DeWalt 12-1/2" Thickness Planer with Three Knife Cutter-Head

Why I keep reaching for the DW734

I didn’t buy this planer to admire it. I bought it to level and clean up everything from roughsawn oak to deck boards and reclaimed pine—and it’s been a consistent performer. The DW734 isn’t flashy and it’s not the newest kid in the category, but it delivers the two things that matter most in a benchtop planer: a reliably smooth finish and predictable control over snipe.

Setup and build quality

Out of the box, setup is quick: attach the height crank, bolt on the infeed/outfeed tables, and snap on the dust hood. The machine sits in the “classically heavy” camp for benchtop planers—around 80 lb—which I count as a plus for stability but a minus if you’re moving it often. I put mine on a mobile cart and haven’t looked back.

The four-post carriage feels solid, and the locking lever is well placed. That carriage lock is the hero feature here; engage it before you run stock, and snipe all but disappears. Forget to lock it and you’ll see the telltale dips at the first and last couple of inches.

Fit and finish are what I expect in this price range: the frame and posts are stout, the tables are decently machined and adjustable, and the controls are positive. Some peripheral bits (the dust hood and its tabs, for example) feel more “consumer-grade” than the core castings. Treat them accordingly.

Performance and finish

The three-knife cutter head spinning at 10,000 RPM lays down a fine surface, with up to 96 cuts per inch. I consistently get boards that need little more than a quick pass with 180–220-grit paper before finishing. Knife marks are faint and uniform, and the surface is impressively clean on straight-grained stock. On reversing or knotty grain, it behaves like most straight-knife benchtop planers—tear-out can happen if you push deep passes. Light cuts and sharp knives keep it under control.

Max cut per pass is 1/8 inch on paper, but in practice I keep hardwood passes at 1/32 inch or less for both finish and motor load. Softwood can take more, but the finish is better when you sneak up on the final thickness. The material removal gauge on the front is surprisingly useful; I use it before each pass to avoid biting off more than the motor wants.

Width capacity is 12.5 inches, which covers the vast majority of boards I surface on a benchtop machine. If you routinely need 13 inches or variable feed speeds, you’re shopping a different model and price class anyway.

Snipe control and stock support

Snipe is the make-or-break for small planers. With the carriage locked, the DW734 keeps it to a whisper—often imperceptible—provided the stock is supported. The extra-long infeed and outfeed tables help a lot, and taking a moment to set them a hair proud of dead flat pays dividends. On long, heavy boards, I still support with roller stands to prevent the ends from levering the board into the knives. Technique matters as much as design: support the work on entry, keep the feed steady, and don’t lift the board as it exits.

Dust collection and chip handling

Planers make an incredible mess, so hook this one to a collector. The dust hood is set up for a 4-inch port and ships with an adapter for 2.5-inch hoses. With a proper dust collector on the 4-inch port, the hood keeps up even during wider, heavier cuts. A small shop vac works in a pinch, but you’ll see more chips swirling around the exit and the hood can pack if airflow is restricted. Keep filters clean and the collector bag emptied, and you’ll avoid clogging.

Note: the hood spans the exit, which means you’re reaching under it to catch shorter pieces. I use a push block and let longer boards run out onto a support stand so my hands stay well clear.

Controls and repeatability

The height adjustment is smooth, and the scale is readable. The turret depth stop is one of those features you don’t appreciate until you do: I set common thicknesses and bounce between them without endless measuring. The material removal gauge, as mentioned, is accurate enough to be trusted. Once set, the machine holds position; I haven’t had drift issues when the lock is engaged.

Blades and maintenance

This planer uses disposable, double-sided knives—three of them. Swapping them is straightforward: loosen the gib screws, lift the old knife, drop in the new one, and snug it down. Indexing is built into the head, so there’s no fussy alignment routine. The knives last a decent amount of time if you avoid dirty stock and hidden fasteners, and being double-sided means you get a second life by flipping them. If you push a lot of abrasive reclaimed lumber through, set expectations accordingly—this is true of any straight-knife machine.

Routine care is simple: wax the tables, clean pitch from the bed and rollers, and make sure chips don’t accumulate in the hood. The machine is happiest when it’s clean.

Power, noise, and electrical reality

It’s a 15-amp, 120-volt tool and draws real current at startup and during heavy cuts. On a marginal 15-amp circuit with long runs, you can trip a breaker if you’re aggressive. On a dedicated 20-amp circuit, it’s uneventful. Like all lunchbox planers, it’s loud—plan on hearing protection and be a good neighbor with your operating hours.

The motor gets warm in extended sessions, which is normal for a compact, high-RPM setup. Sensible passes and a steady pace keep temperatures reasonable.

Portability and footprint

At 80 pounds, the planer is stable in use and portable only in the “move it with intention” sense. If your shop is multipurpose, a mobile stand is worth the space. The footprint is compact enough to live on a bench, but you’ll want clear infeed/outfeed space roughly as long as your stock.

Durability and serviceability

The guts—the motor, the posts, the carriage—feel built for the long haul. I treat the lock mechanism and dust hood more gently; those parts don’t inspire the same confidence as the cast bits. Over time, routine wear items like switches and lock components are the usual suspects on benchtop planers. Parts are generally available, and the warranty coverage (3-year limited, 1-year service, 90-day satisfaction) is decent for the category. I’d still call this a shop tool rather than a jobsite beater.

Where it fits

• DIYers and hobbyists who want a clean finish and minimal fuss without stepping up to a pricier two-speed model.
• Small professional shops that need a reliable secondary planer or a dedicated machine for specific thicknesses.
• Anyone who values snipe control and finish quality over bells and whistles.

If you need variable feed speeds, a helical head, or 13-inch width, you’re shopping at a different price point. If you want the lightest, most portable planer, this isn’t it.

The bottom line

I recommend the DW734. It’s a straightforward, trustworthy planer that rewards good setup and technique with a finish that often skips straight to fine sanding. The carriage lock and long tables keep snipe in check, the three-knife head leaves a clean surface, and the controls make repeat work easy. Its weaknesses—plastic-y peripheral parts, loud operation, and a real appetite for power—are common to the class and manageable with care. For the price, it’s a workhorse that earns its spot in a small shop.