Replies

1. 
   GeoA | Dec 17, 2004 06:00pm | #1

   I picked up the 735 planer for $399.20 + tax at the Lowes sale.

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | Dec 17, 2004 06:17pm | #2

   What a coincidence that this discussion was started today! I was just about to go online to write a BIG complaint about this very same tool. I guess my complaint can be lodged here...I purchased the DeWalt 735 planer 95 days ago. This number is significant, since it has failed to work properly right at the end of the return period.Here's the problem:
   You put your stock in, the rollers pull the wood part-way in, then they stop feeding. The wood gets stuck in the middle of the planer and the cutters just hack away until you cut the power. The first time it happened, I thought maybe I just had some debris in there. But I vacuumed out the whole area and then ran it again and it got worse.Since it failed right after the 90-day return period, I now have a major headache on my hands. The engineers at DeWalt seem to have pinned the life expectancy just right on this one.This is a pretty expensive planer, and I thought I was buying DeWalt's big new and improved technology.I am sick and tired of paying a lot of money for crap!!!!!!!Only after I had this problem did I find out that lots of other people have had the same issue with this planer.My suggestion is that you return the planer to Lowe's before you hit the end of the 90-day period.

   Edited 12/17/2004 10:23 am ET by Matthew Schenker

1. 
   JCinNC | Dec 17, 2004 07:50pm | #3

   Mine does that occasionally too, but I think it has more to do with taking too big a bite, and/or dust on the rollers.  Usually if I back off the depth and clean the rollers the planer works just fine.

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | Dec 17, 2004 07:57pm | #4

   I was about to call DeWalt customer service when I read your response.I don't think I am taking too big a bite. I am only taking off 1/64" to 1/32" in each pass! As a rule, I never take more than 1/16" at one time. The planer is supposed to be able to take off 1/8" but I would never do that much.In any case, this is not just a little hang-up. The planer just doesn't feed the stock -- period.Update:
   To my delight, I just found out that Amazon's return policy is 30 days, not 90 days. Oh what fun!Off to call DeWalt customer service now...

   Edited 12/17/2004 11:58 am ET by Matthew Schenker

2. 
   BrianF | Dec 17, 2004 08:07pm | #5

   Try cleaning the rollers. I had the same problem, it seems that they really like to pick up the fine dust and then they slip. A quick cleaning and no problem(until the next time). The biggest problem I have with mine is breaking the sprockets that drive the feed rollers. The last time I was taking less than 1/16" off 1 1/2" wide western red cedar when one broke. They are the most flimsy drive sprockets I have ever seen. The only justification I can think of is that they make them light weight so that they break instead of burning up a motor if you would take too big of a cut. The problem is they just give out from stress after a while. I now have half a dozen on hand. I have broken 3 since I bought it about a year ago. While it does do a great job planing figured wood on the slow speed it just doesn't seem to be a good overall tool. I am thinking about buying another planer (not sure which yet) to do most of my day to day planing and set this aside when I need to plane figured wood. I would think long and hard about parting with hard earned money before buying this planer. It is just not very reliable and always seems to break late at night or on weekends when I can't get parts and always when I am on a deadline. I really regret buying it.Brian

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | Dec 17, 2004 09:09pm | #7

   I hear you!I bought the DeWalt DW735 planer because it was supposed to be the best new thing. I was a little uncomfortable with the fact that it was about $100 more than anything else in its class. But I thought it was justified. I really was not prepared for this kind of issue.I'm not too happy with Amazon either. Why do they only have a 30-day return policy when Home Depot gives 90 days? I guess it doesn't matter in this case, since mine failed in exactly 95 days.Boy do I regret buying this junk.I am also really considering cutting Amazon off my list as a supplier. This is the second major power tool I have bought from them that has failed miserably. It's not Amazon's fault that the power-tool company makes garbage, but the extra burden of shipping it back to them outweighs the savings.

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 17, 2004 09:40pm | #11

   Anecdotal "evidence" has led me to believe (or "tend to think") that DeWalt has more problems with newly introduced tools than other companies.  My experience with Amazon has been great (got my Bosch 12" CMS from there, and several small items), but if I were to buy a DeWalt tool of any size, I think I'd get it at HD or Lowe's.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   forestgirl | Dec 17, 2004 08:57pm | #6

   Matthew, I know your Mad as H____, but just in case, take some time to clean the rollers (soapy water, nylong scrubber), dry 'em off, and clean the table, wax it if necessary.  Just in case........forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | Dec 17, 2004 09:19pm | #8

   Forestgirl,
   I always like your calming effect. You are often a voice of reason at a time of frustration! Thanks for helping out here.I'm going to try what you say, and see if it helps. I'm not too hopeful, since the belt is just not pulling at all now.Update:
   DeWalt customer service is unavailable because of a power failure. Must be frustrating for them when equipment doesn't work as it is supposed to!

1. 
   Ecbntmkr | Dec 17, 2004 09:29pm | #9

   And to think... This is the same company that just bought Porter Cable and Delta. I wonder what will be seeing from them in a few years?
   Eric

2. 
   CajunDan | Dec 17, 2004 09:38pm | #10

   Just to kinda get the thread back on track, The DeWalt 734 is a very fine planer that compares favorably to the Delta 2 speed. The 734 has a very good track record. It is a great deal at that price.

   I think DeWalt's reputation is being unduly affected by the 735 planer.

   Regards,

   Dan

3. 
   MatthewSchenker | Dec 17, 2004 09:49pm | #12

   Cajun Dan,
   Sorry I took the discussion in the wrong direction. Now I wish I had bought the 734!

4. 
   Peter36 | Dec 17, 2004 10:03pm | #14

   Is the 734 essentially the same as the 733? I have owned the latter for about 5 years and had nothing but problems. Mainly the rollers slipping, I clean them all the time, but I do notice that it mainly seems to be with soft wood, like pine.

5. 
   RonInOttawa | Dec 18, 2004 06:10am | #15

   I've run thousand's of sq. ft. of oak, maple and river pine through my home shop 733 and never had a problem! I do clean the rollers occasionally and wax the bed, more out of a need to "maintain" than fixing any specific problem. My only gripe with the 733 (and the same holds true for the Ridgid and Delta units I've tried) is that even when hooked up through a cyclone lid to my Shop Vac the chips still tend to collect on the wood and the planer bed. This doesn't happen with the 735.I work in one of those big box stores so often discussed on this forum. I routine demonstrate the power tools we sell, and frequently do such things as setting up 2 or 3 planers and a stack of rough 1 x 12 pine boards. I then either demonstrate what a planer does (many people don't have a clue) or let those more knowledgeable try their hand at it. In my experience, the 735 does an excellent job from a surfacing standpoint and an incredible job of chip evacuation. My only performance reservation re the 735 is the possibility that the slow speed feed may in fact burnish the surface on some woods, making it more difficult to get an even color match when using dyes or stains. However, that's just a personal theory and I have no evidence to support it. Regards,Ron

6. 
   Peter36 | Dec 17, 2004 10:00pm | #13

   I second that.