Amazon.com Review

Delta calls its 22-580 a finishing planer, but it's really two planers in one. A dimensioning speed of 60 cpi allows you to shave rough wood to its desired thickness quickly and accurately, with virtually no snipe. Then, with a single pass at the quicker finishing speed of 90 cpi, your wood comes out ultrasmooth and ready to go. The razor-sharp, double-sided M2 steel knives are powered by a 15 amp, 120-volt, single-phase motor. Bells and whistles like a blade zero indicator (which lets you set the cutterhead to the exact thickness of your wood), patented cutterhead lock (which eliminates snipe), and easy blade-change system add to the value, as do the oversize infeed and outfeed tables, which make it easier to glide your wood through the machine. Overall, this is one solid piece of machinery. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• Fastest and safest blade change system on the market
• 2-Speed feed rate system for rough and finishing stock removal
• Patented cutterhead lock virtually eliminates snipe
• Full range depth stop for any thickness from 1/8" to 6-12"
• Blade zero indicator to set the cutterhead the exact thickness of material

Reviews (63)

Two thumbs up....way up!
After being in the market for a planer for several months, I had read dozens of reviews. I couldn't justify spending $1200.00+ on a 15" planer, but was also a bit reluctant to buy a "portable" looking planer. I finally decided on the Delta 22-580K and I am very happy with this machine. Delta has gotten everything right on this planer. Dont let the benchtop look fool you, this planer has plenty of power. The 13" capacity is ample for most applications and the ZERO Blade Set and the Cutterhead lock are great features. The finish is smooth as glass and no sanding is required (even on the dimensioning speed its very good). The cutterhead lock really does eliminate snipe. I have found the depth gauge to be quite accurate. It took only about 10 minutes to have the unit up and running. All you have to do is mount the 2 cranks. It takes longer to watch the video that comes with the unit. I havent changed blades yet, but other reviewers say it is pretty easy. I would advise anyone looking at a 15" planer to give this unit serious consideration. I would recommend it without reservation.

Buying rough wood is great!
This planer does a great job in every type of wood I've run through it. Plenty of power, easy to adjust, and I've probably already retrieved the cost of the planer by buying rough wood. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that when received, the cutter head was about 3/16" out of square with the table, and it took forever to figure out how to correct it, as the owner's manual makes no mention of it. Also, I'm a little suspect of the durability of the knives, although other reviewers seem to have had good luck... I've already had to turn the originals over due to fine nicks. Don't buy this unless you've got a plan for dust collection (have to buy the attachment separately, which makes no sense). Two 12 foot 4/4 boards will fill a 30 gallon trash can when planing to 3/4". Other than the few issues, this is typical of the kind of quality I've always gotten with Delta.

Good, solid and reliable
I bought this planer after passing on the new DeWalt because of reliability issues.

This is a solid machine with a lot of features to make planing a simple chore for the home woodworker. I do recommend getting the dust collector chute and hooking it up to a dust collector. This thing creates a LOT of shavings.

The wood comes out nice and smooth. I do like the zero depth stop feature. The thickness gauge is accurate once you've set it properly. I really like the instructional video that comes with the machine as it clears up any confusion with the manual's descriptions of different operations.

I use this planer in conjunction with a Ridgid jointer, so for a relatively low outlay of $$ I can start with rough timber. This is the quickest return on investment you can get as prepared timber is so much more expensive to buy.

Faithful & True
Being a user of Delta & Porter Cable products and builder of cabinets and fine furniture, once again, Delta's reputation of quality machinery stands true. I found the pre adjustments made at the factory were on target with no adjustments needed on my part. I broke the machine in starting with maple, walnut and oak milling down from 34" to 1/2" with no trouble and no sniping worth talking about. The finish was smooth as glass. However, I do recommend that you should purchase the vac attachment for the planer as you will build a mountain of chips that would put a beaver to shame. I have the planer hooked up to a shop vac which does the job with little effort and the area is clean after planing. If you are looking for quality work with simplicity in operating, you can't go wrong with the Delta 13" planer.

Very good first planer
This is my first planer. I am a hobby woodworker. I have been using this planer for about 3 months now and it has become a central peice of equipment in my shop. I have run several hundred board feet of lumber through this thing and I have never sniped a board unless it was my fault (like pulling up on the board in the end of the out feed). It leaves a glassy finish on most every wood. There is some tearout in curly maple which is to be expected. It is powerful, quiet, and most importantly accurate. I have never used a pro model planer but im not sure the difference. This planer planes to the desired thickness and leaves a surface that needs no sanding. What more can you ask for. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sometimes, half an inch makes all the difference. But that's not the only reason to step up to the 735. Its powerful 10,000 rpm motor will handle anything you feed it--oak, walnut, exotics--with absolute ease. The three-knife cutterhead will make 96 or 179 cuts per inch, depending on which speed setting you choose. Mess is minimized with the fan-assisted chip ejection, which literally vacuums chips off the cutter-head and blows them out the exhaust. The 735's automatic carriage lock will save you from snipe by reducing the movement that causes it--what a great idea. We also love the redesigned thickness scale--it's big and super-visible, even in poor lighting. Those who do repetitive cuts will appreciate the turret depth-stop; set your most-used cuts to it once and you're always assured of accuracy. The home woodworker will be thrilled, and the professional's expectations will be more than met. This is a winner.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Solid 19-3/4-inch cast aluminum base provides for rigidity
• Three knife cutter-head for superior surface finish
• Fan-assisted chip ejection system aids in the removal of debris
• Two-speed gear box, 96 or 179 cuts per inch for the finest finish
• Automatic carriage lock minimizes the movement that causes snipe

Reviews (32)

A very good planner.
I had been shopping for a new planner for a few months and had settled on the Delta 22-580 when the DeWalt DW735 was announced. After a little research, I was sold. I have only had this planer for a few days, but so far I am satisfied in every way. I purchased this tool to replace an older Delta 12 inch planer. The difference is like night and day. Though the Delta did a good enough job, there was always a bit of snipe. Knife changes were a hassle and the dust hood was a cheap, flimsy device that never sealed well, and got in the way of the board as it came out the outfeed side. The De Walt has NO snipe, and the integral dust chute with fan assist works well and is trouble free. I don't know how it will be changing knives, but it should be much easier. The three knife cutter head gives excellent results. So far I have planned pine, birch and cherry. Even on the 96 cuts per inch setting, the planned surface is smooth and free of tear out. All controls are easy to read and use. The depth control is especially nice as it is a large easy to manipulate wheel. The unit is large and heavy for a portable, but as I will be using it on a mobile stand this will not be a problem. The noise level is high , as are most planners so hearing protection is a must. While the price is higher than some planners, I feel its worth it.

5 Stars for the 20 Minutes it Worked
I too had one of the sprockets sheer apart after a single day of use; and not even heavy use! I called DeWalt and they informed me that "some of the units had undersized bearings that caused the feed roller sprocket to break." They suggested I return it to the distributor and exchange it for a new unit since the newer production run corrected this problem with larger bearings. This isn't really a serious setback for me (except for the delay in playing with my toy) since I didn't buy it online, the dealer stood behind the product and it was less than 30 days old (DeWalt unconditional 30 day warranty). That said, however, I can imagine how much of a pain in the neck it is(not to mention costly) to ship the 90 pound defect back to Amazon! I'm disappointed that DeWalt (particularly on their highest end planer)didn't post some sort of recall if they knew the problem was systemic and offer to pay for the shipping back if you bought it online. In addition, DeWalt wouldn't tell me how to ascertain that the exchanged for planer had the larger bearing and was free from the defect. Perhaps the Serial Number would tell me? I asked. DeWalt wouldn't help. In addition, the dealer didn't know about the defect or which ones were "old" or "new", so he couldn't head off possible problems. I've decide to wait until the dealer receives a new shipment to exchange mine...which he says will be in another week. Anyway, the machine was terrific while it worked with virtually no snipe and a glass finish. We'll see if the "new" one I get holds up.

Update:

Well, I got a replacement...the dealer couldn't have been more accommodating. The new machine works perfectly and the cut quality is excellent. I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because: 1. I had to go through the hassle of exchanging the defective product 2. It is so LOUD that it requires wearing Stihl ear muffs made for a chain saw when operating and 3. the placement of the dust collection port directly above the stock outfeed requires you to support the dust collection hose or risk having it interfere with the stock as it exits the planer.

By the way, I did not purchase the optional tables and don't feel they're necessary, a little practice feeding the stock straight in and there's no problem with snipe. Lastly, I bought the mobile stand...excellent, very well made, and a great value.

Defective Design - Awful Customer service
After about 200 board feet, the sprocket and chain drive broke on this tool. Brought to service center for warrantly work and they told me they have seen 5 or 6 like this recently. Obviously a design problem.

Been waiting a week for new parts - have lost 2 weekends of work (the service centers have banker hours and no weekends). When I call to find out when it will be done, just get jerked around and they act like I'm annoying them.

Save your money and buy a Delta Stationary Tool. Last DeWalt tool I will ever buy. (Which is too bad as this planer leaves a great surface finish)

Disappointing Results, Returned the Planer.
I am a professional woodworker, and I decided that I needed a portable planer in addition to my Powermatic 160. I bought this one over the others for two reasons: it supposedly did not need a headlock and the blower/chip ejector meant it was it's own dust collector (this feature worked well). The problem? The knives are GARBAGE! They last about 30 minutes before they are dull. At that point, two things start happening. The feed rollers start to need help pulling the wood through AND the supposedly self-locking head creeps upward as the wood is pulled through. These problems render this machine nearly useless. I understand that planer knives get dull, but these dull much faster than any other knives I've used, and because of the quick-change system (which is nice, I have to admit) they are your only choice. I was extremely disappointed with this machine. I own other Dewalt tools and am very happy with them. I returned the planer to where it was purchased.

And The Rough Places Made Smooth
I wouldn't be writing this if my new/old Delta single speed planer had managed to do what I needed. It wasn't very expensive, but faced with 100 board feed of maple it simply gave up trying. In desperation I bought this DeWalt 13" portable planer, and the day was saved.

For a portable, the DeWalt is quite solid. It really does weigh 100 pounds, and if you have the extensions on it the machine is a bit awkward for one person to move. The grips are good, but if possible, use two folks to move it.

The planer uses four very solid screw posts to position the head. The cutter and rollers are not going to be moved by any piece of lumber that a rational woodworker would feed into it. If you are careful feeding in the lumber (and buy the extensions) you will find that snipe can often be completely avoided.

By putting three knives on the cutter and allowing for two roller speeds the planer achieves 96 or 179 cuts per inch, more than enough for a fine surface. The type of cutter used is 'disposable,' and with portable planers, it's something for which you should prepare yourself. Careful planing using thin cuts is much better for the knives, but you won't get more than 50 board feed through before some wear begins to show up. Since the knives can be reversed, expect to replace a blade set every 100 feet - if you are a perfectionist. If you will be sanding anyway or are willing to lightly hone the knives you can get a bit more.

The cutter has two additional useful features. A small gauge tells you how much of a cut you are making and what the recommended cut should be. This allows for great precision and helps keep you from impatient over-cutting. You can also set a depth stop it you are doing a lot of planing to a specific thickness. You will probably also want the extension tables, which are surprisingly solid, and either the chip collector or a dust removal system - the fan blower in the DW735 will throw chips straight across the room without one.

In summary, this is the solidest portable planer I've used. It's also the most ergonomic. Maintenance and knife changing are equally easy. As with any planer with disposable blades, don't expect to plane a house full of wood without the knives wearing. And don't forget to buy some hearing protection. The DW735 packs a lot of power, and lets you know it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Arguably the best portable model on the market. To best minimize snipe, Makita came up with an innovative four-column design and fortified it with diagonal cross supports to stabilize the cutterhead while the patented Interna-Lok cutterhead depth adjustment secures the head while cutting. We particularly like how easy it is to adjust the depth scale and gauge. The depth stop makes sure you never overplane multiple pieces. The infeed and outfeed tables are supersized - another little perk we liked. Often, changing planer knives is an ordeal, but Makita's quick-change system and externally accessible brushes minimize your maintenance time and get you back to what you really love doing. The unit is relatively lightweight as these machines go, and at 83 decibels, is among the quietest of its kind. Still, please use ear protection when you're using this little beauty. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Supersize infeed and outfeed tables maximize work support
• Compact and lightweight for easy transporting to the job-site
• 15 amp motor delivers no load speed of 8,500 rpm
• Table size of 13 by 30-3/8 inches
• Patented Interna-Lok automated head clamp minimizes snipe

Reviews (25)

Worth the Money
Much like other reviewers, I have a small shop and make personal furniture and cabinetry. I too agonized over the purchase of a planer. The obvious dilemma is between a floor model 15" and a portable 12". The Makita is more costly than most of the portables, but less than half of the stationary 15" models.

After reading of the trouble others have had with the Delta (and my own negative experiences with Delta) I decided to spring the extra bucks for the Makita quality.

Great decision. This planer performs flawlessly. As long as you keep each pass shallow, snipe is of no concern, and I also agree that you have to cut the ends off the stock anyway. Snipe won't mean a thing if you have a board end check on you after you have completed a project.

I too reserve the other 5th star for longevity, as I have only had the planer for several months. As for the dust hood-I plan to save myself the money and just make my own. Any true woodworker can handle the fabrication necessary for a rectangular plenum with a round outlet-it's held on by a couple of thumb screws.

I say you can't beat this planer.

Well worth the price !!!
I recently read an article in one of the Popular woodworking comparing many of the 12" bench top planers. I had my heart set on a Delta, since my experience so far had been good. Boy did that article change my mind in a hurry. They has only good things to say about this planer. The only downside was the price. They said that they loved the planer, just couldn't justify the price. Well, I could. I'm sick of getting exacty what you pay for. I'm willing to spend a little more and get top quality. If you are too, this is the planer for you. Got it (from the tool-crib BTW) on Sat and spent the next day planing some 4/4 red oak. Beautiful finish !! A fine sanding is all that's required. Also, the stop remembers what your last, final, thick- ness was, which came in handy as I needed another 3/4 board and had already put the planer away. Snipe was a minimum, maybe 2-3 inches on the feed end and, as long as you're careful, none on the back end. Take some advice, get yourself a nice pair or dial calipers. I got a 6" Starrett from the tool crib here and it, in conjunction with the planer will give you the _exact_ thickness that you need. I'm sick of going to the lumber yard and ordering 1/2", and some are a little strong of 1/2" and some a little shy and none of your dados are fit like the test cut did. Another cool feature is the thickness dial on the crank. Using the calipers, you find that you need another 1/32" off the side. Set the 1/32" mark on the thickness dial, turn the crank until the '0' matches up with the mark and it takes off the required amount, no more, no less.

Makita 2012NB 12" Portable Planer
A joy to use. Simple, straight forward and without all the marketing hype of some of the other machines. Stock feeding is a very easy task. Transport is positive without the bother of a lock each time you make a pass. Crank adjustment is very easy to adjust for the smallest of stock removal. The depth stop is easy to use. The unit worked perfectly right out of the box. Read the instructions, plug it in, turn it on and your good to go. Fit and finish is top drawer and it's hard to imagine how it could be better. Unit produced just the smallest amount of snipe at about 1 1/2 inch from the ends. No big deal, a few passes of 220 grit sandpaper and it's gone or , I perfer to just cut it off. I only mention the snipe because it's there, not because it's a problem. Again, not worth taking a star away. This has fast become my favorite power machine, and I have them all. Go buy it. Simple , straight forward and rugged. It's a winner.

Great planer!!!
I am glad that I had bought this planer. I have planned some 10ft long 8/4 mahogany boards with it and the finish was excellent. Sniping was minimal and in most cases nonexistent if I support the board correctly while feeding it in and as it comes out. I did buy it new from Amazon and used it without any need for adjustment. I think the quality is very good and the planer is very quiet comparing to an old portable Delta planner that I had.

A Fine Planer
I bought this planer based on several factors. In no particular order they were: Makita's reputation, the reviews I read at this site, and its claim as being one of the quieter planers. I have never used another planer so I can't give a first-hand comparison. I can say, however, that I have been very happy with this tool. I used it quite heavily for building a workbench from hard maple. It is quiet, as advertised. I found it very easy on the ears. I had no problems with snipe, though I agree with other comments on this site that problems with snipe are overblown. Just trim your boards to finished length after planing. But as I said, I never had any problems. The blades were easy to change, and in general I found the tool accurate and easy to use.

For the most part, the finish was ready for sanding. However, when planing some of the heavily figured maple there was some tear out. I have since found out that this is to be expected and one should not expect a final finish from a planer on figured wood. In fact there is whole time-honored regimen for surfacing figured wood involving high-angled planes and scrapers. Just thought I'd pass that along.

If you've never had a planer before you will probably be surprised at how much of a mess they make. You will most likely want to add dust collection at some point in the future, so if you don't buy the dusthood now plan on buying it at some point down the road. ... Read more

Amazon.com

There are lots of options for mounting a benchtop planer, but this is one of the best. While it's predrilled precisely for DeWalt planers, a few seconds with a drill fixes that problem. It's made of rugged, durable, heavy-gauge steel and assembles fairly easily in under an hour. When locked, the unit's rock-stable, but just trip the pedal that engages the wheels and you're moving. It's the perfect stand for the home woodworker because when you're done planing, you can move the unit out of the center of the room and store it against a wall effortlessly.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Supports all benchtop planers
• Constructed from heavy gauge steel brackets for durability
• Pedal engages and disengages the wheels under the stand to allow easy movement of the planer
• Pre-drilled to accomodate any DEWALT planer for convenience

Reviews (12)

This is a very high quality shop accessory!
I received this mobile planer stand for Christmas and I am very pleased with it. The packaging was adequate and the assembly instructions were basic and easy to follow. Working alone I had this stand assembled in about 45 minutes. I was amazed that all of the pre-drilled holes were precisely where they needed to be. None were off even a little bit! Although the picture here on Amazon shows this planer stand without the (included) lower shelf installed, I went ahead and installed mine. I think this is a great feature to include with this product as it adds an extra storage spot and it also adds rigidity to the stand (although it felt very sturdy anyway). For now I have put my Delta planer on the stand and am pleased with the utility of this product. The only thing I can think of that could be improved a bit, and this is minor, is the particle-board top of the stand. I felt it was a bit undersized and also a bit too thin. If I were redesigning this tool I would have made the top twice as thick to add strength as well as weight to cut down on vibration. As I said though, this is a very minor criticism. Overall I highly recommend this mobile stand as a quality product and a good value for the money!

Great Stand! Instructions need work
The stand is very solid and well built, aside from some errors in the instructions it went together quickly.

There were a couple of problems with the instructions:
1) The nuts and bolts in my kit required a 13mm socket & wrench, NOT the 1/2" stated in the directions.
2) The pictures of the bolts and the instructions are misleading. The shorter bolts should be used to attach the wheels and the foot pedal assembly and the longer ones are needed to mount the Dewalt 735 planer to the top. The instructions show them the other way around.

A good stand for a good planner
I bought this stand to use with my DW735 planner and after using it for five months, I have nothing but good to say about it. All parts are very well made and assembly is straitforward. The parts practically fall together. I have assembled many stamped steel stands over the years, and this was probably the easiest. The base has three wheels, two fixed and one castoring. The castor has a foot pedal to raise and lower the stand. The pedal is large and easy to use, even for people with big feet(like me). The pedal can be installed inside or outside the stand. Placing it outside makes it easier to reach, but placing it inside reduces the tripping hazard to people with big feet(like me). Moving the planner/stand combination by pulling on the planner handle is easy and there is no tendacy to tip. It is very manuverable. The stand is absolutly stable in use and I have never had problems with it moving when locked down.
At first, I was concerned with the top. It is not as sturdy looking as the rest of the stand. I considered replacing it with birch ply or at least heavier particle board. But after using it a few times, I forgot about wanting to change it.
One surprise with the product was the addition of a shelf that was not shown in any picture of the stand I've seen. The installation instruction for the shelf are on a seperate sheet, as though it where added after production began. How often does a manufacturer add something to a product? I've considered enclosing the stand with sheet metal and fabricating a door to create a storage area but I haven't done it yet.
You could build a stand as good for less cost but who has the time? It's hard to justify the expense and time committment woodworking requires if all you build are shop fixtures. I'd rather spend my limited time in the shop building furniture. Gotta keep Mama happy!

You gotta be pulling my leg!
Really Folks,

I can understand how contractors could benefit from a lightweight portable metal stand. However, I can't see how anyone else could be so excited about this contraption. It is hardly inexpensive at $100. It's some bent sheetmetal and particleboard! Assuming access to a table saw and basic skills, anyone should be able to produce a more elegant and less costly solution. A plywood box with wheels will do that very well. Better yet would be to add a door and shelves for storage. Two hours working plywood beats one hour assembling sheetmetal with all the screws, washers, nuts, wrenches, instructions, etceteras. A plywood stand could be used to store the manual, replacement knives, knife changing tools, and extension cord to name a few. Let's get realistic!

I have suggestions for assemblying the stand
Assembling the stand is almost easier if you don't look at the instructions. If you can put together a jigsaw puzzle you can put the stand together. In fact, if you just look at the illustrations and use your common sense you are way ahead of the game. But I've made a list of my own helpful hints that will serve you well if you follow them. This is a first class stand and having assembled it and having an 80-pound planer on top of it I am very glad I spent the extra bucks to get it. The pressboard top is the only cheesy thing about it and Dewalt should be embarrassed that they cut corners on this part. The four Phillips head bolts/screws, used to hold the top to the stand, almost pull through the top with any kind of torque at all. Still, since it has predrilled holes for the planer, I used it because I wanted to get up and running and I didn't want to take the time to build my own top, which I may do later.

First, find a nice comfortable workspace big enough to lay this thing out. I used the back of my pickup truck bed and sliced open the top of the shipping box and left the big parts in the bottom of the box. I also had a couple of sawhorses with a sturdy flat top to hold pieces as I assembled them. Second, do yourself a big favor; get three little boxes or trays to sort the nuts, bolts, and washers into. Be careful here, there are TWO LOCK NUTS that look similar to the other nuts but have nylon inserts. Also, there is a second bag of nuts and bolts and washers inside the first bag. Keep this bag sealed and put it into one of the trays since you will use them last to bolt your planer to the stand. The next-to-the-last bolts/screws you will use are the Phillips, which is used to attach the top to the stand so you can put them aside as well. Find a clear place to stack all of the similar stand pieces. I found that finger tightening all the nuts and bolts was a smart thing to do [just in case you put the wrong piece in the wrong place] you can easily tighten everything after it is put together. I used a 13mm socket on a 6-inch extension with a 3/8 ratchet. The ½" socket the instructions ask you to use is just a little too large and may round off the nuts. The only other tool I used was a small crescent wrench and only had to use it twice. Once, with the locknut-wheel-assembly and again when attaching the stand to the roll-around wheelbase.

Let's use the lock nuts first and get them out of our way. They go on two of the [four] shoulder bolts, which go through the center hole of each wheel bracket then through each of the two wheels, then onto the roll-around base. Look at the lock nut. One side shows the nylon the other side doesn't. The side that doesn't screws onto the bolt. This is where you will need your socket and another wrench. You put the wheels and brackets on the end opposite the rubber feet. Use the small carriage bolts, lock washers and nuts for the two outside holes of the bracket. Next put the foot pedal onto the roll-around base. As you look at the pedal, it has a set of holes that you will never use. Don't let them confuse you. You will use the bracket opposite the wheel itself with it's own set of holes to attach the pedal to the roll-around base. Hold the roll-around base with the rubber feet toward you and put the foot pedal inside the base [wheel down, pedal up] align the two bracket holes over the base holes and now use the last two shoulder bolts, lock washers and nuts to attach the foot pedal. You're done with the roll-around base. Put it aside and work on the stand next.

Here you will use all carriage bolts, lock washers and nuts for the stand. Pick up the front-panel, the piece with the big Dewalt name on it. Put one leg on either side. All Legs Will Be On The Outside of both the two front and the two side metal panels. Finger tighten the carriage bolts, lock washers and nuts. Put the other two legs on the meal rear-panel, which is the same size as the Dewalt panel. Now attach the short metal side-panels to the legs. [The Dewalt front-panel and the rear-panel will be on top of the two side panels. [see illustration to see what I mean. See how the big panels lay on top of the shorter panels?] Next attach the two side brackets halfway down the legs on the same end as you attached the side panels. Then attach the tray to the side brackets. You're done with the stand.

Now place the roll-around rack on a table [my pickup bed] where it won't get away from you [wheels to the left and rubber feet to the right] as you face it. Remove the left most carriage bolt holding the wheel bracket to the roll-around stand and the one opposite it on the other bracket. Put the stand inside the roll-around base [Dewalt panel toward you] and re-insert the wheel bracket carriage bolts and the last two carriage bolts on the other leg to the stand and you're done except for the top. Tighten every nut and bolt and then line up the top with the holes and insert the phillips bolts/screws and you're really done until you bolt the planer to the top using the sealed bag of nuts and bolts which you didn't open until now right! ... Read more

Product Description

Powerful 15 amp, 120V motor for superior stock removal. Two-knife, quick change, solid steel cutterhead mounted on ball bearings assures smooth operation and long life. High-speed steel, double-edge/reversible knives included for twice the cutting life.Patented cutterhead elevation on four precision-ground columns for superior cut stability.Poly-V belt cutterhead drive with rugged gearbox/chain & sprocket feed roller drive for maximum power transmission.Convenient wood return roller.Adjustable infeed/outfeed tables.Easy to read English/Metric scale ... Read more

Features

• Poly V-belt cutterhead drive with rugged gearbox/chain and sprocket feed roller drive for maximumpower transmission
• Powerful 15 amp, 120V motor for superior stock removal
• Two-knife, quick change, solid steel cutterhead mounted on ball bearings assures smooth operation and long life
• High speed steel, double edge reversible knives included for twice the cutting life
• Patented cutterhead elevation on four precision-ground columns for superior cut stability

Reviews (4)

Cheap, easy, lowCPI, snipe, uTables, uLife Blades
I was looking cheap, just to clean up some rough-hewn boards.The bottom-end Lowes had was the TP-305 (12.5" vs TP-300 12.0", otherwise EXACTLY the same) for $199, so I got that.

Into and Basics
First off, the TP-305 is single speed.Fine for my purposes.As someone else said, if you're doing "fine woodworking", you'll sand with high-grit before calling it done.

Everything is metal, and the handle on top doubles as a foam covered transfer roller.It's very solid and stable, you know, for a "portable".

The belt drive is about 3/4", versus about 2" for the Hitachi and DeWalt.Conversely, the belt on the Delta is fiber reinforced black rubber, like a fan belt, rather than being clear, plain rubber.

There is supposedly a chain-drive for gear reduction, but I haven't dismantled it yet to lubricate them.

Setup
Second, it was a snap to prepare.I pulled it out of the box.It's maybe 75 or 80 pounds.OK if you lift right, or 2-person lift otherwise.It included the planer assembly, a dust chute with 2 fasteners, a hex wrench which fits in a slot on top, a magnetic blade tool, and a crank handle with hex-head fastener.

I put it on top of a table.No LRF support, and there was a little flashing on the bottom, so don't unpack this onto a nice table.Something like this should be bolted down.The deck holes are 1/4", one on each corner.I used some washers and deck screws and that was more than enough to keep it stable.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
You NEED earplugs.Yes, it is "quiet" compared to some shopplaners/jointers, it's still loud.Earmuffs should be OK, but I opted for spongy/expanding 33db earplugs.No problem there, but I was definitely deaf to the world.

Also, goggles are a must.These two things are silly and simple, but just in case you didn't know.This might not be so important if they ever get immunology and organ cloning down, but since you're limited to one set of eyes right now, best protect them from flying debris.

If you want to reach, adjust, oil, or perform ANY maintenance, unplug your machine."I thought I was safe but something fell and flipped the switch" wouldn't quite cut it with your friends.

ALWAYS operate with the dust chute in place.The motor blows air into it and it sends the chips out the back.Without it, A) You'll be covered in vertically launched curls, and more importantly B) The top of the cutter head will be exposed, which is very not safe.

Keep distractions and horseplay away from this machine.This is not a toy, it's an 8000 RPM spinning blade of doom.No playing.Period.OK?JUNIOR!?!?!Are you LISTENING TO ME!NO PLAYING.Ok.Good.Serious machine.

SNIPER, NO SNIPING!
As a portable planer goes, the fold-out tables are fairly small.I tried using Skill brand roller stands on each side to help hold the workpiece, but this planer loves to snipe on ingress.

Tilt your board down into the planer about 5 degrees, and don't cut deep and you'll limit it.Even so, every board has a 2-3" spot that's maybe 1/32" thinner than the rest of the length.

Egress snipe is alleviated by lifting ever so slightly on the workpiece for the final stretch.If you don't get it, you'll hear the motor change speed as it chews into the end.It's really just the design of the rollers.I think you'd probably get snipe even if you made your own full-length table flush with the input.

With 12" boards, snipe was not very noticeable, whereas with 4" boards, it was always very noticeable.

Blade Lifespan
The blades that came with it do well, but it's only 2 blades. It goes through them fairly quickly.Newer wood is fine.I made several passes on both sides of rough hewn cedar.All was well. I sent through some 12" rough cedar with 25 year crusty paint, and it wasn't really happy with that.

It's 2mm per turn and on 12" stock with fresh blades you can do that.When you get to 1/3 turn and it still drops the RPMs significantly, you're past the life of the blades.

I got to this point after removing 3/16ths from each side of 40 feet of 4" wide cedar, and about 1/8th from each side of a 6' long 12" piece of paint encrusted cedar.It seems that the wider board heats the blades more, especially the old, rubbery paint, and once they heat up, the edge fades MUCH more rapidly.

Signs your planer blades are dull
The machine emits dust and not curls.
The machine leaves roller rubber on the workpiece.
The wood peels along the grain in very thin strip.
The motor slows down, but there is no output.
The rollers stop feeding.
The workpiece becomes polished, even glassy.
The workpiece is noticeably warm to the touch.
Running the workpiece through a second time at the same setting till slows the motor.

Blade Replacements
I'm thinking I'll see if I can design the same at http://www.emachineshop.com out of something harder under heat, but you know, since I don't REALLY have the skill for that, I picked up a couple sets of spare blades when I got the planer.The spares were $26/set and made of "High Speed Steel".I don't know the specific grade, but truly, they went south REALLY quickly on the wider, painted boards.

Blade Swap procedures
The swap is fairly easy, though they are initially installed with an impact wrench.Breaking the screws the first time gave off sparks on three.Freaky.Anyway, you access the six screws by:
A) Unplug the machine.Yes, UNPLUG IT.Switches have been known to fail in this universe.Don't risk it.
B) remove the two thumbscrews on the top.
C) Remove the dust chute
D) Turn the head with "the tool" such that you an access one side of the head. Adjust the machine height, or rotate the head such that the tool clears the handle/rollerbar.
E) Loosten the screws such that the black plate ALMOST comes loose.Test one screw for proper sizing.I think this is about a 16th of an inch.
F) Use the little split magnet tool to scoop under the blade, lift up off of the retaining pins, and pull out.
WARNING The blade may be hot if it's recently been used, especially if it's really dull.
G) spin the blade.
WARNING The sharp side of the blade is SHARP!I know this seems like an idiot thing to say, but if you aren't careful, I will mock you for your bloodletting experience.Yes, I'm secretly watching you.
H) Slid in, align such that it drops down properly (ie, the retaining pins are in the holes).
I) Tighten the screws, starting with the ends and working your way in.In generaly, thumb-tighten all of them, then torque them down afterward to make sure alignment is good.
J) Repeat for the other side of the head. (ie. always swap/replace BOTH blades at the same time).

Miscellaneous
Check your belt shroud, a burgundy curve of plastic on the top right of the machine.Mine had too much flashing in the channels and didn't seat properly.I didn't notice until it had been carved/sanded away severely.

The deck plate is polished steel.You can see the cutter head and rollers clearly in it.It's really cool, and might come in handy should something jam or clog.REMEMBER NOT TO TOUCH THE HEAD WITH YOUR FINGERS UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE CUT.

Yes, I used first and second person in a review.

Despite the warning that this is not a toy, etc., it's VERY fun, or at least satisfying, to see what a machine like this can do.

SUMMARY
This is cheap. Snipe will happen.Rollers, an assistant, or a full-sized and aligned table are greatly helpful.Blades dull quickly on older wood with old rubbery paint.

Incredible for the price
I was not expecting a lot from this planer. My expectation were; it would dimension lumber, but I would have to do the final clean up with a sanding disk and, it would probably stall midway through cuts requiring me to push or pull the wood through manually. I was wrong on both counts.

First day I used it I did a couple of hundred feet of old seasoned lumber. No problems. Yes, it's a sniper, but I have used planers costing thousands more that have also sniped (if not as deep and long), so I expected that and can easily live with it as I always dimension to length after planing.

The bad.
Noisy - to be expected
Does not include a dust extraction hood.

The dust hood (DeltaNo. 50-359) is an essential accessory (with a dust collection system). Without it you would not be able to see the machine after a couple of cuts, and the feed mechanisms would get jammed. The $25 hood is almost identical to the 'deflector' that comes in the box, so it can't cost more than a few pennies more to make. Why not include it in the box instead of the deflector ?

I paid $175 ($25 off coupon) and free shipping. An absolutely incredible deal.

Pleasant Surprises at a Low Cost
This is also my first planer but not new to using them. This planer was a pleasant surprise. From the softest to the hardest of woods it has worked flawlessly. The finished piece is smooth as a babies bottom.
Yes, this machine does produce about 3 inches of snipe but still I am well pleased. Very much worth the money.

Good planer, but it is a sniper
This is a nice 12.5 inch planer for less $$$ than the 12 inch models.It is my first planer so keep that in mind.

I have run a 12" X 20" X 2" maple cutting board with excellent results.It seems to have more snip with narrower stock.1"x4" ash, red oak, and pine seem to have excess, easily visible snipe for about 3" on each end.It is best to run long boards, then cut them to size and discard the ends.

I like the carry handle, but this unit is heavy and awkward to carry.Minor assembly needed upon receipt was a breeze.With $25 off coupon and free shipping, it is easily the best deal on the net.BTW: the free shipping was FedEx 3 day!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Delta has done it again. The TP400LS 12-1/2-inch planer is a solid addition to the company's already stellar lineup of planing tools, and it is ideally suited for the home woodworking enthusiast looking for a good planer at an affordable price. Like other Delta planers, this Shopmaster model is designed to provide smooth results, superior snipe control (thanks to the four-post cutterhead support system and headlock), and fast, safe, and accurate blade changes. Powered by a 15 amp, 120-volt single-phase motor, the planer generates an operating speed of 8,000 rpm. As materials pass into the unit, two double-sided, reversible knives deliver a blazing 51 cpi to smooth rough surfaces and provide an attractive finished result. The double-sided steel knives come factory-indexed and fit directly on machined posts in the cutterhead, so there's no fiddling with knife-setting fixtures or tricky gauges. Plus, a magnetized blade-removing tool makes it a snap to get the blades out. Delta has also extended the infeed and outfeed tables on this unit to 28-1/2 inches to better support stock and included a sturdy stand to give you the option of making this a freestanding unit. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• Complete with a stand and extra set of reversible knives
• 15-amp motor for maximum power
• Advanced cutter head lock for superior snipe control
• Easy knife changing for perfect alignment each time
• Longer chrome in-feed and out-feed tables

Reviews (6)

Well worth the small investment
This is my first planer - so I really have nothing to compare it with. Set up was very easy, most time consuming part was assembly of the stand - took about 20 minutes (even at my normal slow pace). The planer itself was a snap - just install the knobs and remove some packing material and you are ready to go.

I ran some maple and walnut throught it and was impressed with the finish, smooth as glass. I used a digital caliper to check thickness in several spots on the boards and they were pretty much dead on. The only thing I wish this machine had was some sort of "final cut" mechanism, so that you could preset your final dimension and not go any further with the plaining. I guess that is something you would expect on a much more expensive machine. I highly recommedn this planer to any home woodworker.

Kicking Myself
This is my second Delta 12.5" planer. The first one lasted about 2 years with moderate home shop use before the cutter head bearing assembly failed as I was preparing to insert a board. A spectacular array of metal and plastic shrapnel flew around the shop, and some into me, before I could cut power. Although Delta Factory Service agreed it was most likely a manufacturing defect, alas, it was a month out of warranty and the cost of repairs would far exceed the purchase cost of a new one. Oh yes! And the knife retention screws were so tight it broke my hex wrench, rounded the inside of the screws, and 6 of them ultimately had to be professionally extracted.

But I have a mostly Delta shop, already had the dust collection chute, and so I bought another one figuring some design and manufacturing improvements had been made. Not. Same experience with the knife retention screws this time breaking the tool provided by Delta to remove those screws. The hex heads are so rounded off on the inside I don't dare put them back in. I had to haul it in to have 4 screws professionally extracted. Those screws, incidentally, apparently aren't covered under warranty and charged out at[money amount] each at the Delta Factory Service Center. And the motor is making a suspicious growling sound -- after 12 hours of use! I'll live with my purchase mistake, and wince every time I turn it on, for the duration of what I'm expecting will be a remarkably short lifetime for this planer.

Buy something else. I should have...

A Great Planer!
I purchased the Delta 12 1/2" thickness planer with stand and am very pleased with its performance. Having previously rebuilt a DeWalt unit, I was reluctant to try an unfamiliar unit but relied on Delta's reputation. Warning! Be very careful in changing the cutter blades the first few times as they are very sharp and a bit small to handle at first. The settings and accuracy of the unit are excellent with depth cuts of no more than 3/64" which will not overwork the unit or dull the cutter blades. After planing some 35 board feet of maple, popular, and birch, I am still on the original blade edges. You won't go wrong with this unit.

Super Machine
I bought this in mar 2003 and have used it exstensively with
nothing less than exellent results. The finish quality,easy
setup,and outstanding power for such a small machine is nothing
less than you can expect from delta.For the smallshop,or inbetween shop,this powerhouse is a must! Buy it you won't be sorry. Also get the dusthood acc. with an elbow and use the suction part acc. of your leaf blower and you will have 0 yes I mean 0 woodchips & dust works excellent!

Great Machine / New trouble
A very well made Machine ; easy to use less snipe than many others. Be careful , First time blade change can be frustrating
because of( factory Set Torque ). on blade retaining screws! Hope your hex wrench
is stronger than mine . ... Read more

Amazon.com

Walnut glides like butter under the three-knife cutterhead of this superb portable planer. And say good-bye to end snipe, that enemy of thrifty woodworkers. Stock comes out with a near-flawless finish because the three knives make an impressive 96 cuts per inch. You won't need to trim off the damaged ends anymore either, because the four-column carriage lock stifles the movement that causes snipe. Replacing the knives isn't complicated, another plus. The dust hood is even included, and we say bravo to that, because planers make a mess. The depth of cut and thickness gauges are well-placed and easy to read; the handles make toting this 80-plus-pounder a little easier. We think the weight's a plus, though, as it adds to the tool's stability. Home woodworkers, do-it-yourselfers, and contractors will love this planer.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• M2 laminated knives are disposable and reversible
• Three knife cutter-head for superior surface finish
• 96 cuts per inch for a smooth finish
• Extra-large folding tables and a four column carriage lock minimize the movement that causes snipe
• One tool knife change system allows the user to easily seat new knives

Reviews (7)

Great Planner
I have used this machine with two projects now. I planed Walnut and Kentucky Coffee. The machine runs great. I have planned about 100 bd ft. I have noticed a small nick in the blades allready, but that could be from the hard wood I am running. There has been debate about what type of dust collector to use. I HIGHLY recommend not using a wet/dry vacum. It will be full in about two passes. I use an barrel type two stage dust collector and have filled it twice while using the DW734. All in all I am very happy with this planner, packaging was great, setup was easy.

Nice Planer
Does a very nice job. Easy to set up, easy to use. Would give 5 stars except for one annoying little thing....... You cannot fold up the outfeed tray with the dust collection hood attached. This makes it a little challenging to store when you are short on space.

Excellent tool
I bought this planer a month ago from a local home center. I was disappointed to see it made in Taiwan, but little can be done since most are anyway. It took almost no time to set up, and I was planing some Zebrawood right away. Zebrawood is a notoriously difficult wood to plane, but this machine did a superb job. No snipe or problems in 11 BF of lumber. I've planed 2 BF of Purpleheart, 17 BF of Black Walnut, 7 BF of White Oak, and some small amounts of other hard and soft woods. The knives are still sharp and doing a fine job. The depth adjustment is very easy to use, and accurate. The turret stop can be set for 3/4", 1/2", 1/4", 1/8" settings for repetitive thickness planing in different boards. This is a very nice feature. The dust collection works well, but don't expect 100% of the chips to be collected as some do find their way out. I have it hooked up to a ShopVac and the system works well for me. Changing the knives is easy, and the overall fit and finish of the machine is quite good. The important thing to remember is to never take more than 1/32" off at a time. Shallow passes take more time, but they don't load the motor or knives as much and the finish quality is better. Also, allow the tool (and knives) to rest/cool after several minutes of use. This planer isn't designed for cabinet shops and shouldn't be left on for long periods of time. Use rollers to support long pieces of lumber as this will make it less likely for the board or machine to be damaged. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. I have used this machine heavily in the past month and will continue to put it to use. I am confident it will hold up as I've had good experience with DeWalt. I highly recommend this tool.

great portable planer
I just completed a custom trim job in which I planed just over 6000 feet of rough sawn cedar. The planer performed exceptionally well, and I only had to purchase one additional set of knives. (The double sided knives are a great money/time saving feature. I would HIGHLY recommend this tool.

Kudos to Dewalt
Hats off to Dewalt on this one. I purchased this planer about mid Dec. (3 weeks ago) I have use it several times, mostly on 3/4" maple with a few other matrls. thrown in. It has performed wonderfully. The dust collection shute is a big plus and works fairly well with my heavy duty shop vac. I suspect it will work even better with a good dust collector of 500 or more cfm.(My next purchase)
The three blade system leaves a VERY smooth surface (mimimum sanding with fine sand paper for a stainable finish) Most of the wood I have ran is not more than 7" wide and at 1/16 depth of cut. The unit is capable of more buy why heat the blades.
Snipe has been virtually none. A very small amount of snipe occured when I went for a deeper cut on a 7" wide maple board.
The depth of cut gauge on the infeed side is about the best idea ever, (other manufacturers take note) and the preset finish cut depth can be somewhat handy as well.
The two handles on the top outside of the planer make it very easy to move around my garage, into the pickup, or on to the elevated bench where I keep it out of the way when not in use.
If i had any complaint it would be this...If the dust shute had a quick disconnect or latch type attatchment, it would be handy so that the outfeed table could fold up for storage without having to break out any tools. A minor inconvenience that has no effect at all on performance.
If your'e looking for a portable garage/jobsite planer, this one is up to the task. You will be pleased with the results.
P.S. I haven't had to change the blades yet, however, I did open up the unit and did a "mock" blade change to become familiar with it...very easy to do requiring no special knowledge or tools..Good job Dewalt. ... Read more

Features

• 93" of overall stock support
• Mobile with 3" industrial locking casters
• Sturdy all steel construction
• Easy fold-down wings for confined spaces and easy storage
• Comfortable 36" working height

Features

• Tables for DW735 Planer
• Tables are detachable or can be folded for convenience
• Comes complete with easy install hardware kit

Reviews (3)

Required for good results
These tables are not included with the DW735 planer. Don't let that lead you to believe that they are optional. I tried to run the planer without them, and I got significant snipe. Adding the tables improved the snipe quite a bit, and as I adjust the tables to be level with the bed of the planer, the snipe keeps decreasing. If you want to get the performance you paid for with the DW735, you need these tables.

The tables should be purchased with the planer and mounted before the planer is bolted down to its final resting place. To mount the tables, the planer must be moved off of its platform just enough to get a few fingers and a wrench underneath the base. The instructions make a big deal about securing the planer during this operation, but I think their concerns are overstated. Only about 2" of the base needs to be accessible from underneath in order to mount the table, and this leaves the planer in a very stable position. Just be careful and use your own judgement.

It's true that the outfeed table does not fold up. Let's set this in perspective. This is a sign of inattentive design. It's silly, it's embarassing to DeWalt, but it doesn't reduce the usefulness of the infeed and outfeed tables. Frankly, I don't understand why it's so important that the tables fold at all. Jointers have huge cast iron infeed and outfeed tables that don't fold, and the only complaint I have heard about them is that they are never large enough. It seems to me the only point of folding tables is to perpetuate the silly notion that this is a "portable benchtop planer". I don't consider any object weighing 90 pounds to be "portable". I wonder how much more it would have cost DeWalt to have provided a non-folding cast iron bed of equivalent size. Perhaps that's coming in their next version.

Having tried the planer with and without, I am glad I bought the tables. I would recommend them to anyone with a DW735 planer.

DeWalt DW7351 Folding Table for DW735
If you've read some of the other reviews you already know the back table extension will not fold up with a chip collection accessory hooked up, and that is true. The extensions do work very well with the plainer and install and fold up easily (at least the front). They are made well and work great. The back extentsion not folding up for me isn't such a big deal because I have the chip collection accessory and it sticks out about as far as the table extension anyway. I do recommdend you get them because they do help prevent snipe and make is easier to feed long boards through the plainer. After all, thats the main purpose for them anyway.

design flaw on rear table attachment, otherwise great
Okay, I finally got the folding tables. They are very easy to assemble and align. Each corner of each table can be adjusted for height. The attachment points are spring loaded so they are also easy to take off and put back on. They do help in supporting the work and seem very solid. The front table folds up out of the way and stays there. The rear table however is another story. Because the main table and the back of the moter/blade assembly are pretty much even and the pin to hold the table is set back the rear table will never fold up and stay. When the depth of cut is set around an inch and the cord is wrapped around the cord holder the rear table won't flip up more then around 20 degrees. In my opinion this is a major design flaw, the main table needs to stick out at the rear by at least an inch or two to allow the table to fold up. ... Read more

Features

• Equipped with built-in edge guides as well as a special "foot" located at the rear of base to protect planer blades.
• Powerful 15 amp motor with 12,000 RPM for the most demanding jobs.
• Front roller for easy moving of planer over rough materials.
• Large ejection chute provides high rate of chip discharge and helps prevent clogging from wet or dry wood chips.
• Large, conveniently located depth setting knob for easy adjustment.

Features

• Hitachi exclusive 5 year warranty
• Powerful 15 Amp motor with 20,800 cuts per minute
• 26 ft/min automatic feed rate
• 12 9/32" max cutting width
• 10,400 rpm

Reviews (7)

WONDERFUL MACHINE
I've had my Hitachi P12RA planer for 8 years and couldn't be happier. Originally, I wanted to buy their F1000A cast iron planer/jointer but discovered Hitachi no longer exports it to the USA. Since the F1000A is SOOOOOOOOOOOO remarkable, I took the chance on this "little brother" and was very pleased- with the planer.

The quality of cut is outstanding, and boards come out dead accurate. In fact, I go to this planer over my 2 year old Jet 15" stationary planer almost every time. The Jet is a workhorse so that should tell ya something! Setup is simple. The knives are really beefy and all the other parts (castings, chains, bearings, adjusting screws) are heavy and well made. I get "slick-as-glass" results even on ebony. Since most of the components are aluminum alloy or stainless steel, I don't even have to fight rust.

Though the jointer is powerful and gives a fantastic finish to the wood, it's just too simplistic. There isn't a way to align the infeed and outfeed tables, which makes getting a flat board almost impossible. They are fixed except to adjust the depth of cut. In fact, holding a straight edge to the length of the jointer bed reveals both tables angle away from the cutterhead. Since I make guitars, this sort of thing drives me bananas. I actually sent the jointer portion back to the dealer for a partial refund.

My advice is to buy the planer portion only. Spent the money for the dust hood too. It's well put together and very effective. This planer has been featured in several books and magazine articles over the years, and for a good reason. You will be amazed with the results!

hitachi planer
The jointer bed is too small for this to be the perfect machine. The planer is excellent, but the total length of the infeed and outfeed bed is very short and makes it difficult to accurately joint long pieces of wood. The first thing that I did after buying this was to buy a 71" powermatic jointer. It is not the most economical way to go.

The exhaust tends to get plugged in both the planer and the jointer with wood chips.

Increase the quality of your work
This machine is pure joy. I bought one to replace my Delta which was an O.K. tool. It doesn't hold a candle to this beauty though. No portable even comes close. In fact , most stationary units wish they could perform this nicely. I've never used a planer or a jointer that produces smoother finishes than this machine. Usually in a combo unit you lose to compromises. Not so here . It has plenty of power to do anything you want to. It runs quieter than some of the other portables I've used. The one piece table is something others should copy in their designs.Since the cutter head is stationary ,it doesn't need a lock. Snipe is almost nonexistent. It makes for some of the smoothest surfaces I have ever produced. Even highly figured hardwoods are no problem if you keep your blades sharp.The height adjustment is the smoothest on the market. Many high end woodworking tools come from Japan and this is no exception. If you are willing to pay the little bit more that this tool commands you will be rewarded by years of precision cutting you won't find anywhere else.

A Workshop Wonder
I bought the P12R Hitachi Planer in 1994. Without a doubt it is the best planer for the money on the market. I looked at several different models before deciding on the P12R. Besides just looking better than the rest, it has a feature not found on many other planers. The cutterhead remains stationary while the stainless steel planer bed moves up and down on four columns. I think this makes for a much smoother cut, virtually snipe free. I use mine on a regular basis, and after 6 years, have never changed blades. I've never even sharpened the original ones and it still makes exceptional cuts. It does cost a little more than the others, but believe me, it's well worth it.

High End Portable Planer
The P12R planer is at the high end of the portable planer market. It's better than twice the price of Taiwanese manufactured models. I purchased the Hitachi P12R planer about 18 months ago and it's performed very well. I've run several hundred linear feet of Oak and Maple, many boards at the maximum width, and board thickness as much as 4 inches. All this without significant drag on the motor. I was considering a 15 inch floor model machine, but shop space is an issue. The Hitachi gets the job done and packs away under a worktable. Changing the blades was a big fear, but it couldn't have been easier. Access was easy, the instructions very clear and adjusting the blade height very simple. This machine is worth its price, especially if you value quality tools. ... Read more

Features

• For use on DW735 only
• Utilizes fan-assisted chip ejection to exhaust chips into trash recepticle
• Tube and bag material resist wear and tear
• Drawstring on bag for secure fit over any portable trash recepticle
• Easily transportable

Reviews (2)

DW7353 Makes Chip Collecting Easy
Not having space for a dust collection system, the blower on the DW735 helped me decide on the DW735 planer. The planer works really well at evacuating the chips and chip collection is a necessity. I tried using a trash can that I had but some dust came out around the handles; the handles were molded up near the can opening keeping the hood from a tight fit.
I bought a 33 gallon Roughneck wheeled container at Lowe's that had a lip all around the edge and that solved the problem. I put plastic bags in the can and the hood over everything and get no escaped dust and easy emptying.
The instructions say to not let the hose lay over the side of the can. I put a "J" hook in the ceiling and use a rope loop to hold up the hose so it's adjustable and out of the way, simple and effective. This thing works just as it should - I'm very pleased.

DeWalt DW7353 Chip Collection Accessory for DW735
Wow! Am I glad I got this with my plainer. It collects almost all the chips and dust from the plainer. The drawstring top for the trashcan makes it very versitile. I have a very, very small shop so the ability to use a smaller trashcan adds to it's value. Using the plainer without it creates a huge mess. If you haven't used a plainer before and are forewarned on the amoung of sawdust you'll still be amazed. If you don't have a central system to hook your plainer up to, I highly recommend getting this. It will be worth every penny. I got is even though another rater talked about the hose inconviently located right above the outfeed table and it can get in the way, but I simply pull the hose up over the top of the machine and it's no problem. Again, if you don't have a central collection system...get this. ... Read more

Features

• Thermal overload protection for longer tool life
• Four-post system for stability and accuracy
• 15 amp motor powers the cutterhead and feed rollers simultaneously for optimal planing under various load conditions
• Dual-position cutterhead height adjustment handle for left- or right-hand operation--one rotation moves the head 1/16 inches
• Precision-bearing mounted, dynamically balanced cutterhead is fitted with two HSS double-edged auto-set knives for razor sharpness

Features

• Workpiece return rollers
• A 2-speed feed system - 22 FPM for rough planing or 11 FPM for finish planing and for molding
• Digital display of cut depth in inches & millimeters
• Quick-set depth gauge is factory preset to five most frequently used thickness settings for fast set-up & accurate finishing
• Right-handed top mounted manual cutterhead crank

Features

• Made of M2 laminated tool steel
• Disposable and reversible knives for the DW734
• Easily fit onto the knife locating pins machined on a DW734 cutter-head

Amazon.com Review

A 16 amp motor and four post locks make JET's 12-1/2-inchportable planer a high-powered, remarkably sturdy shop tool. JET'splaner uses two double-edged knives, which you can also sharpen to makeyour blades last. A thermal overload switch monitors the tool's motor,automatically shutting it down if the motor heats up more than itshould--another nice feature that adds life to a planer. The cutterheadcranks up to handle 6-inch material, or cranks down to clean up veneeras thin as 1/16 inch. The tool weighs 69 pounds, so it has good heftand stability while remaining "portable." When the planer is not inuse, the 10-inch extension wings fold up for storage. Two pass-backrollers on top of the planer make it easy for a spotter to slide longerpieces back to the guy feeding the planer; it's not a big deal,perhaps, but it's the sort of attention to detail we've come to expectfrom JET. Here's another: the on/off switch detaches, so you can lockthe planer in the off position when it's not in use, keeping yourworkshop safe from curious hands. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• One-year limited warranty
• 16 amp motor
• Four-post support system
• Large hand wheel easily adjusts cutterhead height
• Resharpenable high-speed steel knives

Reviews (5)

Great planer!
I have had this planer for over two years!
Have run 100's of board feet of white oak through it with NO problems at all.

I always thought that this planer would not make it with my use but it keeps working great. The depth adjustment is always right on for me. For some time I have been thinking that a bigger planer should be in my shop. Many times the depth of cut was pretty deep just to see if I could burn this one up and have an excuse to get a bigger planer....well it just won't burn up!

You need the additional dust collection chute for this unit. It's a must to have it connected to a dust collector, will NOT run without it!

Be aware of what you really need in a planer...
I do small remodeling and custom cabinet work. When I looked into purchasing a 12" planer the Jet unit seemed to be the right choice. It arrived o.k. and worked out of the box. Now, here comes the kicker...what I really required was a much heavier unit to accomplish my type of work.

The unit spits out quite a bit of wood chips and there is no dust collection included. After calling Jet, and paying a whopping [money], plus handling, the simple metal accessory arrived (4" connection) and accomplished the necessary dust connection for my big collector.

The next problem showed up in the height adjustment setting. You test the demensioning of a piece of stock, set the depth adjustment a bit tighter, and begin your first run. The vibration shakes the machine and the depth adjustment handle begins a slow return to a less pressure position. Simply put, it opens the gap. The "fix" was positioniong a clamp each time a new adjustment is required to hold the handle in place. This is a bother!

The next problem came with the two rollers on top. They fell off! I gathered the fallen pins and after applying "lock tight", reinstalled them. This fixed this problem!

The primary problem is in my application. I have attempted to run "old" reclaimed cypress and pine through the planer and I get a lot of noise and little planing! The TWO planer blades and the SMALL MOTOR don't have the power to handle this work.

So...if you are a hobby type of person looking for a cheap way to plane your stock; well, there is no cheap way to accomplish it. You will have to settle for small width boards (less power required), soft woods with few knots (less power requjired) and get your clamp out to hold the adjustment.

On the plus side for the Jet, the planer blades can be removed and replaced with the jig (included with your planer)in short order. You must attach the two jig fittings to the bar and position them properly; there is a front and back to the contact points. Anyone with commom skills can make quick work of all this.

For me, I'm purchasing the next Jet in the HP chain, the [money] unit which I hope will solve all these problems.

If you only have [money], and can fit into the mold above, go for it. But, remember what I've told you.

All this from a fellow woody kind of a guy.

Best of Class
After several months of review reading and research I picked the Jet. Several woodworking mags rated it higher than the Delta and a better value than the Ryobi. Here's the clincher - JET CUSTOMER SERVICE IS AMAZING. I may just buy all Jet tools from her on out because the Customer Service Dept is so incredibly helpful and accomodating (ask for Dan - he's the man!). Happy sawdust making.

Early returns are good!
Have only had the planer for a few days. So far so good. It's much quieter than I had expected and the feed rate is smooth. Came packed quite well with no damage and very little set-up. You attach the handle and adjust the levelness of the tables. The tables are very large compared to the Delta and include a great roller on the ends. Easy to level. I was a little concerned with the finish... as in the the paint job. There are places on it where the paint was slopped on. You can tell the guy with the spray gun stayed in one place too long. There are also some areas on the bottom where the paint is already chipped. Jet seems to think that's ok and actually includes a small can of paint with the planer. That's good because I can also touch up my bandsaw with it. The motor seems to be quite stout and the adjustment handle works well. I haven't used the head lock mechanism yet and probably won't. The four columns seem to work well. There are springs below the head cutter and they creak and shift when you move the head. Not a big deal but can be a bit disconcerting. The thickness gauge was right on and I didn't have to adjust it. Still not sure how accurate the depth of cut gauge is though. Looks a bit gimmicky so far. Overall a great planer and I'm very excited to use it more. I'm saving a fifth star for a year from now when I have a better idea of its durability.

precision portable planner
Having this planer only one week, im already throughly impressed with this Jet product. There was virtually no set up time in aligning the table with the input/out feed rollers. So i was using it within 20 minutes after unpacking the item(packed and shipped well). Great control of snipe, by the use of the locking tabs and extended rollers. Excellent height indicater and the machine isn't that loud, but sure can create quite the saw dust. I think my next purchase is the 4 inch dust hood attachment. You can't bet the vaule of Jet, along with the great price. ... Read more

Features

• 5-inch dust port for a cleaner work environment
• 24V magnetic control for longer tool life
• Four high speed steel knives for optimal cutting power
• One-piece welded base for rock solid stability
• Dimensions of 26-by-36.7-by-42.0 inches for working with larger stock

Features

• This benchtop planer is a must have for any serious do-it-yourselfer
• 12-1/2" benchtop thickness planer with 2-1/2 HP motor
• Quickly removes material for smoother flatter surfaces
• 2 high-speed steel blades deliver 18,000 cuts per minute
• Both are double-edged and reversible for twice the cutting life

Product Description

Our portable planers have been so popular that we couldn't resist giving our customers just one more option. For this, we wanted a portable planer that was lighter to carry around and finished cuts faster, but didn't lack muscle or design quality. The result was the Model G0505. This new 12-1/2" planer features a 2 HP motor, 10,000 RPM cutterhead, 32 FPM feed rate, top-mounted return rollers and extra large table extensions. Also, other little things like 1/8" thick knives (instead of the 1/16" thick knives on most portables) are proof that this dynamo will rule the jobsite for years! ... Read more

Features

• 2 HP, 110V, 15 Amps
• Maximum cutting height: 6"
• Maximum cutting width: 12-1/2"
• On/Off Toggle Switch with Safety Lock
• Two double edged HSS knives in cutterhead

Product Description

This 12-1/2" portable planer is perfect for the woodworker on the go or for the overcrowded shop. It can be easily stored under the bench or on a shelf when not in use and despite its portability, it is a real workhorse! The 12-1/2" width gives you more cutting capacity when compared to other similar models on the market. And the rugged 2 HP motor lets you plow through some of the toughest wood. The top-mounted depth adjustment handle makes setting the cutting depth quick and easy. The blades are double edged, so when one side gets dull, you can just turn them over and keep on planing. ... Read more

Features

• 2 H.P., 110V, 15 Amps
• Feed Rate: 25 FPM
• Maximum cutting height: 6"
• Maximum Cutting Width: 12-1/2"
• Maximum depth of cut: 1/16"

Reviews (2)

Too much snipe
This machine does not have a cutterhead lock and produces way too much snipe. Don't buy.

Snipe-o-rama
Don't buy this planer. Cutterhead produces terrible snipe. All in all I like Grizzly, but not this one. ... Read more