As a furniture maker and instructor, I judge a planer first by the flatness it holds and the repeatability it gives me at the bench. In this head-to-head I’m looking at two stalwarts — the DeWalt DW735 with its 330 mm (13") cutting width and three blades, and the Makita 2012NB with a 304 mm (12") bed and two blades — both machines that have taught thousands of shops over 20+ years (Machine Atlas). I’ll focus on knife quality and hardness, fence and thickness tolerance, vibration and real-shop durability, and the trade-offs between the DW735’s 30,000 cuts per minute at 14 fpm and the Makita’s 17,000 cuts per minute at 28 fpm. Expect clear buying guidance for beginners who need stability and for seasoned woodworkers who demand fit-and-finish and upgradeability.

Makita - Planer Blade Set W/Set Plate 3-1/4 Dbl Edged Carbide N1900 (192157-2)

Ranked Best for Heavy-Duty Planing because it converts a benchtop planer into a workhorse: Makita’s 3-1/4" double‑edged carbide blades with set plate give shop users a predictable, hard‑wearing cutting geometry that resists dulling and chatter under high feed rates. In my furniture shop and classroom I reach for these when I need long edge life and repeatable flatness across lots of short runs — they tolerate abuse and keep the cutter head balanced, which is the first step toward consistently flat boards.

Key features are simple and purpose‑built: double‑edged carbide cutters brazed to a machined backing plate and supplied with a set plate for accurate seating. The carbide's edge retention and hardness translate to fewer indexing events, while the set plate and tightly ground faces reduce axial runout and vibration. Practically, that means less snipe, smoother faces straight off the planer, and less jointing before glue‑up. Fit and finish matter: these replace OEM blades cleanly, sit true in the head, and present a uniform edge profile that contributes directly to the planer’s effective flatness tolerance.

Who should buy: seasoned shops and advanced hobbyists who run batches, resaw and thickness heavy stock, or require long intervals between blade changes. For beginners these are still a smart buy — less frequent resharpening and lower chatter make learning feed and depth settings less frustrating — but novices must be aware of correct installation torque and head truing to get the best results. They’re an ideal upgrade for a Makita 2012NB user wanting DW735‑level stability in short‑bed planing tasks.

Drawbacks: the 3‑1/4" width limits use to compatible benches and smaller planers — they are not a drop‑in replacement for full‑width knives on wide industrial machines like the DW735. Also, carbide resharpening requires diamond tooling, so when they do finally dull you either rotate the double edge or send them out rather than touching them up on an ordinary grinder.

Factors to Consider

Frequently Asked Questions

Which planer gives a smoother finish out of the machine?

All else equal the DeWalt DW735 tends to give a smoother raw finish because it has three knives across its 330 mm (13") cutterhead and a higher 30,000 cuts-per-minute rating, which produces denser cutting action at moderate feed speeds. The Makita's faster 28 ft/min feed and two-knife cutterhead (17,000 cuts/min) favors throughput over the very finest raw face, so expect to do more sanding or cross‑planing on figured grain.

Which is better for a small shop that needs portability?

The Makita 2012NB is the better choice for portability — at 27 kg it is substantially lighter than the DW735’s 42 kg and easier to move or put on a wheeled stand. If you need to frequently reposition your machine for classes, jobsite work, or a crowded shop the Makita’s weight and compact footprint are advantages.

Which planer holds up better under heavy, repeated use?

For heavier, repeatable production the DeWalt’s heavier, station-like design tends to resist vibration and produce flatter results over time, which is why many shops favor it for sustained use (Machine Atlas). The Makita has excellent build quality and more metal components, but the extra mass of the DW735 helps in high‑duty environments.

How do I avoid snipe with either model?

Both the DW735 and Makita 2012NB are reported to leave significant snipe, so the safest approach is the same: use sacrificial infeed/outfeed pieces, support long work with rollers or stands, and make a light final pass with minimal removal. Also ensure the infeed/outfeed tables are coplanar and use consistent feed pressure — small setup changes reduce snipe more than changing blades alone.

Is the DeWalt noticeably louder than the Makita?

Yes; user reports indicate the DeWalt DW735 runs louder than the Makita 2012NB, which is an important shop consideration if noise is a concern (Woodworking Talk). If you work in a shared space or teach classes, factor the difference into hearing protection and room acoustic plans.

Which model is the better value for a hobbyist on a budget?

The DeWalt DW735 is typically the better budget value at around $600 versus the Makita’s approximately $700 (The Best Home Tools). You gain a wider 13" cutting capacity, a three‑knife cutterhead, and a sturdier frame at a lower price, making it a strong starter-to-intermediate shop workhorse.

How do blade life and maintenance compare between the two?

Expect different maintenance rhythms: three knives on the DW735 mean smaller individual knife changes and a slightly higher consumable count, while the Makita’s two knives are fewer parts to set. In either case check the ease of removing and indexing knives, and have a plan for sharpening or stocking replacements — steel hardness and edge geometry determine how often you’ll resurface knives in real shop conditions.

Conclusion

For a furniture maker focused on flatness, low vibration and the finest raw finish on 13" stock, the DeWalt DW735 is the pragmatic shop choice — heavier, more stable, and better value at about $600. If you need a quieter, lighter machine with excellent metal fit and faster throughput and can tolerate a modest price premium (~$700), the Makita 2012NB is a strong alternative; either way plan for snipe mitigation and a regular blade‑maintenance routine.