Upgrade Your Planer with the Wixey Digital Readout!

The Wixey WR510 Digital Portable Planer Readout is a BIG improvement over factory-supplied cut-depth indicators on machines. They are highly accurate, easy to read, and a breeze to install! We'll show you how!
#woodplaner #woodworking #wixey #woodworking #woodplaner
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We love our DeWalt® DW735 13” (330mm) wood planer. It’s a great machine with good features, excellent serviceability, and comfortable controls.
The one improvement we felt was needed was a better and more accurate way to see the depth of cut being set. That’s because the accuracy of the reading you’ll get depends entirely on the angle and which you view the indicator. For my fellow geeks, this is called parallax error and is when the pointer of a device looks like it's at a different reading when it’s read at an angle compared to when read face-on.
Sure, I could bend down each time to ensure I’m looking at the indicator dead level and face on, but the digital readout is set at an angle where I can glance down, while standing straight up, to get an accurate reading in the scale I desire - in inches, millimeters or decimals!
At the time of filming, this unit was about $75. You can purchase it here:
amzn.to/3Ys8zII.
Here are the steps for installation on the DeWalt® DW735 Planer:
1. Unplug your machine.
2. Remove the red cut depth pointer and retain the screws
3. Set the preset turret depth stop to ¾” and lower the planer head until it stops.
4. Insert one of the provided short leveling screws into the jam nut at the base of the Wixey® unit and temporarily place it over the ruler scale on the planer. Use the leveling screw to raise the unit until the foot of the readout frame is level or slightly above the adjacent infeed planer table. The foot can not be below the table or the unit will have calibration issues. We used a straight edge to get the foot level with the table. This helped us later during calibration.
5. Remove the paper backing from the adhesive tape and carefully place the readout frame over the machine scale, assuring that the frame is aligned with the edge of the existing scale. The scale will be covered.
6. Securely fasten the readout frame to the planer. Do not depend only on the adhesive tape to keep the scale affixed. Use a 3.5mm drill bit (provided) to drill holes (using the holes in the readout frame) to insert and thread the provided 4mm screws. Insert and tighten the screws, but don’t overtighten.
7. To move the gauge up and down as the planer is adjusted for cutting depth, you’ll now install the mounting bracket, using the holes used for the original pointer. Use the double washer and the original screws, and loosely affix the bracket to the planer.
8. Make an initial adjustment of the readout unit. First, loosely attach the readout unit lever to the mounting bracket you just installed. Then install the connecting lever bracket to the side of the readout unit and raise the top of the readout unit at the depth of cut we set earlier - ¾”. Tighten the screw on the side of the readout unit.
9. Fully tighten all the connections on the lever and mounting bracket. Assure that the scale moves freely under the force of the spring. If the scale is bound, loosen, adjust, and retighten the bracket and lever link until the scale moves freely.
10. Install 2 - AAA batteries in the readout unit and press “ON/OFF.”
11. Power up your planer and run a flat board through set to any thickness - but be sure that material is removed from the entire top surface of the board. When done, DO NOT CHANGE THE CUTTER HEAD HEIGHT.
12. Lift the scale and place the planed board between the rounded end of the scale and the foot of the frame. Now press the “HOLD TO CAL” button for 3-5 seconds to set the scale to 0.000. Remove the board and let the scale slide back down until it is against the frame foot.
13. Measure the board thickness with the Wixey® unit. To do this, press the “AB/INC” button to put the readout into “INC” mode and to set the display to 0.00. Measure the thickness of the board you planed by lifting the scale and placing the board between the foot of the frame and the round end of the scale. The display will show the thickness of the board.
14. Confirm that the reading is correct by measuring the thickness of the board with a caliper or hook-end ruler. In the unlikely event the two measurements are not the same, visit Wixey’s frequently asked questions area:
www.wixey.com/p...
If you’d like to download the owner’s manual and installation guide (for a variety of machines), you can get it here:
www.wixey.com/p...
Here’s a handy guide to see if this unit will fit your machine:
www.wixey.com/p...
JUST DO IT YOURSELF!
Buy your DFJ T-Shirt, Cap, or Coffee Mug at www.dirtfarmer...

[@JASinIL2006]

Thank you for this video! This made installing the Wixey DRO on my Dewalt 735x a breeze. Thank you!

[@LostBoyLA]

Your video on this wixey guage was by far the best. Just so simple and clear the way you did it.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it helped! Thanks for the kind words. Best, DFJ

[@rustydegeorge5726]

Just bought the DW735x with the stand and Wixey Digital Gauge. Will use your very informative videos to assemble the stand and install the Wixey gauge. Thanks for producing these extremely helpful videos!!!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Awesome, thank you! Best, DFJ

[@j._7054]

3:25 Excellent instruction thanks

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks!

[@jasonbindseil7238]

Great video. Set mine up in 10 minutes with your help. Thank you!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Excellent!

[@glennkramer7370]

Excllent video. Clear, well described and detailed! Just ordered the Wixey WR510 for my DW735. Have you upgraded your planer with a Byrd segmented cutter head. Worth every penny!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glenn, great to hear from you. You will really like this read out. It's pretty easy to set up and so far has been VERY accurate. Indeed - we have the Byrd cutter head on hand and will install it during a future video episode. I've also had the pleasure of talking to one of the Bryd family - very cool people! We think we'll put one of these heads on our 6" jointer as well. Thanks for watching and writing! Best, DFJ

[@willwatlington6750]

Nice! Can you recalibrate it for the occasional used of a fixed pass through sled?

[@audiophileman7047]

Nice accessory, I'm surprised that DeWalt doesn't sell a model with a digital read out or the upgrade you installed.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Maybe one day they will. You know they know that this is a very popular option that is being added on after market. It is a bit surprising this isn't one of their options. Best, DFJ

[@ytbillybob]

Almost without exception, the negative connection in the battery holder has the "spring". Has anyone encountered an exception?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

That's been my observation as well! Best, DFJ

[@lenpiazza8493]

Your the best. Your several videos on the DW735 thickness plane has cemented my decision to purchase this planer once my new home is finished. I think thiss machine is too loud for my apartment. By the way, somewhere you mentioned you were going to add a Shelix (helical head) to your planer what happened to that?

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for watching and writing. Glad to be of help. We do have the Shelix head and will soon be producing an episode where compare before and after, and show the installation. I expect it'll be out in about 4 to 6 weeks. Watch for it! Best, DFJ

[@jakeh409]

Great video and very well explained. Are you still happy with your purchase? Thank you, Jake

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Yes, absolutely. Great tool. Thanks for asking. Best, DFJ

[@jakeh409]

That's good to know ,thank you.

[@alidjillali7450]

Bonjour 🇩🇿🌹🇩🇿

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Bonjour!

[@cryptoneon]

Pity is doesn't fit European brand Metabo

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Indeed. Perhaps I'll come out with a model that does for future iterations. Thanks for watching and writing!