Opinions on the DeWalt DW733 Planer

[Knottscott]

Hi all - I have a chance to pick up a new DW733 for $300, and am interested to hear opinions about it. This is the older model with the resharpenable knives, not the DW734/DW735 with disposable knives. Seems like a decent deal, but I'd like input from others. Are the knives hard to align?

I've currently got a Delta 22-580 that's been good to me, however I've never liked the dust collection arrangement, and I'm getting tired of the rollers needing to be cleaned every half dozen passes. I'm aware that I'll be losing the 2-speed feature, and that the 733 has 2 knives vs 3....not really a huge concern for me. I'd be especially interested to hear opinions from folks who are familiar with both the DW733 and the Delta 22-580, but welcome any comments.

TIA...

[Whaler]

I had the DW733 in my previous shop. It got a lot of use and I was very happy with the results. Dust collection was good and I never had a problem with snipe.

[smorris]

I've got that planer and it works fine, never had any issues that weren't pilot error. It has gotten a lot of use over the last few month, ash, padauk, mahogany, basswood and it just keeps on cranking it out.

[Knottscott]

Thanks for the input guys....I'll keep you posted if I grab it.

[LCHIEN]

I always heard that the DW733 was a good machine, but so should be the 22-580.

Are you using a shopvac to collect from it or a DC with a 4" hose?
My 22-560 (single speed earlier version of the 22-580) I think has a similar arrangement and it really wants the higher airflow DC to clear the hood or else chips leak out everywhere including back on top of the incoming wood and then gets hit by the rollers like you say.

[smorris]

I agree that you really need a 4" hose with a good dust collector or you'll be swimming in chips.

[Knottscott]

The 22-560 was a predecessor to the current TP400, which is actually a step down in features from the 22-580. The 560 had better DC than the 580 even when hooked to exactly the same dust collection system, which is a 2hp Grizzly 1029, which at the time used 4" mains and drops (6" mains now). Even though I don't think the DC works as well on the 580, my beef with the DC is that it's more prone to clogging through that 3/4" exit slot, plus the fact that the DC shoot drags on top of the work piece and doesn't allow the outfeed table to fold up without removing it. Some would view that as a knitpick but I'm just tired of that, and the fact that the rollers need to be cleaned so much more often to prevent slipping. I just want to use it and forget about it.

I like the 580 but was thinking if I could swap for the 733 for about even money, I'd welcome relief from those complaints. I'm wondering if I'll just about acquiring different beefs.

[cgallery]

I'm wondering if I'll just about acquiring different beefs.

You'd be getting the 733 for a fair price. In cases like this I tend to acquire the new-to-me tool, and then after a few days to a few weeks, I keep the one I like more and sell the other one.

My wife, reading this over my shoulder, is saying that my normal M/O is to keep them both, insisting that they each have qualities I like, all the while I do very little actual woodworking.

But seeing as I have the keyboard I will just say that she has six different recipes for brownies and yet I sit here brownieless.

Ouch.

[Knottscott]

You'd be getting the 733 for a fair price. In cases like this I tend to acquire the new-to-me tool, and then after a few days to a few weeks, I keep the one I like more and sell the other one.

My wife, reading this over my shoulder, is saying that my normal M/O is to keep them both, insisting that they each have qualities I like, all the while I do very little actual woodworking.

But seeing as I have the keyboard I will just say that she has six different recipes for brownies and yet I sit here brownieless.

Ouch.

"....all the while I do very little actual woodworking." ...and thus, one other way the internet has changed woodworking!

Actually I hadn't given much thought to trying both and keeping the one I like best. I just planned on moving the 22-580 out, but one good thing about buying the DW733 at a fair price is that it'd be easy to resell if necessary, and the 22-580 is well proven to me. Still haven't heard back from the guy though...

[Pappy]

I had the DW733 in my previous shop. It got a lot of use and I was very happy with the results. Dust collection was good and I never had a problem with snipe.

I have the DW-733 and would answer the same way.

[Knottscott]

Thanks again for the feedback gang. Unfortunately, the $300 price does not include the dust chute, which adds another $40 to the equation so the value has dropped a fair amount. Considering that I don't have to have a new planer, I'm going to hold off until another great deal comes along.

[SARGE..g-47]

Interestingly enough.. I had the 22-580 before an upgrade to my current 20" planer and did not experience a problem with dust control.. the chute dropping not allowing the rear extention to close or the feed roller problem.

With that said I did have it connected to a 1 HP PS DC direct with only a 10' hose. I would have to clean the feed rollers occasionally as all planers I have used.. barr none. It there is a chance B-there reads this.. he might comment on the 22-580 as he purchased it from me and as far as I know has not had any problems either?

I cannot comment on the DW as I did not have nor have used that particular model.

Good luck with your decision Scott...

[LCHIEN]

on the 22-560 i had to raise the cutterhead assy most of the way up to allow the outfeed table to fold up comfortably or it would hit the dust chute... not a big deal. what irritates me is that the chute is centered over the outfeed so a 4" hose with a quick connect needs to be supported or it will fall off and or be caught by the exiting wood.

don't know if the 22-580 is exactly the same

[ragswl4]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Whaler
I had the DW733 in my previous shop. It got a lot of use and I was very happy with the results. Dust collection was good and I never had a problem with snipe.

I have the DW-733 and would answer the same way.
__________________
Don, aka Pappy,


===================
Ditto on all the above, really like the planer and absence of snipe I really, really, really, really hate snipe. Did I mention that I hated snipe?

[tseavoy]

DW 733 Planer

I have a DW 733 and it paid for itself many times over. The blades are easily aligned using the magnetic holder they provide. Much of my work has been recycling old wood so I hit a nail or screw once in a while and have to have the blades resharpened. I recently bought a new set of blades ($50) tho.
The one problem I had is after replacing blades, the tool tray/shaving deflector must be aligned so it pushes against the safety stop. I didn't once and broke a couple sprockets and the gear housing. Parts are easy to get though. I did remove that safety stop so that wouldn't happen again.

Tom