extractor; this isn’t a planer that tolerates poor dust management.
Capacity and Benchtop Footprint
At roughly 92 pounds, this is a “benchtop” planer you’ll want on a dedicated stand or mobile base — not something you lift on and off a shelf. The flip-up tables extend the working footprint to around 42 inches wide and you need clearance in front and behind for board travel; plan for at least 8 feet of infeed-outfeed room for typical lumber, more for long stock. Small shops should measure before buying, because the footprint rivals some entry-level stationary machines.
Should You Buy It? A Decision Matrix
| Your Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Weekend hobbyist, softwood and plywood projects, tight budget | A cheaper 12.5-inch planer covers your needs; the DW735X is more machine than required |
| Regular hardwood work, furniture building, want near-finish-quality surfaces | DW735X — the slow speed and carriage lock pay for themselves in sanding time saved |
| Small shop, limited space | Measure first; the working footprint is large. A smaller planer plus hand planes may fit better |
| High volume, wide boards, daily use | Consider a 15-inch stationary planer with a helical head instead — knife costs add up at volume |
| Debating DW735 vs DW735X | Buy the X. The tables and spare knives cost more separately than the bundle difference |
Ownership Costs and What Wears First
The realistic running cost is knives. A quick example: if a replacement knife set runs in the general range of $40–60 and you get through three edges a year (flipping included sets), that’s roughly $50–90 annually for a hobbyist — reasonable, but not zero, and heavy reclaimed-lumber users will spend more. Beyond knives:
- Feed rollers: the first wear item on most units; keep them clean with mineral spirits to maintain grip and avoid planer stalls.
- Drive chain and gears: lubricate per the manual; neglected chains cause uneven feeding.
- Bed wax: paste wax on the bed reduces feed effort noticeably — a five-minute job that owners often skip.
- Common mistakes: planing boards under 12 inches (kickback risk), skipping the carriage lock, taking full-depth passes on wide hardwood, and never cleaning pitch off the rollers.
FAQ
Is the DW735X worth it over the DW735?
For most buyers, yes — the infeed/outfeed tables and extra knife set usually cost more purchased separately than the price difference between the two bundles.
Can the knives be resharpened?
They’re designed as disposable, though some owners resharpen them as a stopgap. Fresh knives are the reliable fix for nick lines and dull-surface tearing.
Does it need a dedicated circuit?
A 15-amp circuit shared with a dust collector can trip under heavy loads. A dedicated 20-amp circuit is the safer setup if you have the option.
For hobbyists and serious woodworkers who plane hardwoods regularly, the dewalt 735x planer remains one of the strongest benchtop options in 2026 — excellent finish quality and snipe control, loud and heavy, with ongoing knife costs you should budget for from day one.