DeWalt 13 in. Three-Knife Two-Speed Thickness Planer

First impressions and setup

I put the DeWalt 13-inch planer to work on a cabinet build and a handful of end-grain cutting boards, and it didn’t take long to understand why this machine is so popular in small shops. It’s a hefty benchtop unit (about 92 pounds) with a rigid cast aluminum base and included folding infeed/outfeed tables. The weight and footprint give it a planted, vibration-free feel. Setup was straightforward: bolt on the tables, attach the dust chute, check that the tables are co‑planar with the bed, and you’re ready. The crank, depth scale, turret stops, and material removal gauge are all large and easy to see.

Controls, calibration, and repeatability

The height adjustment is satisfyingly precise, and the turret depth stop makes returning to common thicknesses (1/2, 3/4, 1 in.) quick and consistent. I treat the material removal gauge as a guide rather than gospel; like most lunchbox planers, the best results come from “sneaking up” on final size. I’ll lower the bed until the board just kisses the knives, take a test pass, then use quarter-turn increments on the crank for subsequent cuts. The automatic carriage lock is seamless—no extra lever to fuss with—and it meaningfully reduces deflection and snipe when the machine is set up well.

Power, speed choices, and surface quality

With a 15-amp motor driving a three-knife head at 10,000 RPM, the planer has the power to dimension hard maple without bogging if you keep passes reasonable. The two-speed gearbox is genuinely useful: I use the faster feed for initial stock removal and flip to the slower feed for final passes. On the slower feed (higher cuts-per-inch), the surface is impressively clean—on straight-grained hardwoods it’s nearly “200-grit ready.” Knifed heads will always leave a faint scallop under raking light, but a couple of quick sanding passes are all it takes to reach a furniture-grade finish. I even planed epoxy-inlaid boards at light depths without chipping or smearing.

Managing snipe

Every benchtop planer asks something of you regarding snipe, and this one is no different. Out of the box, I saw a whisper of snipe at the leading and trailing inch. Co-planing the infeed and outfeed tables to the bed—using the built-in adjustment screws—and waxing the tables and bed reduced it dramatically. Technique matters too: support long stock at infeed and outfeed, take lighter final passes, and avoid cranking large depth changes between passes. For really fussy work, I’ll run a sacrificial “leader” and “trailer” board to carry any snipe. With that routine, snipe is negligible and easily sanded out, if it shows at all.

Dust collection: strong airflow, mind the path

The fan-assisted chip ejection is no gimmick. This planer moves a serious volume of chips and will launch them impressively far if you aren’t attached to collection. That built-in airflow is a plus with a small shop vac, but it’s happiest with a wide-open path: a 4-inch hose or a short 4-to-2.5-inch reduction right at the outlet. Tight-radius elbows, long 2.5-inch hoses, or clogged filters invite trouble, especially on wide boards and deeper cuts. Keep the outlet clear, avoid a hard 90-degree turn immediately off the shroud, and you’ll spend more time planing than unplugging chutes. Cleaning the shroud is simple—pop the cover and it’s right there.

Knife life, lines, and maintenance

The stock double-sided knives cut cleanly but, like most straight knives, they’re consumables. If you run a lot of gritty reclaimed lumber or heavy resinous stock, expect to flip or replace them sooner rather than later. If you see a faint line tracking down your boards, it’s almost always a nick. You can shift the knives slightly side-to-side to stagger the nick, which moves the line off itself and makes it disappear with a light sanding pass. Keep pitch off the bed and feed rollers; a periodic wipe with mineral spirits keeps feed consistent and prevents slip/skips on the rollers. Knife changes are quick with the included T‑wrench.

Noise, footprint, and daily usability

It’s a planer—so hearing protection is non-negotiable—but the tone is manageable, and the overall noise level is often overshadowed by a high-CFM dust collector. The machine’s mass, wide stance, and rubber feet make it stable on a cart. I prefer a dedicated rolling stand at waist height; using it on the floor is a back workout I don’t recommend. The large thickness scale reads clearly, the gearbox selector is positive, and the depth stop saves time on batch work. Thermal protection hasn’t tripped on me under normal duty, but, as with any 15-amp machine, patience with depth-of-cut pays off.

Cut strategy that works

A routine that consistently produces good results for me:
- Joint one face or at least register it flat.
- Take a shallow first pass to assess grain direction and chip evacuation.
- Use the faster feed rate for dimensioning, then switch to the slower feed for the last one or two passes.
- Keep final passes light—about 1/64 inch—especially on figured grain to minimize tear-out and snipe.
- Wax the bed and tables periodically to maintain smooth, steady feed.

These small habits turn a good planer into a predictable one.

Durability, support, and upgrades

After extended sessions on hardwood, the planer stays consistent. The carriage posts and lead screw feel tight, and there’s no hint of column wobble. Routine cleaning—chips out of the shroud, dust off the posts, rollers wiped—keeps it that way. DeWalt’s 3‑year limited warranty and 1‑year service policy are reassuring, and aftermarket support is plentiful. If you mill a lot of highly figured lumber, a helical cutterhead upgrade is a viable path, but it adds cost and complexity; for most users, sticking with sharp OEM knives and disciplined technique is the more economical choice.

What I’d change

• The dust outlet is powerful but sensitive to restrictive plumbing; a smoother outlet geometry or a gentler factory elbow would help.
• Straight knives will always be a consumable; carbide options last longer but raise the total cost of ownership.
• The machine is heavy for a benchtop unit. That’s part of why it cuts so well, but plan on a cart or stand.

The bottom line

The DW735 planer punches above its class in cut quality, control, and usability. The two-speed gearbox, automatic carriage lock, and clear gauges make it approachable, while the motor and three-knife head deliver the finish I expect on fine hardwoods. It asks for a little setup and good dust plumbing, and it rewards that attention with consistent thickness and minimal snipe. Knife management is part of the deal—true of any straight-knife planer—but swaps are quick, and the surface quality is excellent when the knives are fresh.

Recommendation: I recommend this planer to serious hobbyists and small professional shops that want a reliable, predictable 13-inch machine with an excellent finish. It’s not the cheapest way to flatten boards, and you’ll want robust dust collection, but its combination of power, precision features, and repeatable results makes it a standout in the benchtop category.