Dewalt DW735 vs DW735X Planer — Is the X Model Worth the Extra

The DW735 vs DW735X thing has gotten complicated with all the conflicting forum noise flying around. So let me cut straight to it: these two planers are identical machines. Same motor. Same cutting head. Same two-speed gearbox. I’ve run both — the DW735 and the DW735X — in my shop, and I want to save you the twenty minutes of rabbit-holing I did before I finally figured this out. The X is a bundle — nothing more. DeWalt took the DW735, tossed in a set of infeed/outfeed tables and a spare blade set, stamped an X on the box, and priced it accordingly. Whether that bundle actually makes sense for you depends entirely on what’s already sitting in your shop.

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The Only Difference — Infeed/Outfeed Tables and Extra Blades

Probably should have opened with this section, honestly, because it answers the whole question before you even read further.

The DW735X ships with two things the base DW735 doesn’t: a pair of folding infeed/outfeed tables and an extra set of three HSS planer blades. That’s the complete list. No upgraded motor. No better dust collection. No additional depth stops. No improved blade locking system. The machine inside the DW735X box is the exact same 15-amp, 20,000 RPM cutting head unit you get with the standard DW735.

Here’s what those add-ons actually cost on their own. The DeWalt infeed/outfeed table set — sold separately as the DW7352 — runs about $48 to $55 depending on where you buy. I grabbed a set at my local Home Depot for $52 after tax. The replacement three-knife blade set runs roughly $28 to $35, depending on whether you catch a sale. Add those two purchases to a base DW735 and you’re looking at roughly $80 to $90 out of pocket on top of the planer price.

The price gap between the DW735 and DW735X at most retailers lands somewhere between $50 and $70. Last time I checked — a Tuesday afternoon in early spring, for what it’s worth — the DW735 sat at $549 on Amazon and the DW735X was $599. At some big box stores the gap stretches to $80. Do that math and the bundle looks slightly favorable. But only if you actually need both items.

What the Tables Actually Do for You

The infeed and outfeed tables bolt onto the sides of the planer and extend the support surface for long stock. Without them, you’re hand-supporting anything over about three feet — which works fine if you’ve got a helper or a pair of roller stands nearby. The tables fold down when not in use, so they don’t eat up permanent real estate. They’re solid, they align well, they do the job. I used mine for two years before one of the mounting bolts stripped — entirely my fault for overtightening — but they held up well before that.

What the Extra Blades Actually Do for You

The DW735 ships with one set of three double-sided HSS blades already installed. The X model throws in a second set, still sealed in packaging, basically as a spare. When your first set wears down on both edges — which takes a while, maybe 500 to 700 linear feet of hardwood depending on species — you swap them out and you’ve got fresh edges ready to go. Don’t make my mistake. I once realized mid-project on a Saturday that my blades were completely shot and I had nothing waiting in the drawer. That was a genuinely lousy afternoon.

When the DW735X Is Worth It

If you’re setting up a new shop from scratch, don’t already own infeed/outfeed support, and know you want spare blades on hand — buy the X. The math works. You save $20 to $40 versus buying everything separately, you get one box, one shipping charge if you’re ordering online, and one trip to the store. Simple.

Specifically, the DW735X makes sense when all three of these apply:

• You’re buying the planer new and have no existing support tables or roller stands
• You plan to run stock longer than 36 inches with any regularity
• You don’t already have a backup blade set sitting in a drawer

New woodworkers setting up their first real shop fall squarely into this category. Frustrated by having to hand-hold eight-foot boards through a planer with zero outfeed support — which I did on my first planer, a borrowed Ryobi AP1300, using two sawhorses and wishful thinking — I eventually figured out that proper infeed and outfeed support isn’t optional if you want consistent, snipe-free results. The tables that come with the X are a genuine quality-of-life improvement when you’re starting from nothing.

The bundle also makes sense if you’re buying this as a gift or for a shared shop where you want a complete out-of-the-box setup. There’s real value in completeness when the end user isn’t the one hunting down accessories.

When to Buy the DW735 Base Model

Buy the base DW735 if you already own a pair of roller stands, if your workbench setup handles long stock just fine, or if you’ve built — or plan to build — a dedicated planer sled with custom support. A lot of shop owners, myself included for the first year or so, just run a pair of Rockler adjustable roller stands on either side of the planer. Those stands handle stock up to ten feet without complaint and pull double duty with the table saw and band saw.

Also buy the base model if you’re sourcing blades separately anyway. Some woodworkers prefer aftermarket carbide-insert blades over the stock HSS knives — especially if they’re running a lot of figured maple or other hard, abrasive species. In that case the extra HSS set in the X model is a nice-to-have, not a need.

The situations where the base DW735 wins clearly:

• You already own two roller stands or an outfeed table from another machine
• You’re replacing an older planer and have existing support infrastructure
• You want to invest in carbide replacement blades rather than HSS
• The price gap at your retailer is above $70, making the bundle math worse
• You’re buying refurbished or open box, where the accessories may already be missing

One more thing worth saying plainly: do not pay a $70 premium for the X model at a retailer where the accessory table set is sitting on the shelf for $48. That’s a $22 overpay for a spare blade set you may not even need yet. Check the prices at your specific retailer before you decide anything.

How the DW735 Compares to Other Benchtop Planers

Assuming you’re still in decision mode and haven’t fully committed to the DeWalt yet, a quick look at the main competition is worth your time. Check our full best benchtop planer guide for deep dives — but here’s the short version.

DeWalt DW735 vs Makita 2012NB

The Makita 2012NB is a 12-inch, two-blade planer that runs noticeably quieter than the DeWalt and comes in genuinely lighter at 62 pounds versus the DW735’s 92. If portability matters — say you’re hauling the planer to job sites or sharing a small shop where it lives on a shelf between uses — the Makita deserves a serious look. The DeWalt wins on cutting width (13 inches versus 12), feed rate options (96 FPM and 179 FPM versus Makita’s single 26 FPM), and overall depth-of-cut capacity. For a production environment where you’re moving volume, the DW735 is faster and more capable. For a hobbyist shop where precision trumps speed — that’s what makes the Makita endearing to us weekend woodworkers — it holds its own.

DeWalt DW735 vs Ridgid R4331

The Ridgid R4331 is a 13-inch planer that competes directly with the DW735 on paper and undercuts it by about $100 at Home Depot. It’s a capable machine with solid reviews. Where the DeWalt pulls ahead is the two-speed feed rate — the Ridgid doesn’t offer that — and long-term parts availability. DeWalt’s blade and parts ecosystem is more established, and if you’re investing in a planer you’ll run for ten or fifteen years, that matters more than people expect. The Ridgid is the right call if budget is the primary constraint. The DeWalt is the right call if you’re buying once and want a machine with a long service life and no parts headaches five years down the road.

Bottom line on the DW735 vs DW735X question: you’re buying the same planer either way. The only variable is whether the bundled tables and spare blades represent genuine savings for your specific setup. For most first-time buyers building out a complete shop, the X model is the smarter buy. For anyone with existing shop infrastructure already in place, the base model saves you money — and nothing else changes.