Hey everyone! I'm an intermediate woodworker who just bought a century-old home and I'm setting up my workshop, finally moving away from sketchy equipment at the makerspace! I've used the DeWalt DW735 a lot and I'm keen on getting a used one along with the Shellix helical blade for better performance and quieter operation. My question is, can anyone suggest a similar tool with a helical head that matches the performance of the DW735 but stays around $800? I've seen used prices for the DW735 range from $300 to $500 in my area.
5 Answers
Finding used planers in your area can be tricky, but don’t give up! Keep checking out local listings on Facebook or Craigslist. Look for old Powermatic models if you can find them; those big iron machines are worth a look!
Just a heads up, I should've mentioned I'm looking for something new and ideally around the $800 mark!
The DW735 really is top-notch in the lunchbox category. I've tried several brands like Rikon and Laguna, and while they’re decent, nothing beats the rave about the DW735, especially with the helical upgrade. It’s just in a league of its own!
Honestly, you might just want to stick with the DW735 and get the Shellix upgrade. I bought mine used like 12 years ago, and it’s still kicking strong aside from replacing a belt once! I have heard good things about Oliver’s newer lunchbox planers too, but I'm not sure about their pricing.
I had a DW735 with the Shellix blade, and it worked great for surfacing. But when I ran several boards consecutively, it struggled a bit. I prefer older cast iron machines; I found a Delta from the 60s and put a Shellix in that, which was an awesome upgrade! Just keep in mind your needs. If you're mostly doing smaller projects, the DW735 is solid, but for furniture-making, consider a Powermatic 100 or a bigger machine!
I was in a similar situation a couple of months ago. Sold my DW735X for about $425 with some extras, then picked up an Oliver 13" planer with a helical cutter head for $999. After selling my DW and adding up the costs, it ended up being pretty close to what I would have paid to upgrade. No regrets so far with the Oliver, and it’s been easier than tearing apart the DeWalt for upgrades.
I personally got lucky with a used DW735 and already had the Shellix installed, but I'm also working on an older PM100 planer. I'm really interested to see how they compare performance-wise once I get the PM100 up and running. Any thoughts on that?