Bench Thickness Planer Review
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DeWalt DW735 Planer
I run about 3,000 board feet of lumber through a planer every year, and the DeWalt DW735 continues to be the easiest benchtop planer to use in a production workflow. It has all the features you actually need — not gimmicks — and everything is laid out in a way that makes daily operation simple and efficient. The depth gauge is one of the best in its class. It’s easy to read, accurate, and the preset thickness stops make repeat cuts fast and consistent. When you’re batching boards all day, those presets save a surprising amount of time and help keep everything uniform. The two‑speed feed system is another standout feature. The slower speed gives you a noticeably smoother finish, especially on hardwoods, and the faster speed is great when you’re trying to move volume. It’s a level of control most benchtop planers don’t offer. That said, the DW735 isn’t perfect. I’ve had occasional issues with feed sticking and some mechanical hiccups over the years. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to notice when you’re running thousands of feet. A quick spray of WD‑40 Dry Lube on the bed has kept things moving smoothly and solved the feed issues for me. Overall, the DeWalt DW735 is still the most complete and user‑friendly benchtop planer I’ve used. It has the power, finish quality, and features needed for real shop work, and even with the occasional maintenance quirk, it remains my top pick.
Amazon Acme Tools
Vevor Planer
The Vevor planer has impressed me far more than I expected, especially considering its price point. The fact that it comes equipped with a helical cutting head right out of the box is a huge advantage. It runs noticeably quieter than straight‑knife planers, and the finish quality is surprisingly smooth. I’ve had almost no issues with snipe or gouging, which is rare for a budget‑friendly benchtop planer. In terms of performance, the Vevor cuts quickly and consistently. The helical head helps reduce tear‑out, and the machine handles hardwood better than most planers in this price range. For someone looking to get into woodworking or upgrade from an entry‑level machine, it delivers a lot of value. The biggest drawback is the lack of a thickness stop. You don’t get preset depth settings like you do on higher‑end planers, so you’ll need to manually mark your target thickness on the front ruler each time. It’s not a deal‑breaker, but it does slow things down if you’re batching a lot of boards. Overall, the Vevor is a very nice planer for the money. The helical cutterhead, quieter operation, and clean finish make it stand out, and while it’s missing a few convenience features, the performance more than makes up for it.
Amazon
DeWalt DW734 Planer
The DeWalt DW734 has become the unexpected workhorse in my shop. I picked mine up for free, replaced the blades, and it has been running strong ever since. For a planer that’s been around a long time, it still delivers reliable performance and handles hardwood better than most people give it credit for. It doesn’t have all the convenience features of the DW735 — no two‑speed feed system, no preset thickness stops, and a slightly less refined overall setup — but the core performance is solid. The cutterhead leaves a clean finish, the feed system is consistent, and the machine has enough power to keep up with regular shop use. What stands out most is durability. Even after years of use and a rough start before I owned it, the DW734 continues to run smoothly. If you come across one for a good price, it’s absolutely worth picking up. It’s not as polished as the DW735, but it’s a dependable planer that earns its keep.
Amazon Acme Tools
Craftsman Planer
I only used the Craftsman planer for a short time before realizing it wasn’t suited for the demands of my lumber business. It can handle basic planing tasks, and for a casual woodworker it will get the job done without much trouble. The machine is simple to operate and works fine for light, occasional use. Where it falls short is speed and overall capability. In a production environment where I’m running a lot of lumber, the Craftsman just isn’t fast enough or powerful enough to keep up. It doesn’t move material at the pace I need, and it lacks the durability and features required for heavy, daily workloads. For hobbyists or weekend woodworkers, it’s a perfectly acceptable planer. But for a business like mine, it simply doesn’t have the performance to stay in the lineup.
Acme Tools
Hercules Planer
I bought the Hercules planer in a pinch, and for what I needed at the time, it worked just fine. It has a similar overall design to the DeWalt DW734, and you can tell that’s the machine it’s modeled after. The layout is familiar, the controls are simple, and it has enough power to handle basic planing tasks without much trouble. Where it falls short is build quality. It looks like the DW734, but it’s not built with the same sturdiness or long‑term durability. For light or occasional use, it performs well enough, but once you start pushing it harder, the differences become obvious. If I were in a pinch again, I’d go with the Vevor instead. The helical cutterhead, quieter operation, and overall performance make it a better value, especially for someone who needs a planer that can handle more than just hobby‑level work. The Hercules isn’t a bad planer — it just isn’t the best choice when you have better options at a similar price.
Harbor FreightPlaner Blades & Cutterheads
Here are the replacement blades and cutterheads I recommend for the planers in this review. These are the exact sets I use in my shop.