DeWalt DW734 with Byrd Head

[Todd Hoppe]

This morning, I saw a seller on eBay offering a Byrd shelix spiral cutterhead for the DeWalt dw734 planer. He was asking $429 (before the Bing 8% cash back).

Does anyone have experience with this combination?

I have a dw734 and am very satisfied. However, it does chip out on figured woods, and I need a new set of knives.

Would installation be about the same as with the dw735, which I have seen documented?

[Jeff Willard]

I wasn't aware that Byrd made a head for the 734. I knew about the 735, but AFAIK, that was the only head they made for any lunchbox planer.

[Todd Hoppe]

That is what I thought. However, the heads are listed on (1) Holbren ($447), (2) Byrd Tool's eCommerce site ($447), and (3) this guy on eBay ($429).

It ships with bearings installed.

[Myk Rian]

Yes, they make it for the DW734.
Go to Holbren and put SMC10 in the coupon code box for 10% off.
http://www.holbren.com/product.php?productid=4695&cat=0&page=1

[Todd Hoppe]

Thanks. It doesn't look like anyone has experience with this particular setup. I presume it will be similar to the generally good experience with the DW735. However, I'm not sure if it's worth it to put this much into a lunchbox planer...

[Myk Rian]

I thought it was worth the money to upgrade my 735. Here's a 100 year old pine board I did with it.
http://www.routerforums.com/attachments/tools-woodworking/28127d1253389643-byrd-shelix-dw735-planer-0919091119.jpg
http://www.routerforums.com/attachments/tools-woodworking/28128d1253389643-byrd-shelix-dw735-planer-0919091126.jpg

[Brian Gumpper]

Byrd has them for the 734 now and also some Delta machines. I have sold a couple for the 734 with no complaints.

[Jeff Willard]

However, I'm not sure if it's worth it to put this much into a lunchbox planer...

Only you can decide that, but if you ever deal with anything abrasive (teak, jatoba...), it could pay for itself in short order.

[glenn bradley]

Thanks. It doesn't look like anyone has experience with this particular setup. I presume it will be similar to the generally good experience with the DW735. However, I'm not sure if it's worth it to put this much into a lunchbox planer...

I would buy from Brian at Holbren. I love my DW734 but if it had a spiral head like my jointer, I would REALLY love it.

[John Kali]

Would the byrd head help at all with attempting to plane end grain?

[Myk Rian]

Would the byrd head help at all with attempting to plane end grain?
Good question. I suspect it would help, but have nothing to test the theory with.

[Todd Hoppe]

Purchased. (a sneaky almost-gloat). We will see if this is worth it!

Now I have to justify spending $400 instead of $50.

I'll post a review of this installation after it's complete.

[Allan Froehlich]

I am very happy to see this thread!!!

I just went through my THIRD set (both sides) of standard blades on my DW735. I have yet to hit a nail with the planer, but the occasional eye tends to put a tiny nick in the blade. Do this about 40 times and things don't look so good anymore.

Some people are complaining about the price, but I have already spent enough on blades to justify the expense. I did think about a larger machine, but I move the 735 around so much that it would not make sense.

I have probably send enough wood trough the planer to fill 40 garbage pails with wood chips. I'd say %90 of what goes through it is domestic hardwoods such as oak and ash. I recently finished a hope cest built out of honey locust, which quickly chewed up my new blades (the lumber, that is).

Time to upgrade!

[glenn bradley]

I also am glad for someone to try this out. I am struggling with $450 for a head on my DW734 or just spend $1000 more and get a beast of a planer. $1000 will buy a lot of lumber and my planer is on my fliptop so I'd lose that, plus I still have two extra sets of knives . . . . decisions, decisions.

[Todd Hoppe]

Well, I know that if you don't have pictures, it didn't happen... However, I have the head, and I have my DW734 torn apart. After a couple of stuck screws and the birth of our first child (a little girl), I haven't gotten around to finishing the install.

I promise to report back when its done!