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13" Planers: Dewalt, Ridgid, or Steel City

14K views 52 replies 30 participants last post by  thedude50 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well, I am in the market for a new planer and, having evaluated space, power, and my woodworking needs, have settled on a 13" planer. I have narrowed my choices down to the DW735, R4331, or 40300H planers. I have started a pros and cons list for each tool, but was hoping others could shed some light on these based on their experiences. Here goes:

DW735 Pros: Performance, build quality, depth stops, quick knife changes, built like a tank, two cutting speeds.
DW735 Cons: Most expensive of the three, loud, knives dull fairly quickly, heavy as all get out, disposable knives.

R4331 Pros: Lest expensive of the three, good performance, Ridgid's LSA.
R4331 Cons: Disposable knives

40300H Pros: Helical head, moderate price, relatively lightweight
40300H Cons: Helical head uses 2 sided HSS inserts (though I have read of others successfully using carbide inserts in them), the steel city stigma from the 40200H debacle a year or two ago.

Now, in addition to the pros and cons, my judging criteria are (roughly in order):

- Performance
- Noise
- Cost (Initial and upkeep, such as knives)
- Weight

Now, I look at these three and think that I would likely be happy with any of them. The thing is that I have to choose one, but I don't know which. I know each has very strong supporters. I really like the idea of the steel city for the spiral head (about the same cost as just the shelix head for the DW735). Any one else have thoughts or ideas about this? Any input is useful. Thanks.
 
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#3 ·
Have you considered the Dewalt 734? I picked up the 734 about six months ago and I have no complaints. Granted, it is a 12 1/2" and not a 13" planer, if that matters to you or not. I did a TON of research before buying a planer and I decided on the 734 for a couple reasons: 1) it is $150-$200 cheaper than the Dewalt 735 (I shopped around and got my 734 for $365) 2) It had the most favorable reviews of any planer that I looked at and 3) the blades are disposable, but they are also reversable and are apparently long-lasting (I haven't used mine enough to comment on that). I can tell you that no matter what website I looked at, virtually NO ONE had anything nice to say about the Steel City Planer. Now, maybe Steel City has cleaned up it's act in the mean time I don't know, also it is my understanding that the Steel City is not a 'true' helical cutterhead-hopefully somebody more knowledgeable can comment on that. As an aside, the Ridgid was in my top three when I was trying to decide which one to buy myself. Hope this helps!
 
#8 ·
Buy the DeWalt 735. It will actually plane a shade over 13". Save up a few more pennies and pickup a Byrd Shelix. I just made the switch over and it is the quietest machine in the shop, prior to this it was the loudest. The chip ejection system works great too. If you don't have a dust collector they make a collection bag that mounts on top of a shop vac canister or garbage can. I just so happen to have one for sale :)
 
#10 ·
The Steel Citys as good as the other two and will do the same as well with less final finishing in the long run as you will get a much smoother finish. Its as good as it gets and a newer planer than either of the other 2 models listed, while the 735 has great chip vacumn during the planing process due to it's included fan you can get the same from others with a good DC unit. I'd go that route as its also less money in most case's and Dewalt is phasing out both planers for newer models to come out soon from what I hear.Personally I have never heard a bad word said about the Steel City by anyone who knew how to setup a planer correctly in the 1st place , http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/helical-cutterhead-in-a-suitcase-planer , http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/product/877
 
#11 ·
I have the General International helical head that is the sister to the Steel City. It is an excellent machine. I replaced the Ridgid with this machine (passed it along to a new woodworker friend). Both the Ridgid and the General are good planers… but the helical head is what made me go with the General. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them but I'd go with a helical head as they are the future of planers. I suspect Dewalt with come out with one soon too.
 
#12 ·
if quality of finished product is your primay focus, the DW735 appears to be the unit for you. ive never seen a comaprative test where it wasn't rated as the top performer. i'm personally partial to ridgid, but the 735 consistently dominates the 13" benchtop planer field.
 
#15 ·
I have the DW735, and bought it because of its heavy built construction. The first side of my blades lasted over a year planing hardwoods.

Key for me is to take a wire brush to rough stock prior to planing or jointing to get any grit or silica out.

It is the loudest machine I have, and maybe one day I will get a helical head for it, but otherwise it is a workhorse and I have it on the DW mobile base, so weight is not an issue.

I added a Wixey to my planer and wow that really adds precision and repeatability to an already great machine.

Good luck, all the units you are looking at should be good performers for you.
 
#18 ·
I'm in the same boat and have decided pretty much on the DW735X. Amazon has it right now for around $550 though I got $600 in gift cards to home depot through my credit card miles so will be forced to buy it there.

@tommyt654: curious, where did you hear they are coming out with new models? I've not been able to find any info online that supports that and would love to know more.
 
#19 ·
I think I have eliminated the Steel City from consideration based on the fact that it does not have a true helical head (doesn't shear cut). So that brings me to the Ridgid and the Dewalt. I like the fact that Byrd makes a helical head for the Dewalt, but it is expensive enough that I would not be able to put one in for quite some time. The 735 has several features I like, including the 2 speed gear box. However, the Ridgid has the LSA and I can use a coupon that would make it around 350 + tax. I guess I need to decide if I want to replace this planer in the future with a bigger one or not. If I do, I should get the Ridgid, if not, perhaps the Dewalt. Choices, choices…
 
#20 ·
I forgot to mention one thing that may change your mind and go for the Ridgid: this may be YMMV but I was in my local HD yesterday and they had the Ridgid on sale for $339. You may want to visit your local store and see if it's on sale there as well and with your coupon you may be able to get it for even less. Curious, what coupon do you have?
 
#22 ·
Matt, One of my friends is fairly high up the chain @ HD and we spoke about planers a while back and he said they expect newer models from DeWalt sometime later this yr. I have an old RC-33 from Brazil I still use that blows benchtops away so I have little need but have a friend with the SC he got from Highland and he's very pleased with it for the money. Might be worth waiting for but if you need one now my predecessor to the RC was a grey Ridgid that worked well.I'll try to get more info seems I recall he said something about them having a go at Helical heads like the SC, Just a rumor for now tho:)
 
#23 · (Edited by Moderator)
Having just bought the Grizzly 13" a couplke months ago, I think it really is going to come down to what your working stock is primarily going to be. The smaller bench top/portable planers do very well with smaller stock and I would argue, most reputable brands perform pretty much the same with smaller (length) stock. The key is finding the bench/portable planer that handles longer stock with as little end snipe as possible.

Since I didn't read every comment, I hope I didn't just needlessly repeat stuff. I was really just responding to the original question as further consideration for your purchase.
 
#25 ·
I have the 13 inch Rigid and have used it mostly on 4/4 oak taking it to 3/4 inch. It came with a spare set of knives that I have not used yet. I have had no problems with the unit and no issue with snipe. The DeWalt looks like a heavier duty machine but is expensive compared to the Rigid. I initially thought I would want a heavier machine but I find the Rigid fills my needs. I have only made two end tables, two sofa tables,a three drawer night stand, a coffee table and a saw bench with it so it has not seen that much use.
 
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