12 and 13" Planer tables all same?

Be sure to look at the Dewalt 735. I think it is tops in its class.

-- Joe

Topa I have the dewalt 735. I really like it..

-- Tim, Missouri ....Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the heck happened

My Ridgid 13” has a stamped metal table with a tiny dent dead center in the plate(bought it refurbished for $100 less), but it is small enough to not affect the flatness for planing. I’m VERY happy with the Ridgid. I believe the Deltas only have 2 knives while the Ridgid has 3.

-- - Eric Indianapolis, IN

I’ll put in a plug for the DeWalt 734. It’s not as good as the 735 but is a very good planer. In my opinion, it is better than any planer you have listed and the price is much lower than the price of the 735. For me, it is all the planer I need.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

I’ll put in a plug for my Ridgid 13… I use it constantly and it is like the Energizer Bunny… just keeps going!

-- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

I vote for the Dewalt 735…very good planer.

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN

the Ridgid and the DW735 are both fantastic!

the cost difference is usually not so much the extra 1/2” in width – but the other features such as height stops for repeatable milling (after 2 months you can get back and mill a piece to the same thickness), cutterhead lock mechanism (automatic on the DW735), number of blades (2 on some machines vs. 3 on others), maximum height/thickness it’ll take, etc.

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

I have a Ryobi 12 1/2” planer that looks exactly like the Delta (now Porte Cable) 12 1/2” planer. I had to build an auxiliary table for it in order to get good results. The standard tables are terrible. With the auxiliary table, I get very good results, but I give up 3/4” of thickness capacity. It hasn’t been much of a problem yet since most of the stuff I work with is less than 2” thick anyway.

One other thing to consider is how many blades (generally, more is better). How easily the blades can be adjusted. And the all important, how expensive are replacement blades and can you find them easily. I have a friend that bought an inexpensive off brand planer and he now has to go to a machine shop to have blades made for it because they aren’t readily available. In the long run, it would hav been better to spend a bit more for the tool and be able to get replacement blades more easily and at lower cost.

-- Hey, woodworking ain't brain surgery. Just do something and keep trying till you get it. Doc

I have the Ridgid, for the price I am extremely happy with it.
The Ridigd has 3 blades, which is a +
Another important thing to consider the Ridgid has a life time warranty, no other manufacturer does

-- Bert

I may be the odd ball here but I have the Delta 13” and have been quite pleased with its performance despite having the stamped tables and have had no problems with snipe with it.

-- I don't make mistakes, I have great learning lessons, Greg

Puting a plug in for finding a used Ryobi AP1300, love mine.

Tables are the same; but the number one factor in eliminating snipe is adjustable infeed and outfeed tables. The number two is a solid cutterhead lock.

Sounds like it will be hard to go wrong with the Ridgid or either of the Deltas. Thanks for the input.

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

Lot of good things heard about the Ridgid 13” planer, and I probably would have bought it myself, but lucked out on one of those clearance deals on the Dewalt 735 and am very satisfied with that piece of equipment.

It is a heavy duty little machine, that does its job very well.

I’d kill for a DW735. I have a DW733 now, and it has been a real war-horse.

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

Dewalt 735 – I have had great results for the past four years