Jet 15 inch planer

[justin waldron]

I have been using a Dewalt 735 for the past 3 years and knew I needed to upgrage to something with more power and I finally did, this Jet is 15 inches and 3 HP.  I've read many reviews on many planers and they are all mixed.  The only thing I miss from the Dewalt is the built in stops at 1/2, 3/4 etc.  This machine has worked flawlessly, I've plained a mix of Red Oak, Cherry and Poplar, so far around 100 board feet in all and there are no signs of the blades starting to dull.  What used to take 2-3 passes in the Dewalt now takes 1.  Overall I am very pleased with this planer and would definately recommend it.

 

[Jay Boutwell]

Congrats Justin you have stepped up to a great planner.  This is what I have and have used for years.  I have the older model which is the Jet blue grey color with a 3 hp and 15 inch cut.  I have cut hundreds of feet  of hickory, oak, cherry, walnut, maple, popular and a few others in between.  Cuts soft wood as well without trouble.  No problems with snipe when it is adjusted correctly.

The blades last a long time and has enough power to cut deep cuts.  Another feature is the two speed which allows you to make rapid stock removal and the slow it down to take a more delicate smooth cut.  Blade changing is easy and fast using a dial caliper.  The standard high speed steel blades last a long time between sharpenings and it has a option of carbide at a higher expense.  There is one thing I did change on mine and something that Jet told me they were changing and that is the out put hood.  When I got mine they had it attached with only 1/4 inch bolts and nuts without any lock washers.  Viberation causes the bolts to loosen and there is a danger of them falling into the machine and becomes like bullets and raises some destruction in the internal parts.  Jet told me they were going to weld the nuts onto the hood and place the bolts on the outside of the hood so there was no change of them falling into the machine.  I found out about this when I talked to a fellow woodworker which a loose nut destroyed his new jet about a month after he bought it.  I looked at mine and changed mine before I had the same misfortune.   Jet did replace his machine.  Fore safety sake you might check your out.

[David Dean]

Now thats a planer bit you dont have to baby set that one.

[justin waldron]

Thanks guys, I have definately fallen in love with this machine.  As far as the bolts on the dust hood, there are no nuts now, the holes are tapped through the dust hood and cover, there are bolts that go through both with lock washers, so that shouldn't be a problem.  I'm glad to hear that the knives last a good while too, it was such a pain to keep buying/changing knives in the Dewalt.  All in all it seems to be a great planer and I am very happy with it.

[Jason Watkins]

Nice review of the JET, thanks. I'm looking for a dewalt 735 for my 1st power planer. Other than the blades dulling quickly, did you have any other problems with it?