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No personal experience. The descriptions don't mention having a cutter head lock, so they could be more susceptible to end sniping. Also, would replacement blades be available from other sources (is it compatible with other manufacturers?).
You can probably pick up a used name brand planer for the same price on CL -
No, but looks like a Far East clone.
Is there a reason to prefer these over a name brand at a similar price? If you can wait a bit and watch the sales, consumer grade tools like DeWalt are closed out at Lowes from time to time at low prices, and HD clearances tools from time to time as well.
If it were me and I had a local HF store, for a similar price I would opt for the HF variant, since service and parts are likely to be more readily available.--------------------------------------------------
Electrical Engineer by day, Woodworker by nightComment
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Early in the year i bought a Delta 22-540 (12") planer on Craigslist (CL) for $100 or $120, sold it a few weeks ago on CL for $145. Okay planer, no cutter head lock, always at least a little snipe no matter how hard i tried to support the workpiece.
In September or so, i bought a Dewalt 733 (12 1/2") planer with two spare sets of knives (from a guy i was buying a barrel from for my chip separator) for $150. Sold it on CL for $225, same time as the Delta. Great planer with a good cutter head lock (same design as the Dewalt 734), only times i got any snipe was on really long (and not well supported) work or really short (too short to span both tables) pieces.
In October, caught a Dewalt 735 (13") on close-out from Sears for $325--i'm keeping it unless by some miracle i manage to outlive it.
For me--in the benchtop class i'd not hesitate to buy a 733, 734 or especially a 735 that hadn't been abused. With a little patience they can be found on CL (or maybe even on e-bay close enough to pick up) for less money and (unless abused or just plain worn out) they will be better machines than many of the "clones". I probably should have bought the 735 to start with, but the way i did it, i probably saved $250 to $300 on the net transactions whilst providing LOML enough evidence to have me committed.Comment
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Not the planers, but I have a Sunhill jointer, which is a Geetech with a different label.
Geetech equipment is also sold under the Woodtek name.
Generally speaking I have found their stuff to be top quality, in some ways far superior to comparable items sold by the big names you would recognize. Well milled cast iron, butter smooth height adjustment for the table, smooth fence operation etc...
I can't imagine their planer would be all that bad. However, with no cutter head lock, I am not sure I would want to go with that. Keep your eyes peeled for a lightly used DW735, or the cutter head equipped Ridgid (that I cannot recall the model info on right now...) on Craigslist... Or save up and catch a sale on the Dewalt...
Don't get me wrong, ALL bench top planers will snipe, at least a little bit. Cutter head locks go a LONG way to eliminating that. They don't provide perfect results (there are plenty of folks out there that still snipe with a DW735 even!) but with proper adjustment and technique, not something that would ever be noticed...Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.Comment
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Yep--as dbhost says, the 735 NEEDS the infeed/outfeed tables--can't understand why they are an option. And the documentation is silent on their set-up (the 733 docs are clear on the set-up of its tables). Dewalt's technical support folks say the 735 tables are to be level with eash other, a "dime's thickness" above the cutting table. On anything over 5' or 6' i usually add a roller stand in and catch them coming out--pretty close to no noticable snipe (unless i forget to catch!!)
earlComment
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I have the Delta 22-580 (has cutterhead lock), and other than needing to swap the blades around, it's worked almost perfectly for years.
I took it apart a couple of years ago to deep clean and accidentally broke the repeated stop knob screw. That was obviously my fault. The only real adjustment I've made to it was to fine tune the indicator to match my set of digital calipers.
They don't make it anymore, but I'd buy another one just like it used if this one were to die."It's a dog eat dog world out there, and I'm wearing Milk-Bone underwear."- Norm (from Cheers)
Eat beef-because the west wasn't won on salad.Comment
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+1 re cabinetman comment on geetech planer. BTW, that delta 22-580 was rated a top tool in a comparative test in a WW mag. i believe the test predated the intro of the DW 735.there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.Comment
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