FOXBC 13-Inch Planer Blades Review 2026: Worth Switching?

If your DeWalt DW735 chews through pricey OEM blades faster than your wallet can refill them, you have likely searched for a cheaper replacement that still leaves a glass-smooth surface.

The FOXBC 13-Inch Planer Blades keep showing up in woodworking forums, Amazon best-seller charts, and YouTube shop tours as the budget pick most hobbyists actually trust.

This review digs into how these M2 high-speed steel knives perform, who they suit, and where they fall short. I will cover unboxing, install, edge life on hardwoods, and the honest trade-offs. By the end, you will know whether to click buy or stick with the DW7352 factory set.

In a Nutshell

• Material: Industrial M2 laminated high-speed steel, the same family of alloy used in many factory OEM blades.
• Fit: Drop-in replacement for the DeWalt DW735 and DW735X, also compatible with several Ryobi, Ridgid, and Craftsman 13-inch planers depending on the SKU.
• Dimensions: 13″ x 7/8″ x 1/16″, three blades per set, reversible double-edged design.
• Price advantage: Typically sells at roughly half the cost of genuine DW7352 sets, which makes blade changes far less painful.
• Finish quality: Leaves a clean, tear-out-free surface on soft and medium hardwoods when properly seated.
• Best for: Hobbyists, DIY furniture makers, and small shop pros who plane mostly pine, poplar, oak, maple, and walnut.

FOXBC 13-Inch Planer Blades

The FOXBC set ships as three reversible knives packed in a hard plastic clamshell. Each blade is wrapped in oil paper, which keeps the cutting edges from rusting in transit. The locator slots are pre-cut and line up cleanly with the DW735 cutter head magnets.

What stands out at first glance is the consistent grind across all three blades. There are no visible burrs, no curl at the tips, and no warping when you lay them on a flat reference. For a sub-thirty-dollar set, the machining quality is genuinely surprising.

The included plastic case doubles as long-term storage for the flipped second edge, which is a small but appreciated touch. Most budget brands toss the blades in a bag and call it done.

Who Should Buy These Blades

These knives suit the weekend woodworker who runs 200 to 500 board feet a month through a benchtop planer. If you mill rough lumber for furniture, cutting boards, or small cabinet runs, this is your lane.

They also fit small commercial shops that go through blade sets quickly and want to keep change-out costs reasonable. At half the price of OEM, you can rotate fresh edges more often and still spend less.

They are not the right pick for production shops planing exotic hardwoods all day. For ipe, teak, or reclaimed lumber loaded with grit, a helical cutter head is the smarter long-term investment.

Top 3 Alternatives for FOXBC 13-Inch Planer Blades

POWERTEC 13 Inch Planer Blades for DeWalt DW735, DW735X (Set of 6)

13-Inch HSS Replacement Planer Blades for DeWalt DW735 (Set of 6)

FINDBUYTOOL 13 Inch Helical Cutterhead for DeWalt DW735 DW735X

Unboxing and First Impressions

The package arrives in a small corrugated mailer, with the clamshell case wrapped in bubble film. There is no flashy retail branding, just a simple FOXBC label and part number printed on the front.

Opening the case reveals each blade sitting in a molded slot, individually sleeved in waxed paper coated with light oil. The smell is faintly industrial, similar to fresh machine coolant, and it fades within a few minutes of air exposure.

The blades feel heavier than expected for their size. The steel has a clean satin finish with sharp, honed edges that catch the light evenly along the full 13-inch length.

Build Quality and Materials

FOXBC uses M2 laminated tool steel, a cobalt-alloyed HSS known for heat resistance and edge retention. This is the same general grade DeWalt specifies for the DW7352, so the metallurgy is not a downgrade.

The lamination process bonds a hard cutting edge to a slightly softer spine, which reduces the risk of catastrophic chipping when you hit a hidden knot or staple. It is a smart construction choice for budget-priced consumables.

Where these differ from premium blades is in the final honing pass. The edge is sharp out of the box, but a high-end Tersa knife will hold its keenness slightly longer under heavy use.

Installation on the DeWalt DW735

Swapping blades takes about fifteen minutes if you have done it once before. The cutter head magnets grip the new FOXBC blades firmly, and the locator pins line up perfectly with the factory slots.

I did not need to shim, file, or tweak anything. The torx screws thread back in smoothly, and the gib bar seats flat against the blade back without any rocking. That alignment is critical, and FOXBC clearly machined to spec.

One small tip: wipe the protective oil off the cutting edge before installation. Residual oil can transfer to the first few boards and leave faint streaks on light-colored woods like maple or birch.

Cutting Performance on Softwoods

Running fresh FOXBC blades through pine, cedar, and poplar produces a surface so smooth you can skip the 80-grit pass entirely. The cut is whisper-quiet compared to dull factory blades and the chip ejection stays consistent.

On knotty pine, there is no visible tear-out around the knot edges as long as you take light passes of 1/32 inch or less. Heavier bites occasionally lift grain near pin knots, which is normal for any straight-knife planer.

Surface quality on poplar is genuinely impressive. The boards come off the outfeed looking almost pre-sanded, ready for a quick 180-grit scuff before finishing.

Cutting Performance on Hardwoods

Red oak, hard maple, walnut, and cherry all plane cleanly with these blades. The cut quality on flat-sawn maple is excellent for the first 150 to 200 board feet, after which you start to notice subtle fuzzing on the surface.

This is where the honest trade-off shows up. FOXBC blades dull slightly faster than premium OEM under heavy hardwood use, which several Reddit users have echoed. At half the price, most owners find the math still works in FOXBC’s favor.

For figured maple or curly walnut, take lighter passes and feed slower. The straight-knife geometry will always struggle with reversing grain compared to a helical head.

Edge Life and Durability

Expect roughly 300 to 500 board feet per edge on mixed hardwoods before you flip the blade. Pine and poplar will stretch that closer to 800 board feet thanks to lower abrasion.

When the first edge dulls, you simply flip the blade to expose the fresh second edge. That effectively doubles the value, putting your real cost per usable edge in the single-digit dollar range.

Hitting a hidden staple or nail will chip any HSS blade, FOXBC included. The laminated construction helps localize the damage, so usually only one of the three blades takes the hit rather than the whole set.

Packaging and Storage

The included hard clamshell case is more useful than it looks. After flipping the blades, you can slot the partially-used set back inside and label it with a Sharpie for the next change.

The molded foam-style inserts keep the cutting edges from touching each other, which matters because blade-on-blade contact in a drawer is how most spare knives get nicked.

One small gripe: the case latches feel slightly flimsy. Treat them gently and they will last for several blade cycles, but they are not built for daily tool-belt abuse.

Downsides and Honest Drawbacks

The biggest downside is edge longevity under heavy hardwood use. If you run a small business planing oak flooring or hardwood slabs daily, you will replace these more often than you would like.

Some users have also reported occasional inconsistency between batches, where one blade in a set arrives slightly less sharp than the other two. This is rare but worth checking before installation.

Finally, these are not compatible with helical cutter heads. If you have already upgraded your DW735 to a spiral head from Shelix or FindBuyTool, you need carbide inserts, not these straight knives.

Value Versus OEM DeWalt DW7352

A genuine DW7352 set runs roughly twice the price of the FOXBC equivalent. For weekend woodworkers running a few hundred board feet a month, that price gap is the entire argument for switching.

The performance gap exists, but it is narrow on softwoods and moderate on hardwoods. Unless you can measurably feel the difference in your finished work, the savings buy you more replacement cycles and less stress about blade dings.

For professional production work, the OEM blades or a full helical upgrade still win on long-term economics. FOXBC sits firmly in the smart-hobbyist sweet spot.

Final Verdict

The FOXBC 13-Inch Planer Blades earn their reputation as the best budget replacement for the DeWalt DW735 and similar 13-inch planers. They install cleanly, cut smoothly, and cost roughly half what OEM blades demand.

They are not perfect. Edge life under heavy hardwood use trails premium options, and occasional batch inconsistency means you should inspect each blade before mounting. For most home shop users, these are minor compromises against meaningful savings.

If you plane softwoods, mixed hardwoods, and the occasional figured board, buy them with confidence. If you run a high-volume hardwood operation, save up for a helical head instead.

Expert FAQs

Are FOXBC blades made of the same steel as DeWalt DW7352?

Both use M2 high-speed steel, though the exact heat treatment and final hone can vary between manufacturers. In practical terms, the cutting performance is very close, with OEM holding a slight edge in longevity on dense hardwoods.

Will these blades fit planers other than the DeWalt DW735?

Yes, depending on the specific FOXBC SKU. Different versions fit Ryobi AP1301, Ridgid TP13000 series, Craftsman 21743, and Wen 6552 planers. Always confirm your model number against the listing before ordering.

How often should I flip or replace the blades?

Flip the blades when you notice fuzzy surfaces, raised grain, or increased motor strain. For hobby use, that is typically every 300 to 500 board feet of hardwood or 600 to 800 board feet of softwood.

Can I sharpen FOXBC blades instead of replacing them?

Technically yes, but the thin profile and double-edged design make professional sharpening uneconomical. By the time you pay a sharpening service, you could buy a fresh set. Most owners simply flip and then replace.

Do these blades work with helical cutter head upgrades?

No. Helical heads use small square or rectangular carbide inserts, not full-length straight knives. If you have upgraded your planer to a spiral cutter, you need the matching carbide inserts from that manufacturer.

Are FOXBC blades safe to use given the lower price?

Yes. The steel composition, hardness, and dimensional tolerances meet the same general specifications as OEM blades. They mount with factory hardware and locator pins, so there is no compromise in mechanical safety when installed correctly.

What is the warranty on FOXBC planer blades?

FOXBC typically offers a limited satisfaction guarantee through Amazon’s standard return window. There is no formal long-term warranty since these are consumable items, but defective sets are usually replaced promptly by the seller.

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