Planer recommendations

I'm in the market for a new planer for my wood shop. I plan on spending $300-400. Currently leaning toward a Dewalt, Delta or Porter-Cable. Any good or bad reviews??

 

I have a DEWALT-DW735X and I love it. But it's the only one I've ever owned so don't really have a point of comparison.

 

That's what I have, never let me down, very little snipe or issues as long as you keep it tuned and change/flip the blades as needed. Always Top Tool in Wood Magazine and others - that's why I bought it 7 years ago.

 

Question: Is the planer for hobby use? Do you make furniture? I ask because I wonder if you'd get a lot of use out of it. I thought about getting one but I found it a lot easier and cheaper in the long run to have my lumber yard mill what I need to the thickness I need. Typically I only need to plane down wood for the raised panel on cabinets. And even that isn't truly necessary with a rabbit on the back side of the panel. You can have quite a bit of board feet planed to thickness for $350.00. Between a table saw and a jointer, I'm able to mill thicker blocks for table legs, etc. Now if you're buying rough sawn and have to mill it, then disregard everything I posted above.

 

Most of my lumber is bought as rough.

 

@OZ-T

 

When I was in the market I was between the DeWalt and the Ridgid.

Both seem to have excellent reviews and good price points.

Didn't get either, but I'm sure both are good units.

 

I'm a residential builder and I have one of these , great tool , never let me down

http://www.dewalt.com/en-us/product...ness-planer-with-three-knife-cutterhead/dw734

 

That's probably what I'll buy. I have read a few bad reviews on the replacement blades though. They were older reviews, hopefully it's not an issue now?

 

I haven't had a single issue with the knives and I've had mine for 6 or 7 years

 

Home Woodworker here....Nothing real serious, but I think the Ridgid would handle it..
I've got the 13" Ridgid and am completely satisfied with it.... it chews thru rough lumber like a beaver and does a real nice job...(no tooth marks)..hehe. It comes with replacement blades and a Lifetime Warranty... that's Ridgid for ya..!

 

I had good experiences with my Dewalt 735. I picked it up on craigslist for $300. That was before i switched to mostly hand tools now.

 

Picked up the Dewalt 734 at Lowes yesterday.

 

Bump, for hand planers just looking to make simple stuff like a table top floating shelves.

 

I have a Delta and this one works great, But I dont think you would go wrong with a dewalt. That seems to have good reviews for the most part. I did get some hardwood lumber from a guy that said his dewalt wasnt any good New in the box and was going to return it but it could be what he was trying to plane and what depth he was trying to plane.

 

You talking about the dewalt 2blade one?

 

looks like this, I need a special tool to replace the blades but I think its only 2 blades. I bought it used and the guy didnt give me the blade tool with it