DeWalt planer reviews for DW735X, DW735, DW734, and cordless hand planers

Quick verdict

Start with the work, not the model number. For surfacing rough lumber to a consistent thickness, the DW735X is the most complete DeWalt benchtop package. It combines the 13-inch, three-knife, two-speed DW735 platform with infeed/outfeed tables and an extra knife set. The DW735 is the same core planer for buyers who do not need the bundled accessories. The DW734 is the simpler 12-1/2-inch thickness planer for users who prefer a lower-weight, one-speed setup. For doors, trim, scribing, beveling, and jobsite fitting, choose a hand planer instead: the cordless DCP580B for mobility, the DW680K for a stronger corded cut, or the D26676/D26677K for lighter-duty corded work.

This review is based on DeWalt’s current published product information, official manuals, and practical woodworking use cases. It is not a controlled lab test. For more tool comparisons, visit our Reviews section.

DeWalt planer lineup at a glance

DeWalt uses the word planer for two different tool categories. Thickness planers are benchtop machines used to bring boards to a uniform thickness after one face has already been flattened. Hand planers are portable tools for shaving, trimming, leveling edges, fitting doors, chamfering corners, and cleaning up framing or finish work. Choosing the right category is more important than comparing model numbers first.

Model	Type	Best fit	Key published specifications	Main limitation
DW735X	13-inch benchtop thickness planer	Small shops, furniture work, wider boards, better accessory value	15 amp, three-knife cutter head, two feed speeds, 96 or 179 cuts per inch, 13-inch width capacity, includes infeed/outfeed tables and extra knives	Heavy for frequent lifting and still uses straight knives
DW735	13-inch benchtop thickness planer	Buyers who want the DW735 platform but do not need bundled tables or spare knives	15 amp, three-knife cutter head, two feed speeds, fan-assisted chip ejection, material removal gauge, automatic carriage lock	Accessories may cost more if bought later
DW734	12-1/2-inch benchtop thickness planer	Budget-conscious shops, occasional surfacing, users who prefer a simpler machine	15 amp, three-knife cutter head, one speed, 96 cuts per inch, 12-1/2-inch width capacity	No two-speed finish/material-removal choice
DCP580B	20V MAX cordless hand planer	Door fitting, site work, punch-list trimming, cordless users	3-1/4-inch width, 5/64-inch maximum depth of cut, 1/256-inch depth increments, brushless motor, tool-only configuration	Battery and charger are sold separately
DW680K	Corded hand planer kit	Deeper handheld cuts, edge work, repeated shop or site trimming	7 amp motor, 3-1/4-inch width, 3/32-inch maximum cut per pass, accepts high-speed steel and reversible carbide blades	Corded only and not a substitute for a thickness planer
D26676/D26677K	Corded hand planer and kit versions	Lighter trim, door edges, chamfering, general fitting	5.5 amp, 17,000 rpm, 3-1/4-inch width, 1/16-inch maximum depth of cut, 23/64-inch rabbeting depth in published catalog data	Less cutting depth than the DW680K

Thickness planer or hand planer

The first decision is not DW735X versus DW734. It is thickness planer versus hand planer.

A thickness planer is the right tool when boards must finish at a repeatable, parallel thickness. Common uses include flattening the second face of rough lumber after jointing one face, bringing several boards to the same thickness for a table, cleaning up glued panels, or sizing cabinet and furniture stock. DeWalt’s DW735X, DW735, and DW734 belong in this category.

A hand planer does a different job. It removes material from the surface or edge you guide it over, but it does not automatically make opposite faces parallel. It is useful when a door rubs, a post needs trimming, a board edge needs a quick bevel, or a scribed trim piece needs final fitting. The DCP580B, DW680K, D26676, and D26677K are hand planers.

For rough lumber, keep one limitation from DeWalt’s thickness planer manual guidance in mind: a thickness planer works best when the material has already been run over a jointer or otherwise given one flat reference face. If the stock is twisted, cupped, or bowed and is not supported correctly, a planer can follow that shape. In practical terms, a DeWalt thickness planer is excellent for thicknessing, but it is not a standalone replacement for a jointer.

DW735X and DW735 review

The DW735X and DW735 are the strongest choices in DeWalt’s current thickness planer family for users who regularly mill hardwood, work with wider boards, or care about surface quality. Both use a 15 amp motor, a three-knife cutter head, a 13-inch planing width, and two feed speed settings. DeWalt lists the feed system as 96 or 179 cuts per inch; the higher-cuts-per-inch setting is for finish quality, while the other setting is better suited to faster material movement.

What stands out

The two-speed gearbox is the main advantage over the DW734. It lets the user choose between faster stock removal and a finer cut pattern. The fan-assisted chip ejection system is another practical benefit. Thickness planers produce a large volume of chips, and the DW735 platform actively moves chips away from the cutter head and out of the machine. This does not remove the need for dust collection, but it can reduce one common cause of clogging and poor finish.

The DW735 design also includes an automatic carriage lock, a material removal gauge, a large thickness scale, and a turret depth stop. These features matter if you plane boards often. They help control snipe, repeat settings, and avoid overloading the machine by taking too much material in one pass.

DW735X versus DW735

The core performance difference between the DW735X and DW735 is not the motor or cutter head. The DW735X is the package version. DeWalt lists it with infeed and outfeed tables plus an extra set of knives. The DW735 is the planer without those bundled extras.

That makes the DW735X the stronger value when the price difference is less than the cost of adding tables and spare knives later. The tables matter because long boards need support before and after the cutter head. Better support does not eliminate all snipe, but it gives the user more control. Spare knives also have real value because straight knives are consumable parts, especially when milling abrasive, dirty, or knotty lumber.

Who should buy it

Choose the DW735X if you mill rough lumber several times a month, build furniture or cabinets, want the 13-inch capacity, and can dedicate a cart or bench space to a heavy benchtop planer. Choose the DW735 if you already have an outfeed solution, plan to build your own support tables, or find the bare planer at a significantly lower price. Avoid both if you need a tool you can easily carry up stairs every day; published catalog data places the DW735 platform around the low-90-pound range before stands or accessories.

DW734 review

The DW734 is DeWalt’s simpler thickness planer. It keeps the important fundamentals: a 15 amp motor, a three-knife cutter head, 12-1/2-inch width capacity, and a maximum 1/8-inch depth of cut under the manufacturer’s stated conditions. DeWalt support information lists the DW734 dimensions as 20-3/8 inches long, 14-1/2 inches wide, and 20-1/4 inches high. It is still a substantial benchtop machine, but it is easier to place in a small shop than many larger setups.

The main tradeoff is feed control. Published DeWalt catalog information lists the DW734 as a one-speed planer at 96 cuts per inch. That is workable for many boards, especially with sharp knives and lighter finishing passes. It does not provide the slower, higher-cuts-per-inch finish setting found on the DW735 and DW735X.

For many home woodworkers, the DW734 is the sensible entry point. It is enough planer for small furniture projects, shelving, cutting boards, and general shop stock preparation. It also uses three knives rather than two, which helps distribute the cutting load and can improve finish compared with older two-knife designs. The limitation is not whether it can plane wood; it can. The question is how much adjustment, chip management, and finish-speed flexibility you expect to need over time. See also: Tool Categories.

DeWalt hand planer reviews

Hand planers are easy to misread because they are not miniature thickness planers. Their value is control, portability, and localized material removal.

DCP580B cordless planer

The DCP580B is the model to consider if you already use DeWalt 20V MAX batteries. DeWalt lists it as a brushless cordless planer with a 3-1/4-inch width capacity, 30,000 cuts per minute, a 5/64-inch maximum depth of cut, and depth adjustment in 1/256-inch increments. It also includes a kickstand, machined aluminum shoes, and a front-shoe groove for edge chamfering.

The practical advantage is mobility. For trimming doors in place, tuning framing, working on a deck, or making small corrections away from the bench, cordless operation is convenient. The drawback is that the tool-only version does not include the battery, charger, or dust bag. If you are not already in DeWalt’s battery platform, the real purchase cost is higher than the bare-tool price suggests.

DW680K corded planer

The DW680K is the better handheld choice when deeper cuts and corded consistency matter. DeWalt lists a 7 amp motor, 3-1/4-inch planing width, and 3/32-inch maximum depth of cut per pass. It accepts large resharpenable high-speed steel blades for straight edging or framing applications and can also accept reversible carbide blades for more detailed work.

This makes the DW680K a strong fit for users who repeatedly plane door bottoms, posts, edges, or rough trim pieces and do not want to manage batteries. The cord is a limitation on ladders and active jobsites, but in a shop or controlled workspace it is usually manageable.

D26676 and D26677K

The D26676 and D26677K are lighter corded hand planer options. Published DeWalt catalog data lists a 5.5 amp motor, 17,000 rpm no-load speed, 3-1/4-inch width, 1/16-inch maximum depth of cut, and 23/64-inch rabbeting depth. DeWalt support information also notes that the D26676 comes with high-speed steel blades.

These models make sense for finish carpenters, homeowners, or maintenance users who need a straightforward planer for occasional trimming. If you expect to remove more material often, the DW680K’s higher amp rating and deeper cut are easier to justify.

Buying checklist before choosing

• Match the tool to the task. Buy a thickness planer for board thicknessing. Buy a hand planer for fitting, trimming, chamfering, and edge correction.
• Check board width. The DW735X and DW735 handle up to 13 inches. The DW734 handles 12-1/2 inches. Hand planers in this group are 3-1/4 inches wide.
• Consider finish control. The DW735 platform offers two feed speeds and 96 or 179 cuts per inch. The DW734 is simpler, with one listed speed.
• Plan for dust and chips. Thickness planers create heavy chips quickly. The DW735 platform has fan-assisted chip ejection, but a proper collection setup is still important.
• Budget for knives. Straight knives wear. Dirty reclaimed lumber, knots, and abrasive wood species can shorten knife life.
• Think about weight and storage. A planer that is technically portable may still need a dedicated stand or rolling cart.
• Respect pass depth limits. DeWalt manual guidance for the DW735 platform lists a maximum 1/8-inch cut only under specified board-width conditions. Lighter passes are usually better for finish, motor load, and knife life.

Recommended DeWalt planer by use case

Use case	Recommended model	Why it fits
Regular rough-lumber surfacing for furniture	DW735X	13-inch capacity, two speeds, support tables, and spare knives make it the most complete package.
DW735 performance with fewer bundled accessories	DW735	Same core platform as the DW735X when accessories are not needed immediately.
Occasional shop thicknessing on a tighter budget	DW734	Still a 15 amp, three-knife thickness planer, but with simpler one-speed operation.
Cordless door and trim fitting	DCP580B	Brushless cordless design, fine depth increments, and 20V MAX compatibility.
Deeper handheld cuts with corded power	DW680K	7 amp motor and 3/32-inch maximum handheld depth of cut.
Light-duty corded hand planing	D26676 or D26677K	Good for general trimming where a 1/16-inch maximum depth is enough.

Frequently asked questions

Is the DW735X worth it over the DW735?

Often, yes, if the price gap is modest. The DW735X includes infeed/outfeed tables and an extra set of knives, while the DW735 is the same core planer platform without those extras. If you already have support tables or find a strong deal on the DW735, the bare model can still be the better value.

Can a DeWalt thickness planer replace a jointer?

No. A thickness planer makes the top face parallel to the reference face riding on the bed. If the bottom face is twisted or cupped, the planer can follow that shape. For best results, flatten one face first with a jointer, sled, or other reliable flattening method.

Which DeWalt planer gives the cleanest finish?

Within DeWalt’s thickness planer lineup, the DW735X and DW735 have the advantage because of their two-speed feed system and 179-cuts-per-inch option. Sharp knives, lighter finishing passes, correct grain direction, and good stock support also affect the final surface.

Should I choose the cordless DCP580B or a corded hand planer?

Choose the DCP580B if cordless convenience and battery-platform compatibility matter most. Choose the DW680K if you want corded consistency and a deeper maximum cut in a handheld planer. Choose the D26676 or D26677K if your work is lighter and a simpler corded model is enough.

Do current DeWalt thickness planers come with helical cutter heads?

DeWalt’s published planer lineup describes three-knife cutter-head designs, not factory helical cutter heads. Aftermarket helical or spiral conversions exist in the market, but they add cost, require installation, and should be evaluated separately for warranty, compatibility, and maintenance implications.

Final takeaway

For most woodworkers searching DeWalt planer reviews, the safest short answer is this: buy the DW735X if you want the most complete DeWalt thickness planer package, buy the DW734 if you want a simpler and more affordable benchtop option, and buy a hand planer only if your real task is trimming or fitting rather than milling boards to thickness. The DW735 is still attractive when priced well, but many users eventually want the tables and extra knives that already come with the DW735X.