DeWalt DW734 Thickness Planer Review and Test

Here is an affiliate link for the reviewed planer on Amazon where I get a small percentage if you purchase it from the link:
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I bought a DeWalt DW734 12.5" thickness planer on sale. I figured I'd do a review and test of it in case anyone else is trying to decide what to buy. I was having a hard time deciding myself, as I wasn't looking to spend alot of money, but the affordable ones seemed questionable. After finding the DeWalt planer on sale for only $50 more than the average affordable/cheap planer, I decided this was the one. In this video, I review the planer and test its abilities.
The following is the official description of the planer from DeWalt's website:
"The DW734 12-1/2" Thickness Planer with Three Knife Cutter-Head is powered by a 15 Amp motor for managing large, deep cuts in hardwood. Three-knife cutter head with speed of 10,000 rpm provides 96 cuts per inch, delivering one of the finest finishes of any portable planer.
FEATURES
-Powerful 15 amp, 20,000 rpm motor handles larger, deeper cuts in hardwoods.
-Three-knife cutter head with 10,000 rpm cutter-head speed provides 96 cuts per inch, one of the finest finishes of any portable planer
-Disposable, reversible knives deliver 30% more knife life and make knife change fast and easy.
-Four-column carriage lock drastically reduces the movement that causes snipe
-Extra-long infeed and outfeed tables provide 33-1/2" of material support.
-Material removal gauge and extra-large thickness scale deliver accurate cuts with every pass
-Turret depth stop allows user to return to their most frequently used depths with ease
SPECIFICATIONS
AMPS 15 AMPS
DEPTH CAPACITY 6 IN
MAX DEPTH OF CUT 1/8 IN
NO LOAD SPEED 20,000 (MOTOR)/10,000 (CUTTERHEAD) RPM
TOOL WEIGHT 80 LBS
WIDTH CAPACITY 12-1/2 IN
INCLUDES
Dust Hood"
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For business inquiries:
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P.O. Box 271
Oxford, IN 47971

[@LYTOMIZE_Woodshop]

Just picked one up yesterday... Will be setting it up Saturday. Thanks for the "pre-game show"!!!

[@scottyk9393]

I just got one. This is the first review I’ve seen for this planer. Very informative, thanks!

[@MarkOhanesian]

I just received mine in the mail today and was on the edge of my seat watching your review to make sure I didn’t make a mistake! Now I’m excited to use it. Great review

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it!

[@litocarandang4514]

David, the best demo ever i have seen on u tube......truthfully i have not used one or any planer at all but in view of ur detailed presentation I will now open the shipment of my first Dewalt 734. Thank you.

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

Thank you! That's one of the nicest comments I've had.

[@hjalmarthomsen]

Great video Ty for taking the time out to do this

[@dojifly]

Best review i have seen on the 734, thank you

[@TheBostonForge]

Nice job of explaining this machine. Bravo man!

[@matthewmiddletn9856]

Just bought one yesterday to plain out epoxy/wood cutting boards I’m making. Very heavy duty for sure and seems to have good quality. Thanks for the video

[@Aspire2Cycle]

I got the same deal from Home Depot! So far I love the planer, even bought the Dewalt stand for it.

[@TheSmartodd]

Excellent review - very thorough

[@theamericanthinker]

nice review... straight to the point

[@petergalvin3526]

I bought this unit recently. Very good value but I paid more at Lowes than David did at Home Depot . The user must empty the dust collector frequently as it clogs easily. Be advised. This tool is VERY heavy. I built my own stand with casters as I have a small shop and have minimal fixed table space. Great review. We never stop learning. Thanks David

[@embracethesuck1041]

My advice is either to get a property sized (large) dust collector or take off the plastic dust collection attachment and just let the chips spit out. I've used it both ways and had no problems.

[@abelvillalobos7852]

I just bought mine from lowe’s last night. It was on the clearance table for $449 from $549 and I only paid $298 out the door!

[@JustinMurray170fin]

Excellent review & a great price you got - close to €700 here (Ireland via the north)

[@symphonyofme8709]

Great review. I bought one today from Lowe's. It was on sale but I signed up for the credit card to get 20% off. Gonna pay it off next week. Also bought a propane torch tip. Total came out to $301 so not a bad deal at all.

[@jeffjohnstonmn]

Current price is $550.00. I saw that deal and passed it up....totally kicking myself for that now!

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

Inflation definitely isn't helping.

[@j.r.tidwell3318]

Good job

[@JosephUsher]

You got a good deal for that planer. I've had the same planer for about ten years, and I've had a LOT of trouble with it overheating after only 10 minutes or so of continuous use. This is a common problem with this machine. I like it a lot, but I just can't use it for long without it shutting down.

[@gym_bob]

Are you taking too much off or are the blades are dull? I have had mine a long time also and I don't have overheating problems. I had to clean the motor brushes several times but eventually replaced them. Parts are cheap onlne, for those.

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

I've had zero issues with overheating, but I take small amounts off at a time.

[@charlesholland6851]

Only overheated min a couple times in a few years. My belt broke. Replaced it and a couple months later it’s ro ro ro noise and a melted belt. I cut it off and the motor sounds great. I just ordered the 735 and will see if a new bel will fix it and I’ll sell it. Planer served me well up to now

[@happinesshotel5375]

You got an amazing deal. I bought a table saw during the Black Friday sale and the planets were 100 dollar less and I wish I bought one. There is a reseller down the street from me selling this model for 370. I honesty might buy it.

[@mahlenbrenda]

Snipe is a big deal with most planers. As someone mentioned, that black rod above the cutting head is a carriage lock that should be engaged before running a board thru to help eliminate snipe. The DW734 has the manual lock and the DW735 has an automatic lock.

[@CharlezMalasana]

Yesterday I ended up grabbing a piece of melamine to do the feed trick, I knew my laziness was the issue. I have a drum sander so I wasn’t that worried but if I can save myself so passes. Thanks for the info

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

This was simply a lack of habit on my part since it was a new tool. I use the lock now.

[@forty9r9r7]

My manual says don’t use the dust hood without dust collection attached, probably why so many reviews mention having to clean the dust hood constantly

[@ballsofbeskar285]

Great review man. I bought myself one after watching this video. You should be sponsored by dewalt after this haha

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

Ha! I wish. Maybe someday. They are one of the few companies I'd consider being sponsored by.

[@9fade686]

I’m glad I got it when they had that 399 deal and I only got it because i knew that price would increase a bit lol only bad thing for me is I haven’t used mine I’ve only taken it out the box and turned it on It trips my breaker if I don’t unplug the rest of the corded tools. It takes a whole lot of power when it turns on at first

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

Been there. 30 amp circuits are where it's at.

[@motube2389]

I just bought this planet for $310 off Amazon and I could not be happier

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

You got a heckuva deal.

[@bobbyt9999]

I bought mine around 15 years ago and it has been an absolute workhorse for me. I strictly put hardwoods through it. I have learned that the knives should be changed on a regular basis for optimal cutting. When I got mine I don't think that the DW735 had even hit the market yet. Over the past couple of years I toyed with the idea of swapping the 734 for the 735... but given the price for one - around $800 plus tax CAD I always come back to the conclusion that the 734 has been very kind to me for a lot of years and is still going strong, so why put out all that money for the newer one? Also, the Shelix cutter upgrade would add about another $650.00 CAD. Totally out of my budget range and totally not necessary for me. I've done a LOT of planing over the years and haven't had any problems at all up to this point. All that money could be put to better use. I can buy a lot of wood with it :) One tip for you if I may. As others have said, you should really get into the habit of locking down the cutter head for every cut and lift it when turning the handle for your next cut. I've been using mine for so long that I don't even realize I'm doing it. I'm also at the point where I can tell just by the sound it is making how much I should be turning the handle down for my next cut. The only gauge I need to use is the thickness stop. And there is no reason to overload your cuts. I've been watching a lot of videos about the DW735 and a lot of comparisons have said that there's actually more snipe coming out of the DW734 compared to the DW734. I can't really confirm this as I've never put the DW735 to use. I've just come to the conclusion that there's going to be some snipe so I have just learned to live with it. So... keep sharp knives in it and you'll have lot of hours of great planing. (sub and notify have been clicked - keep up the great videos!!!)

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

Thanks for the tip. I was aware you need to lock it, but was not in the habit since it was a new tool, so unfortunately I didn't at the time. A spiral head would be a good eventual upgrade.

[@baddawg3380]

You can get the helical head now anywhere from 350. to 400.

[@peterjf7723]

I need to get one of these if I can find it at a good price.

[@shawnmcdole1057]

I need to make 2 boxes to put a 734 in for checked baggage on an airline. Can the base be removed easily? Can you tell me the exact measurements (LxWxH) of the base as well as the dimensions of the unit without the base? Thanks much

[@Meme-zc4cw]

$399 is a hell of a good deal. They are much more than that at my Home Depot. I think over $500. Well done.

[@mickalwilliams4699]

You don't have adjust the infeed and outfeed table. You just need to lock the blade motor to reduce snipe! In the video the lock arm has been up the whole time.

[@trep53]

You didn’t verify the depth crank accuracy, but don’t worry it’s accurate. You got this planer cheap which doesn’t mean it’s a cheap planer. If anyone cannot get good results either the planer needs some setup or it’s operator error. Also lock the head in place after adjusting the depth of cut. I’m using mine with a 4” Delta dust collector and experience no clogging problem. I just need to empty the full collector bag too often!

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

It's definitely not a cheap planer. I love it!

[@ghijkmnop]

I have owned this planer since 2018. The only complaint I've had about it is having to completely disassemble it to install a helical cutting head.

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

One of these days I'll do that. Might have to make a video about it.

[@ghijkmnop]

@@DavidCanMakeThat Nick Key (@keywoodworks) has done one--but he only covered the teardown. The more resources on this, the better IMO.

[@brianbelliveau5551]

Seems like a nice machine for the money

[@christopherverbeck7469]

Perhaps if you set the lock the tearout and snipe would not show as much

[@Atekcs]

Im consiering purchasing this same planer and wondered if you figured out why it was leaving the grooves/lines in the board?

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

I’m not sure specifically why. But the fix is to just run it through at the same thickness one or two more times and they disappear.

[@learningthehardway6186]

It’s leaving lines because the first board he ran through had a big knot in it. Knots are hard, and frequently have debris in them. Guarantee that first cut knicked the knives. Easy fix, just loosen and shift one knife a slight amount.

[@pattyg4899]

I have this machine, and I do get snipe following all the basic out of the box instructions. I still get snipe. Not sure what you're doing differently? cheers!

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

I guess I'll look into making a video on how to avoid snipe. 90% of it is properly setting up the infeed and outfeed tables.

[@snakebait5118]

I have a DeWalt 733 which I've had for quite awhile and the only problem I've had was a broken belt. On top of that, I wound-up in the ER after jamming my fingers into the knife when the wrench slipped off the nut while replacing the knives. The warning on the knife replacement package reads: "Caution, knives extremely sharp, wear gloves". BAH...who needs gloves? Obviously, I did! 🤣 That wood wasn't Walnut it looked more like Sapele. I use it quite often!

[@jamesmccartney7638]

How do you level planar bed

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

In this video I made, I show how to do that. 4 Tips to Eliminate ALL Snipe in Thickness Planers and kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqXZpKR9dtN2l7c

[@Zues42208]

I got the same planer at lowes a month ago and it was $100 more and didnt come with the case.

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

I saw the sale and jumped on it (after some rationalization to the wife :P).

[@scraplifetrashtocash4551]

You didn't lock it down. That is why it was leaving snipe. I've got this planner and it works great

[@wwfera00]

Did you have to adjust anything like the blades or tables like you'd do a table saw or miter saw?

[@scraplifetrashtocash4551]

@@wwfera00 No. Mine was plum out of the box.

[@frankrodriguez6424]

If u can afford get it, have had mine for 5 years

[@maxv9872]

​@@frankrodriguez6424 Have you had to change the blades yet?

[@frankrodriguez6424]

@@maxv9872 yes, changed out last year

[@ronin5979]

I just paid $450, on sale from $550, an hour ago..

[@jondix9858]

Dang this planet is $449 now

[@pebblesaquino1951]

Wow cheap for $399.00 Hawaii is $500 plus

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

I'm sure with everything going on now, it's that price here too.

[@coleyounger6758]

HF is the better planer

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

🤣

[@colemahaney880]

I think the Harbor Freight has a better planer and i know a better warranty

[@DavidCanMakeThat]

Both parts of your comment are factually incorrect, not to mention, the DeWalt one has three cutting knives instead of two. It also has a locking mechanism to make it more stable that the Harbor Freight one does not have.

[@colemahaney880]

@@DavidCanMakeThat i will take the HF any day

[@scraplifetrashtocash4551]

@@colemahaney880 I've threw my Harbor Freight one out when I bought this Dewalt 734. 100% this out preforms the Harbor freight planner. Night and day