Posts: 30,422
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: IL or NC <coin toss>
(09-08-2024, 12:45 PM)Brian in sunny FL Wrote: I have some experimental heads from another supplier I'll probably put in a 735 myself. Only issue is screws were junk and not true so would chip some inserts as they were installed in the machined pocket. Haven't put the time into finding new screws yet as they are metric and not the Byrd screws which are 10/32. Picture is before black oxide plating.
![[Image: DW735_head.jpg]](https://www.holbren.com/misc/DW735_head.jpg)
Following. Setting up a second shop and picked up a Dewalt 735 in lieu of buying another floor standing planer. Would be interested in your results.
Posts: 2,734
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2005
(09-07-2024, 12:17 AM)JTTHECLOCKMAN Wrote: I am looking to upgrade my Delta 12" planer that is old and started giving me problems and I just about got every penny out of it. I want to buy the Dewalt735X planer which gets high marks and reviews as the best bench top planer on the market. Now they sell the same planer with a Shelix head instead of the straight blades but it is a $1000 more. But doing some homework I see you can buy the Byrd Shelix cutterhead separately and change it your self for about $600. The Planer is about $650 to $700 so the savings would be about $400. The thing is if you buy the OEM cutterhead you have to take all the cutters off and slide the head through the bearing raceways and then reinstall the cutters. Or you can buy a smaller version and only have to remove one or two rows of cutters to get through raceways. But in the end there is things that get thrown off because of the smaller diameter cutterhead. or I should say features like the depth gauge.
Now with this bit of knowledge that I have I would like to ask if anyone has the planer and with what cutterhead? If you changed to a shelix cutterhead did you get an OEM one or a smaller diameter? What was your experience changing heads? Are you seeing that much difference in cut quality? I am sure the carbide cutters would be smoother in all types of wood. I also understand that the Shelix head draws more amps during cutting than the straight blades so to begin with a 20 amp breaker is in need but with the universal motors on these you can only run for so long and it will overheat and cause the thermal button on the unit to trip or the breaker in panel. Have you seen this happen. I guess what I am asking is if you own one what are the opinions and the pros and cons? Thanks in advance.
FWIW: I used that planer for many years with the stock straight knives and was very pleased with the results. They have an excellent system for indexing the knives so knife changes are a breeze. Depending on the type of work you do and the type of lumber you are putting through the machine, the standard knifes might just be all you need?
Posts: 30,422
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: IL or NC <coin toss>
(11-13-2024, 03:28 PM)Philip1231 Wrote: FWIW: I used that planer for many years with the stock straight knives and was very pleased with the results. They have an excellent system for indexing the knives so knife changes are a breeze. Depending on the type of work you do and the type of lumber you are putting through the machine, the standard knifes might just be all you need?
Quite honestly, this may be my reality as well.
Posts: 5,639
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2004
With holiday sales coming up check HD. I bought a 735 with extension tables and stand at HD a couple months back for $649.
Posts: 1,687
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2005
11-20-2024, 10:16 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-20-2024, 10:17 AM by kurt18947.)
(11-13-2024, 03:28 PM)Philip1231 Wrote: FWIW: I used that planer for many years with the stock straight knives and was very pleased with the results. They have an excellent system for indexing the knives so knife changes are a breeze. Depending on the type of work you do and the type of lumber you are putting through the machine, the standard knifes might just be all you need?
Lots of people swear by the segmented heads but if I were using straight grained domestic woods I don't know that I'd worry about it. If I were using gnarly, figured woods the segmented heads are most likely the way to go. If you really hate changing straight knives the segmented heads are the way to go. Some claim SHARP straight knives yield a better finish than the segmented heads. Sharp probably means fairly frequent knife changes and the DeWalt 735 knives are generally not considered re-sharpenable. Infinity sells carbide tipped straight knives for the 735, another option though for $249 they ain't cheap and at the price you're well on your way to the cost of a segmented head.
