The DEWALT DW735 13 in. 3-Knife 2-Speed Thickness Planer is a corded benchtop planer built for woodworkers, trim carpenters, cabinet shops, and serious DIY users who need accurate thicknessing and a cleaner finished surface. This is a thickness planer designed for reducing board thickness and smoothing wood stock. Model Number: DW735. If you work with rough lumber, glue-up panels, or hardwood boards that need to come down to final dimension, this machine is made for that job.

At the center of the tool is a 15 amp motor paired with a three-knife cutter head. DEWALT rates the motor at 20,000 RPM, with a 10,000 RPM cutter-head speed, so the planer has the power to manage larger cuts in wider material. The three-knife setup is a practical advantage, not just a spec-sheet detail. It helps extend knife life by 30% compared to typical alternatives in this class, and it also makes knife changes faster and easier when it is time for maintenance.

The two-speed gearbox is one of the biggest reasons people step up to this machine. You get feed speed options that produce either 96 or 179 cuts per inch. In real use, that means you can move material through faster when you are doing bulk stock removal, then switch to the finer setting when you want a better finish for visible workpieces. That flexibility is useful if you go from flattening rough boards one day to dialing in cabinet parts or furniture stock the next.

DEWALT also built in features that matter once you start chasing repeatable results. The automatic carriage lock helps reduce the movement that causes snipe, and it does it without needing manual engagement. The material removal gauge and extra-large thickness scale make it easier to set the cut before the board goes in, while the extra-large turret depth stop lets you return to commonly used thicknesses quickly. If you batch parts to the same finished size, that saves time and keeps you from sneaking up on the setting over and over again.

On a benchtop planer, chip control can make or break the user experience. The DW735 uses fan-assisted chip ejection to pull chips off the cutter head and force them out of the machine. That helps keep the cutter area clearer and supports better dust collection when paired with the included dust hose adapter. In a small shop, that is a big deal. Planers move a lot of material in a hurry, and this setup is far better suited to heavy chip load than a machine that just lets waste pile up around the head.

The machine itself is built around a 19-3/4 inch cast aluminum base that DEWALT says is twice as rigid as a standard 10 inch base and folding tables. That added rigidity matters when you are feeding longer boards or heavier hardwood through the planer, because the machine needs to stay stable and square under load. At about 91.75 lbs, it is clearly a benchtop shop tool rather than something you casually carry room to room, but that weight also works in your favor by helping the planer stay planted during operation.

For size capacity, the DW735 is made for boards up to 13 inches wide and up to 6 inches thick, with a maximum cut depth of 1/8 inch. Those numbers put it right in the sweet spot for common woodworking tasks like cleaning up rough-sawn lumber, bringing glued panels to final thickness, fitting face frame stock, and surfacing hardwood parts before final assembly. It is a 120V corded machine, so it is built for shop power and continuous use rather than battery convenience.

If you are the kind of buyer who wants a benchtop thickness planer that does more than the entry-level basics, this is the one people keep coming back to for a reason. The DEWALT DW735 thickness planer is a good fit for anyone who values a better surface finish, easier repeat settings, and more aggressive chip ejection. It is especially well suited for woodworkers and finish-oriented users who want a benchtop planer that can handle serious stock prep without stepping all the way up to a large stationary shop machine.

Why the DEWALT DW735 13 in. 3-Knife 2-Speed Thickness Planer Still Gets Picked

This is one of those benchtop thickness planers that has real shop credibility because it gives you useful finish control, strong chip ejection, and repeatable settings in one package.

• Who it's for: Woodworkers, cabinet installers, trim guys, and serious home shop users who need to dimension lumber accurately without jumping to a full stationary planer.
• Why it stands out: The two-speed feed setup and three-knife cutter head give you a real upgrade in finish flexibility compared to simpler lunchbox planers.
• Worth knowing: It is a heavy benchtop machine at over 91 lbs, so plan on giving it a dedicated spot or a sturdy stand rather than treating it like a grab-and-go tool.

• Is this a cordless or corded planer? It is a corded thickness planer that runs on 120V power.
• What size stock can it handle? The DW735 is rated for boards up to 13 inches wide and up to 6 inches thick.
• How many knives does the cutter head use? It uses a three-knife cutter head.
• Does it have more than one feed speed? Yes. The two-speed gearbox provides 96 or 179 cuts per inch so you can balance throughput and finish quality.
• Does it help with dust and chips? Yes. It uses fan-assisted chip ejection and includes a dust hose adapter.