The Dewalt DW734 Benchtop Planer is a powerful and reliable thicknesser with a 15 AMP 20,000 RPM motor
What We Like
- 15 AMP 20,000 RPM motor
- Three-blade cutter-head
- Thickness scale for precision
- Supersized infeed and outfeed table
- 90 days money-back guarantee
- Carriage lock for enhanced performance and durability
What We Don’t Like
- No dust collector not included
- Expensive
- Sniping problem
Bottom Line
DeWalt didn’t become one of the top manufacturers of hardware by producing unreliable products.
The Dewalt DW734 is no exception as you can see in our Dewalt DW734 Benchtop Planer review. The product has a powerful motor that makes it ideal for small to medium-scale projects.
The dust collection system is the gold standard. However, there is no dust port or shop vacuum added to the package.
You’ll have to buy a dust collector separately after spending more than $400 on the planer. Also, there is the sniping problem to worry about despite the presence of carriage locks.
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You Don’t Need to Be a Professional Woodworker to Own a Few Great Power Tools in Your Home.
The right set of power tools will help you save money over time while you sharpen your woodworking skills at the same time.
If you don’t have a lot of experience with power tools, you might end up spending too much money on overpriced products.
One of the handiest and affordable power tools you can buy as a beginner is the Dewalt DW734 thickness planer.
This thicknesser has an amazing 15-AMP 20,000 RPM motor. This is impressive since many other planers in the same price range as the DW734 have 5000 RPM motors.
It can be used to make deep cuts in hardwood just as well as it trims. It is the planer you should go for if you’re looking for something that will give your work a professional finish.
What else does the Dewalt DW734 offer you apart from the motor? This is what we will address in our Dewalt 15-Amp Benchtop Planer review.
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Features of the Dewalt DW734
15 AMP 20,000 RPM Motor
Like many other DeWalt planers, the Dewalt DW734 benchtop planer can be used by professionals and hobbyists alike. The 15 AMP motor will give you up to 20, 000 RPM.
The power makes it a great option for different types of wood from soft to hard. Using the depth adjustment option, you can choose the perfect level for the piece of wood in question.
The depth adjustment is easy to use and ensures that you get precise depth. When you use a planer without a depth adjustment feature, you might end up cutting deeper than you wanted or not deep enough.
You may need to eyeball the process and this can be time-consuming. Besides, you can’t compare the precision you get from eyeballing to what you get when you use a depth adjustment feature.
The motor doesn’t overheat except there is something wrong with it. If you notice that it is overheating, unplug it and leave it off for a while.
If overheating becomes a persistent issue, you should call DeWalt and complain.
Three Blade Cutter-head
The motor of the DW734 benchtop planer is its heart and the blade is the brain. The motor powers the entire system up allowing the blade to do its work efficiently.
Without the blade, the motor is useless and vice versa. There are three blades on the benchtop which boost productivity and efficiency significantly compared to products with one or even two blades.
The Dewalt DW734 comes with disposable dual-edge knives. This is how most modern planers are made.
These blades are thin but razor-sharp at the same time. They are also universal so there isn’t going to be any challenge sourcing for the blades.
Even if these knives are referred to as disposable knives, they give you 30% more lifespan than regular stainless steel knives. They are reversible and easy to change.
The head cutter speed is 10, 000 RPM so it’s not a surprise that it is a great option among professionals.
Related Reading: Delta Power Tools 22-555 Thickness Planer
Thickness Scale and Carriage Lock
Precision is everything when it comes to power tools. It doesn’t matter if it’s a band saw, miter saw, or thicknesser.
Some will argue that precision is the primary reason behind the invention of thickness planers. So, it’s good that the Dewalt DW734 benchtop planer comes with many features that promote precision.
One of these features is the thickness scale. The extra-large thickness scale allows the saw to deliver accurate cuts with each pass.
Two other features that enhance precision are the material removal gauge and carriage lock. The material removal gauge is a red knob that looks like a needle.
It allows you to set the cutters. All you have to do is read the gauge and keep moving until it gets to the point you want.
There is a 4-column carriage lock that is supposed to reduce snipe but it doesn’t do this efficiently since sniping is one of the most common flaws of this Dewalt power tool.
Cutting Capacity and Feeding Tables
The cutting capacity of the Dewalt DW734 is another impressive feature thanks to the long infeed and outfeed tables that are 33½ inches.
These tables offer material support when the planer is doing its magic of 96 cuts per inch. It cuts 6 inches deep and 12 ½ inches wide.
It offers one of the best finishes you will get from any thickness planer in the market. There is a dust management system in place that helps you get rid of the sawdust automatically while you work.
However, you will need to buy a standing dust collector or shop vacuum required to be attached to the dust collection system.
This attracts additional cost but it isn’t too expensive. You can find the dust bag on Amazon.
Related Reading: Bosch PL2632K Hand Planer
Dewalt DW734 Review The Verdict
No thickness planer is perfect but as you can see from our Dewalt DW734 Benchtop Planer review, it comes close to the mark.
Save for a few flaws, the DW734 is one of the best options for homeowners and commercial woodworkers alike. If you can afford to pay almost $450 for a planer, do so by all means. If you’re not happy with the product.
You can return it within the first three months and get your money back. The limited warranty lasts for 3 years but some factors void this warranty.
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