The DEWALT DW734 Corded 12-1/2 in. Benchtop Planer is a portable thickness planer built for woodworkers, trim carpenters, remodelers, and serious DIY users who need repeatable stock sizing without stepping up to a full stationary machine. This is a benchtop thickness planer designed for surfacing and reducing board thickness in softwood and hardwood. Model Number: DW734. If you are working with rough lumber, cleaning up glued panels, or bringing boards down to final dimension, this planer gives you the power and control to do it with a better finish than most portable units.

The big story here is the cutting system. DEWALT pairs a 15 amp motor with a three-knife cutter head, and that combination matters in the shop. The motor is rated at 20,000 RPM, while the cutter head runs at 10,000 RPM and produces 96 cuts per inch. In practical terms, that means the DW734 can handle larger and deeper cuts in hardwood while still leaving a smoother surface that needs less sanding afterward. For anyone thickness planing maple, oak, poplar, or construction lumber, cleaner passes save time at the next step.

DEWALT also got the maintenance side right. The disposable, reversible knives are designed to deliver 30% more knife life, and when it is time to swap them out, the process is quicker and easier than dealing with sharpen-and-reset style knives. That is a real advantage for users who rely on a benchtop planer regularly and do not want a long service interruption in the middle of a project.

Accuracy is another reason this machine has stayed popular. The four-column carriage lock is there to reduce the movement that causes snipe, which is one of the main complaints people have with portable planers. Add in the material removal gauge, extra-large thickness scale, and turret depth stop, and you get a setup that is easier to dial in for repeat passes. If you frequently return to common finished dimensions, the turret stop helps you get back there without guesswork.

For board support, the DW734 uses extra-long infeed and outfeed tables that provide 33-1/2 inches of material support. That matters when you are running longer stock and trying to keep the board flat as it enters and exits the machine. Better support helps the cut stay more consistent, and it works hand in hand with the carriage lock to reduce the kind of end defects that waste material.

This is a corded electric planer, so it is meant for a bench, stand, or dedicated work surface where steady power is more important than mobility. At about 80 pounds, it is still in the portable class, but it is substantial enough to feel planted when in use. DEWALT includes a dust hood in the box, which is useful if you are trying to manage chip collection in a garage shop, basement setup, or jobsite workspace where a planer can otherwise make a mess fast.

Who should buy it? If you need a reliable thickness planer for dimensioning rough stock, cleaning up reclaimed boards, or taking uneven lumber down to a consistent finish thickness, the DW734 makes a lot of sense. It is especially well suited to woodworking shops, cabinet and trim work, remodeling, and home workshop use where a full-size stationary planer is overkill but a cheap lunchbox planer is not enough. The DEWALT DW734 Corded 12-1/2 in. Benchtop Planer is a smart middle-ground machine for users who care about finish quality, repeatability, and less time fighting snipe.

DEWALT DW734 Corded 12-1/2 in. Benchtop Planer That Still Earns Bench Space

If you want a portable planer that actually focuses on finish quality and repeatable setup instead of just chewing wood, this is the one a lot of shops still trust.

• Who it's for: Woodworkers, trim guys, remodelers, and serious home shop users who need to thickness boards accurately without buying a full stationary planer.
• Why it stands out: The three-knife cutter head, 96 cuts per inch, long material support, and carriage lock all work toward the same goal: smoother boards and less snipe.
• Worth knowing: At 80 lb, it is portable for a benchtop planer, but it is still best on a solid bench or stand. The included dust hood is a nice add because planers make a mess in a hurry.

• What type of tool is the DW734? It is a corded electric benchtop thickness planer used to reduce and finish board thickness in wood.
• How wide a board can it plane? The maximum board width is 12-1/2 inches.
• How does it help reduce snipe? The DW734 uses a four-column carriage lock designed to reduce the movement that causes snipe.
• What kind of blade setup does it use? It uses a three-blade cutter head with disposable, reversible knives.