Sunday, 19 June 2011
Thickness Planer - planer accessories, folding table
These tables are not included with the DW735 planer. Don't let that lead you to believe that they are optional. I tried to run the planer without them, and I got significant snipe. Adding the tables improved the snipe quite a bit, and as I adjust the tables to be level with the bed of the planer, the snipe keeps decreasing. If you want to get the performance you paid for with the DW735, you need these tables.The tables should be purchased with the planer and mounted before the planer is bolted down to its final resting place. To mount the tables, the planer must be moved off of its platform just enough to get a few fingers and a wrench underneath the base. The instructions make a big deal about securing the planer during this operation, but I think their concerns are overstated. Only about 2" of the base needs to be accessible from underneath in order to mount the table, and this leaves the planer in a very stable position. Just be careful and use your own judgement.It's true that the outfeed table does not fold up. Let's set this in perspective. This is a sign of inattentive design. It's silly, it's embarassing to DeWalt, but it doesn't reduce the usefulness of the infeed and outfeed tables. Frankly, I don't understand why it's so important that the tables fold at all. Jointers have huge cast iron infeed and outfeed tables that don't fold, and the only complaint I have heard about them is that they are never large enough. It seems to me the only point of folding tables is to perpetuate the silly notion that this is a "portable benchtop planer". I don't consider any object weighing 90 pounds to be "portable". I wonder how much more it would have cost DeWalt to have provided a non-folding cast iron bed of equivalent size. Perhaps that's coming in their next version.Having tried the planer with and without, I am glad I bought the tables. I would recommend them to anyone with a DW735 planer. DEWALT DW7351 Folding Table for DW735 Planer
As has been noted by another reviewer, these table extensions for the DeWalt DW735 planer aren't really optional. The only good reason not to buy them is that you intend to build a full table for the planer. This isn't a bad idea, since it gives the woodworker the ability to set up some sled jigs for for planning bowed and twisted lumber. But if you intend to make even a pretense of having a portable planer these are required. Unless you like snipe.
Snipe, if you don't know, is the extra deep cutting that can occur at the ends of the board intil it finds (and keeps its level. Frankly, all portable (and many stationary) planers snipe. Even with these tables you will get some, just not as much or as often as without them. The added stability you get from the tables is often enough to get everything stable before the wood hits the blades instead of four inches later.
These extensions are surprisingly stable. They do fold up out of the way, but there isn't any mechanism to keep them up. I use a Velcro strap, but heavy-duty industrial rubber bands will do just fine. I wouldn't wait to discover that you need these in the middle of a battle with 8/4 hard maple. Buy them when you buy the planer and you won't ever regret it.
Okay, I finally got the folding tables. They are very easy to assemble and align. Each corner of each table can be adjusted for height. The attachment points are spring loaded so they are also easy to take off and put back on. They do help in supporting the work and seem very solid. The front table folds up out of the way and stays there. The rear table however is another story. Because the main table and the back of the moter/blade assembly are pretty much even and the pin to hold the table is set back the rear table will never fold up and stay. When the depth of cut is set around an inch and the cord is wrapped around the cord holder the rear table won't flip up more then around 20 degrees. In my opinion this is a major design flaw, the main table needs to stick out at the rear by at least an inch or two to allow the table to fold up.
If you've read some of the other reviews you already know the back table extension will not fold up with a chip collection accessory hooked up, and that is true. The extensions do work very well with the plainer and install and fold up easily (at least the front). They are made well and work great. The back extentsion not folding up for me isn't such a big deal because I have the chip collection accessory and it sticks out about as far as the table extension anyway. I do recommdend you get them because they do help prevent snipe and make is easier to feed long boards through the plainer. After all, thats the main purpose for them anyway.
The tables are easy to install. Folds up against the planer when the planer is not used for a smaller storage footprint for the planer. The tables are easily to remove and reinstall if necessary. The table returns to the same level after removal and reinstaliation. One adjusted to match the planer's plate, no readjsutment is needed. The table is heavy, well made and not likely to flex as wood is passing over the table. Worth the money but it would have nice for DeWalt to include them as part of the planer package.
These extension tables greatly increase the accuracy of the 735 planer by reducing snipe through additional support on longer stock. They are relatively easy to mount, and provide a plane even with the bed of the 735 planer. While the front (input) table can fold up when not in use, the rear (outfeed) table is blocked by the exhaust port and cannot be raised.
All in all, I would not be without these additions to my planer.
I was happy with the ease of installation, the fact that all hardware came with the kit. The instructions were easy to follow and adjustments were easy to make once the installating was complete. It only took about 20-30 minutes to install and adjust the tables. - Planer - Extensions - Folding Table - Planer Accessories'
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