Three planers, by how they travel
| Planer | Weight | Carrying | Mounting | Support for long work | Supply as stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DW735 | Not stated in the manual | Side and base handles; two people recommended | Bench holes, or 1/2 in plywood clamped down | Folding tables and a mobile stand, as accessories | 120 V, 15 A; a separate circuit |
| DEWALT DW734 (page) | 80 lb | Not stated on the page | Not stated on the page | 33-1/2 in infeed and outfeed built in | 120 V, 15 A |
| Makita 2012NB | 28.1 kg (manual); 27 kg (sheet) | Carrying handles; sub-tables fold | Bolted or screwed to a bench or Makita's stand | Sub-tables | 1,650 W (European edition) |
Each figure is the maker's own. Not a ranking.
Matching a portable planer to the site
| Situation | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Carried often | Handles and folding tables | Makita folds its sub-tables and uses its handles; DEWALT recommends two people for the DW735 |
| Moved by vehicle | Secured against tipping | Makita: tie it down with rope or similar |
| No bench at the site | A plywood base or a stand | DEWALT: 1/2 in plywood clamped to a support, screws not protruding |
| Long boards on site | Built-in support | DW734: 33-1/2 in of support; the DW735 adds accessory tables |
| Shared or long cord runs | A planer and cord matched to the circuit | DEWALT: a separate circuit and grounded cords heavy enough for the current |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Weight and handles. A portable planer is still heavy; check the stated weight, and whether its maker recommends two people.
- Mounting. Both makers want it fixed to the surface — DEWALT says always mount it firmly, on a base that is not warped.
- Support. Built-in or folding tables carry long boards in and out and help against snipe.
- Power on site. DEWALT's DW735 wants a separate circuit and 3-wire grounded extension cords heavy enough for its current, with a gauge table by length in the manual; low voltage damages the machine. Do not modify the plug.
- Clearance. Leave room at the outfeed, and never stand between the outfeed and a wall or vehicle while a board feeds (DEWALT).
- Chips. The DW735's fan throws chips out of a 4 in port, and DEWALT advises a dust collector, not a shop vacuum; Makita's hood connects a vacuum cleaner to its machine.
Safety— Moving and setting up
Unplug before moving or adjusting. Lift with help where the maker recommends it, fold tables before carrying, tie the machine down in a vehicle, and fix it to a level, rigid surface before use. A planer that walks or tips is dangerous (DEWALT, Makita).
Before choosing a portable planer
- Weight and handles, against who carries it
- How it will be fixed down at each site
- Support for the longest boards
- The circuits and cord lengths on site
- Where the chips go
How the cut itself compares — depth by width, knives, feed — is in choosing a benchtop planer, and stationary machines are in choosing a thickness planer. A handheld planer is a different tool: see choosing an electric hand planer. The overview is the planer guide.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own. DEWALT's DW735 manual states no weight; Makita's weight is 28.1 kg in the manual and 27 kg on its sheet. The Makita manual is the European edition, and its electrical notes apply there. 'Portable wood planer' searches also mean handheld planers, which are compared in their own guide. No planer was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
Used for: The DW735: called a heavy-duty portable thickness planer; two people recommended to carry it by its side or base handles; four corners with bolt and screw holes; mounting on 1/2 in or thicker plywood clamped to a support, screws not protruding, the surface not warped; accessory folding tables and a mobile stand; a separate circuit of no less than #12 wire on a 20 A time-lag fuse; 3-wire grounded extension cords heavy enough for the current, with a minimum-gauge table by length; outfeed clearance and no body between the planer and a fixed object; a 4 in port with a fan, a dust collector and no shop vacuum; 120 V, 15 A; 13 in wide; 1/8 to 6 in thick.
- 2.
DW734 12-1/2 in. Thickness Planer with Three Knife Cutter-Head. DEWALT.
Used for: The DW734: 12-1/2 in, 120 V, 15 A, 33-1/2 in of infeed and outfeed support built in, 80 lb by the page caption.
- 3.
Used for: The 2012NB: sub-tables folded and the carrying handles used to move it; secured with rope or similar in a vehicle against tipping or moving; bolted or screwed to a bench or Makita's stand in a well-lit, level place; double insulated for sockets without an earth wire in the European edition, on a slow-trip fuse or breaker; a hood set for a vacuum cleaner; 304 mm wide; 28.1 kg.
- 4.
304 mm (12") Planer Model 2012NB, Automatic Thickness Planer (specification sheet Z13946-2). Makita, 1999.
Used for: The 2012NB: 27 kg (59.5 lb); 1,650 W; a carrying handle, a fold-away depth handle and a detachable tool box; 3 to 155 mm thick.
About this buying guide
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