In our review we will be looking at two of the best wood planers currently available on the market from two of the biggest power tool brands out there: Makita vs Dewalt planer.

Wood planers are a vital piece of kit for any professional wood worker or hobbyist alike. They are what allows you to make high quality finished wooden products such as a piece of furniture. When you are making the decision on which brand and model to purchase, there are a number of things you should consider.

These include the quality of the cut that the power tool produces, as well as its ability to handle snipe. The second one is particularly important as ensuring the wood planer does not leave rough edges on its cuts will mean that you save money on not having to buy extra lumber because of damage.

Makita and DeWalt are both famed for producing the very best power tools. When putting the 2012NB and the 735 head to head it will become apparent that many of their features and functions are very similar.

 Speed

Makita 2012NB

This model has just one speed setting that can deliver up to 179 cuts each and every inch. Despite the Makita having a single speed it easily reduces the height and smooths the surface of any pieces of wood that are fed into it. Having a slower speed would be an extra positive feature of the 2012NB.

DeWalt DW735

The cuts per inch can be easily modified thanks to the dual speed gear box. Cuts per inch in the slow gear is only 96, but in the high gear the number of cuts per inch increases to 179 – the same as the DeWalt. In the slower gear the planer has a much more delicate touch, whereas the opposite is true in the higher gear.

And the Winner is…

The DeWalt DW735. This is due to the fact that it provides the user with a higher level of control due to it having two different speeds. However, for shaving and smoothing the 2012NB is a good power tool. But with the DW735 you get more options.

Next up we will look at the cutting capacity of the two power tools.

Check out the price of the DeWalt DW735

Cutting Capacity

Makita 2012NB

The 2012NB has a dual cutting blade system that allows for wood boards with a height of 6 inch and a width of 12 inch to be cut down to size. The cutting depth on the 2012NB can also be adjusted by less than an inch per each pass.

DeWalt DW735

The DW735 boasts a tri cutting blade system that allows for smoothing and levelling of wood boards that are as much as 6 inch tall and 13 inch wide. Like the Makita, the cutting depth on this particular model can be adjusted by less than an inch per each pass.

And the Winner is…

If you consider the cutting capacity alone then it is a tie. But if you were to consider the width of wood board the planers can cut then it would be the DeWalt that is the winner as it is capable of cutting 13 inch wide boards, as opposed to just 12 inch with the Makita.

Dust Collection

Makita 2012NB

A dust collection hood comes as standard with the 2012NB. It can be attached to a vacuum through the dust port to pick up all the wood chips and general debris. Although, the system does not work very well and struggles to collect all the mess it produces.

DeWalt DW735

This planer has a wood chip ejection system in place so that any debris that is created by the power tool are fired out at the back via a chute. The wood chips come out at a very fast speed so we advise attaching a bag or a hose to the end to avoid injury from errant debris pieces.

And the Winner is…

The dust collection capability of these two wood planers is pretty similar. However, it is the DeWalt’s system that is the slightly better of the two. The only negative point of the DW735 is that the vacuum ports is very loud.

Check out the price of the DeWalt DW735

Motor

Makita 2012NB

This model has a 15 amp motor that is able to deliver 17,000 cuts per minute. You can feed wood boards into the 2012NB at a rate of 28 feet per minute.

DeWalt DW735

The DeWalt planer too has a 15 amp motor but can produce a greater cuts per minute than the Makita – almost twice as much at 30,000. This means that it produces cuts that have a much cleaner and smoother finish.

And the Winner is…

The DeWalt DW735 as it has a much higher cutting capacity (almost double) than the Makita.

Conclusion

All though we have not looked at every single function and feature of the Makita 2012NB and the DeWalt DW735, such as their size or weight, or the speed at which the cutting blade can be changed, what we have investigated are the main points that should aid your consideration.

So after considering each of these things, we have determined that it is the Makita 2012NB that is the best of the two wood planers and gets our recommendation for purchase. Although it does not deal with snipe very well and does leave some marks on the wood, these are both things that we can live with.

We have no doubt that the DeWalt DW735 is a power tool that is more than capable of handling any heavy duty task that you put it to. Therefore, it is our winner here today.

Check out the price of the DeWalt DW735

Our review looks at two DeWalt wood planers which are practically identical to one another. These are the DW735 and the DW735x. In this case, the ‘x’ stands for the extra pack of cutting blades (knives) that come with the DW735x power tool. However, both a pretty decent planers that appeal to both home DIYers and experienced professional tradesmen a like.

They provide a dual planing speed feature which is particularly useful when you are working with rough surfaced or tough wood work pieces.

Both wood planers have a base / table that is made from cast iron to provide greater rigidity and improved stability. They also come with some other nice to have functions and features that mean setting up the power tools and operating them are easy and keep you safe.

We would not particularly recommend any of these two wood planers for heavy commercial use however. Smaller, occasional jobs or the odd surfacing job are the upper limits for these particular power tools.

If you are wanting to do commercial grade jobs then we recommend purchasing a larger machine instead of any of these two DeWalt wood planers. Something like the Axminster Trade AT260SPT Spiral Planer Thicknesser is ideal for more heavy duty industrial work.

Also, those home DIYers / beginners with only an infrequent requirement to cut down the thickness of their work pieces should go for something like the DeWalt DW734 instead of one of these two wood planers.

If you are a fan of DeWalt power tools then check out their best table saws like the DWE7480.

DeWalt DW735

This model comes with a 13 inch width capacity and dual speed capability. Its powerful 15 amp motor is able to generate up to 20,000 RPM and can easily handle larger cuts. The DW735’s cutter head is armed with three knives to deliver a 30% longer life span of the knife. It also means that knife changes can be made much faster.

It comes with a gear box that has two speeds meaning that the feed speed can be changed to make cuts at 179 or 96 cuts per inch.

Pros

• Comes with lots of different features
• A dual speed gear box makes light work of tough work pieces 

Cons

• Extension table does not come as standard

Check out the price of the DeWalt DW735

DeWalt DW735x

This model comes with a 13 inch width capacity and dual speed capability. Its powerful 15 amp motor is able to generate up to 20,000 RPM and can easily handle larger cuts. The DW735x’s cutter head is armed with three knives to deliver a 30% longer life of the knife. It also means that knife changes can be made much faster.

The wood planer has a wood chip ejection vacuum system that is assisted by a fan to ensure that any wood chips are directed towards the ground and do not shoot off in all directions causing injury. It comes with a gear box that has two speeds meaning that the feed speed can be changed to make cuts at 179 or 96 cuts per inch.

This model of wood planer comes with a couple of extras that are essential; an out feed and an infeed extension table and a replacement set of knives. The extra tables work to dramatically improve the operators ability to keep their work piece in a completely flat position at all times.

The replacement set of knives reduce the amount of downtime when the cutting blades dull and require changing as there is no need to visit the store or go online to get some new ones – it can, instead, be done instantly.

Pros

• Easy to read the gauges
• Comes with a spare set of knives and extension tables

Cons

• A higher cost than the DW735

Check out the price of the DeWalt DW735x

Specifications of Each Model

•     120 Volts
•     15 Amps
•     13 Inch width capacity
•     1/8 Inch maximum depth of cut
•     6 Inch depth capacity
•     20,000 RPM motor no load speed
•     10,000 RPM cutter head no load speed
•     92 Pounds weight
•     179 and 96 Cuts per inch dual speed gear box

What Are The Main Differences Between the DeWalt DW735 vs DW735x?

As we have already stated, there is only one difference between these two wood planers, and that is the fact that the DW735x power tool comes with an extra set of cutting blades.

To highlight the similarity, and lack of differences, between the two models, we have taken a closer look at them and done a comparison. What is clear from doing this is that both are highly capable power tools when correctly used.

Performance – Tied

The movement that causes snipe is reduced thanks to an automatic carriage lock system. The operator has the ability to choose between two feed speeds depending on the size of the work piece thanks to a dual speed gearbox.

Wood chips are pushed to the floor and away from the cutter head thanks to a fan assisted wood chip ejection system. A 30% increased knife life span thanks to a three knife cutter head. The operator can simply set a precise cutting depth thanks to the extra large gauges.

The cast aluminium base gives greater stability. The operator can pre set the most frequently used thicknesses thanks to extra large turret depth stops.

Price – The DeWalt DW735

The DW735 is the cheaper option out of the two models. This is because it does not come with the replacement set of knives or the extension tables. Our recommendation is to shop around and try to source those two items to see if buying them separately, along with the DW735, works out cheaper than simply buying the DW735x on its own.

Durability – Tied

These wood planers come in a rugged yet compact design. A longer life and increased rigidity are promised as a result of their cast aluminium bases. Their housing works to reduce any debris and / or dust getting inside the power tool which helps to keep it in good working order.

Design – Tied

Both are easy to operate with oversized controls that are easy to see. The possibility of snipe is reduced thanks to the wood planers automatic carriage lock which stops the operator from forgetting to manually set it.

What Others Say About the DeWalt DW735 vs DW735x

As stated throughout this review, the only real difference is the replacement knives and extra tables that come with the DW735x. In this section of our review, we are going to look at some of the bad and some of the good parts about the DeWalt wood planers, as well as some comments about the accessories that come as standard with the DW735x.

In general, these two power tools are very well rated by those individuals who have purchased and used them. Here is what owners from a number of other reviews had to say:

“Beautiful finish! This comes up time and again. With the 179 CPI setting, it is easy to see why they are getting a buttery smooth surface.”

“Ease of use comes up regularly. A lot of new users comment on how easy they find it to use which bodes well for those of you looking for a planer who have not used one before. Experienced users also comment on the ease of use which often centers around control and gauge size.”

“The ability to handle just about anything the user can feed it completes the trifecta for this tool. Hardwood, softer wood, rough finish or dimensioned on all sides and in need of thinning. When a tool does what people expect, or a bit more, you end up with satisfied users. This is the case for the DW735 and DW735x.”

However, it was not all positive, below are some examples of reviews from customers that were not completely satisfied with their power tool:

“For these two DeWalt models, a common gripe is that it takes more passes to reduce a piece of hardwood than it does on other tools they’ve used before.”

“The knives reportedly dull rapidly and are expensive to replace. When the blades dull, the finish of the wood suffers, and the tool works harder.”

“Working harder leads to the thermal protection for the motor tripping. This can be a problem when it happens mid-board. Depending upon the planer head position, it can take some doing to free up the stock.”

“Last, snipe is reported, mainly when the tool is used without the extension tables.”

Conclusion

Because the two models are so similar, there is no poor choice when choosing between these two wood planers – you can not go wrong no matter which one you go for. Both the DW735 and the DW735x wood planer power tools produce high quality results. They are also both easy to use and set up, and come with more features than you would expect at this price point.

If you are able to afford the extra cost, then we would recommend going for the DeWalt DW735x. This is because it comes with the set of replacement cutting blades for when the others dull and the extension tables.

Check out the price of the DeWalt DW735x