Machines and configurations to compare
DEWALT DW735
DEWALT currently lists the DW735 as 13 inches wide with 96/179 cuts-per-inch feed choices and automatic carriage lock.
Best when: you mill hardwood often and value two speeds plus strong chip ejection
Watch for: heavier and typically more expensive; tables are not included in the base DW735 package
DEWALT DW735X
The X version is fundamentally the DW735 with useful accessories bundled, making it attractive when the price gap is smaller than buying the tables separately.
Best when: you want the DW735 plus infeed/outfeed tables and spare knives
Watch for: bundle pricing varies and may be poor during some promotions
DEWALT DW734
The DW734 remains a capable three-knife 15A machine. Its long folding tables and manual carriage lock are well suited to a hobby workflow.
Best when: you mostly mill narrow stock and want a simpler, lighter machine
Watch for: 12½-inch limit, one 96-CPI feed rate and no DW735-style fan ejection
The half-inch width is not the main upgrade
Moving from 12½ to 13 inches is nice, but the DW735's two-speed gearbox is more important for frequent work. The 179-CPI finish mode produces more cuts per inch for final passes, while the faster setting moves stock efficiently during dimensioning.
Fan-assisted chip ejection changes dust handling
The DW735 actively throws chips from the cutterhead. That helps keep the machine clear but can overwhelm a small shop-vac setup. Pair it with appropriate hose/collection rather than assuming the fan replaces a collector.
Snipe management differs
DEWALT gives the DW735 an automatic carriage lock; the DW734 uses a four-column carriage lock. Proper board support and shallow final passes still matter on either machine.
The DW734 is easier to justify for surfaced lumber
If you mostly buy S3S/S4S boards and only need to sneak up on final thickness, the DW734's single feed rate is not a meaningful hardship.
The DW735 has the larger aftermarket
Helical cutterhead upgrades, stands, tables and dust adapters are widely available. That matters if you plan to keep the planer for a decade and improve it instead of replacing it.
Flat, straight and parallel are three different jobs
A jointer establishes one flat face and one straight, square reference edge. A thickness planer makes the opposite face parallel to the reference face while bringing the board to final thickness. A planer does not magically remove twist from a board that has no flat reference surface, and a jointer does not make two faces parallel. Understanding that division of labor is the key to buying milling machines in the right order.
There are workarounds: planer sleds can flatten a face, router sleds can flatten slabs, and a table saw can straighten some edges with jigs. Those techniques are useful in a small shop, but they trade machine cost for setup time. If rough lumber is part of your weekly workflow, dedicated milling machines eventually pay for themselves in repeatability.
Cutterhead choice changes noise and maintenance
Straight knives are inexpensive, widely available and can leave an excellent finish when sharp. Helical or segmented carbide heads spread the cut across many small inserts, tend to reduce tearout in difficult grain and let you rotate one damaged insert rather than replacing a whole knife. The trade is cost: a helical upgrade can be a substantial fraction of the machine's purchase price.
Do not buy a helical head because it is fashionable. Buy it if you mill figured hardwood, hate knife-setting, need lower perceived cutting noise, or plan to keep the machine long enough to recover the cost through insert rotation and reduced tearout.
Before checkout
- Machine fits the room with infeed and outfeed clearance
- Electrical circuit matches voltage and amperage requirements
- Dust port size matches the collection plan
- Guards, riving knife or cutter guards are present and usable
- Replacement blades, knives, inserts or belts are readily available
- Fence/table adjustments lock without visible deflection
- Mobile base or fixed placement is decided before assembly
- Noise and dust strategy are acceptable for the building
- Warranty and freight-return terms are understood
- First accessory budget includes blades/bits, dust adapters and work support
The hidden costs that belong in the machine budget
Cutters and consumables: the included blade, belt, knives or bits are often only a starting point. A premium ripping/crosscut blade, resaw blade, router bit or carbide inserts can materially change the machine. Put that cost in the first-day budget rather than judging the machine forever on the stock consumable.
Work support: long stock needs infeed/outfeed support; sheet goods need a breakdown surface; benchtop machines need a rigid stand or cabinet. Many disappointing machine purchases are really support-system problems.
Dust adapters and hose: machines rarely arrive with exactly the fitting your collector uses. Budget gates, reducers, short flex connections and, where appropriate, above-table or near-cutter pickup.
Electrical and mobility: a 230V circuit, mobile base or dedicated switch can change total installed cost significantly. A machine that blocks the shop when not in use has a real daily cost even if the invoice was cheap.
How to evaluate it in the first week
Before changing the factory setup aggressively, assemble the machine carefully, verify guards, check the table/fence/cutter relationships specified in the manual and make test cuts on known straight stock. Record the baseline. If a cut is wrong, diagnose one variable at a time: blade or cutter condition, fence alignment, table support, feed technique, dust buildup, then machine adjustment. Replacing several settings at once makes it harder to learn what the machine actually needed.
Keep the shipping material until the machine passes inspection. Large stationary tools are expensive to return by freight, and visible shipping damage should be documented before the crate or box disappears. Register the warranty, save the model/serial number and download the current manual; five years later those small administrative steps are surprisingly valuable.
Frequently asked questions
Do both use 15A 120V power?
Yes, current DEWALT specs list both as 15A corded 120V planers.
What are the DW735 feed speeds?
DEWALT lists two feed settings corresponding to 96 or 179 cuts per inch.
Is the DW735X a different planer?
It is the DW735 packaged with infeed/outfeed tables and an extra set of knives.
Which is better for figured hardwood?
The DW735's slower finish feed helps, but a helical cutterhead or very light passes can further reduce tearout.
Primary references
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