I need to get a planer, but money’s a little tight right now.  So I decided to take a shot at using a portable planer instead of a heavier model.  So I picked up a Dewalt DW735 at Lowes, $650 with tax.

After about 10 minutes, I packed it up and returned it.  It’s unbelievably loud and kinda cheap-feeling.  For a few hundred dollars more I can get a Grizzly 15″ planer, which is the way I’m heading.  I may just bite the bullet and get the helical head model.  Either way, I’ll get a vastly better planer for not that much more money.