Quick Take
The Delta’s appeal is simple, 13-inch capacity, a straightforward knife-based head, and fewer moving parts than a premium helical design. The downside is just as simple, blades, chip handling, and setup discipline sit on the owner.
| Buyer decision factor | Delta 22-590X | Practical takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Working width | 13 in | Fits common furniture stock, not wide slabs |
| Cutter head | 3 knives | Cleaner than a basic 2-knife head, more upkeep than a spiral head |
| Ownership burden | Knife changes and chip cleanup | Better for routine shop use than for occasional one-off jobs |
| Main rival | DeWalt DW735 | Easier buy for shoppers who want lower frustration |
Decision checklist
- Buy it if you plane rough stock regularly and already manage dust collection.
- Skip it if you want a planer that disappears into the background.
- Compare it against the DeWalt DW735 if easy parts sourcing matters more than old-school simplicity.
Best-fit scenario box A garage or small cabinet shop that planes rough lumber in batches, keeps spare knives on hand, and already has a dust collector attached.
First Impressions
First Impression:
The Delta looks like an older portable planer built around a simple promise, cut stock cleanly without adding a complicated cutterhead system. That keeps the machine easy to understand, but it also leaves more maintenance on the owner than a spiral-head planer.
Used-condition checks matter. Knife wear, feed rollers, and table alignment decide whether the machine feels like a bargain or a hassle. Fresh paint means little if the working surfaces are tired.
Core Specs
The useful shopping numbers here are the width and cutter-head design. Those two details shape what the planer fits in your shop and how much attention it asks for later.
| Spec | Delta 22-590X |
|---|---|
| Planing width | 13 in |
| Cutter head | 3 knives |
| Machine type | Portable thickness planer |
| Cutter style | Conventional knife head, not a spiral insert head |
Three Knife Cutter Head:
This is the feature that gives the Delta its identity. A three-knife head produces a cleaner cut path than many basic two-knife planers, but every blade change lands on the owner. That matters more than the number itself.
Most guides treat knife count like a finish-quality score. That is wrong. Sharp knives, solid infeed and outfeed support, and clean chip removal matter more than badge count. The Delta rewards a shop that keeps up with those basics.
Main Strengths
The Delta works best as a straight-ahead stock prep tool. It handles the job of thinning rough lumber faster than hand planing and with less setup drama than a more elaborate cutter system, as long as the knives stay fresh.
Using the DELTA 13-Inch Portable Thickness Planer (22-590)
The machine rewards steady feed, long support, and a clean dust path. That makes it a good fit for batch work, where you stack boards, run them, and clear the cutterhead area before the next session.
The trade-off is obvious. Every productive session ends with cleanup, and every dulling set of knives turns into downtime. The Delta gives you capacity and a familiar workflow, then asks for attention in return.
Main Drawbacks
The biggest frustration is ownership friction, not raw cutting power. Knife wear, dust, and the occasional snipe complaint show up before any dramatic failure. This is a loud, chip-heavy machine, and the shop pays for that output with cleanup.
Many buyers assume a three-knife planer solves surface problems on its own. It does not. A DeWalt DW735 or a spiral-head planer lowers the maintenance burden because blade service lands less often and ownership feels less interrupted.
What Most Buyers Miss About Delta 22-590X
Concord Carpenter’s look at the DELTA 13-Inch Portable Thickness Planer 22-590 gets the important part right, finish quality matters. Many DELTA 13-Inch Portable Thickness Planer Review pages stop there. The real decision factor is whether you want a planer that asks for blade care, cleanup, and parts attention as part of normal ownership.
That matters most on the used market. A used unit with clean paint and tired knives is a bad buy. A machine with honest wear, straight tables, and fresh cutters is the better deal. On this model, working condition ranks above cosmetic condition every time.
Compared With Rivals
Against the DeWalt DW735, the Delta feels simpler and less convenient. The DeWalt wins for buyers who want a broad parts ecosystem, fewer ownership surprises, and a more common shop conversation around setup and maintenance. The Delta only wins if you value its straightforward cutter system enough to live with the extra upkeep.
Against a spiral-head planer, the Delta starts with a lighter ownership burden than a premium machine purchase, then loses ground over time. Spiral-head cutters reduce blade drama and keep daily use calmer. That makes the Delta a narrower pick, good for buyers who prefer the machine’s simplicity over the convenience of the rival.
Best For
- Small shops that plane stock every week
- Buyers who already run dust collection
- Woodworkers who prefer a conventional knife head over a helical assembly
The Delta suits buyers who treat knife maintenance as normal shop work. It does not suit anyone who wants the planer to fade into the background after setup. For that buyer, the DeWalt DW735 fits better.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
Skip it if you plane only a few boards a month, because the setup and maintenance overhead hits harder when the tool sits idle. Skip it if your shop lacks dust collection, because cleanup becomes part of every session. Skip it if you want the least annoying planer on the bench, because a DeWalt DW735-style rival does that job better.
The wrong way to buy this model is to chase the 13-inch label and ignore the ownership chores that come with it. The right way is to buy it only when those chores fit your routine.
What Happens After Year One
After a year of use, the recurring costs are obvious, knives, chip cleanup, and attention to feed consistency. The secondhand market rewards complete machines with intact tables, clean rollers, and a cutterhead that still tracks straight. Missing accessories or rough alignment erase the savings fast.
The Delta does not become obsolete because the motor still spins. It loses appeal when blade sourcing, support parts, or table condition turn routine work into nuisance work. That is the long-term ownership story buyers need to price in.
Durability and Failure Points
Most wear starts in the blades and feed path, not the frame. Dull knives, chipped edges, dirty rollers, and bed support issues show up first. If bearing noise or cutterhead play enters the picture, repair math moves against the machine and a newer planer makes more sense.
That is why a used inspection needs to focus on working parts. Clean casting surfaces do not matter as much as smooth feed, even knife wear, and a cutterhead that still cuts evenly across the board.
The Straight Answer
The Delta 22-590X is a serious 13-inch planer with old-school strengths and old-school chores. It earns respect when a shop wants a simple cutter system, but it loses the convenience contest to a DeWalt DW735 or a spiral-head alternative.
The Hidden Tradeoff
The Delta 22-590X’s main draw is simple: a familiar 13-inch, three-knife planer that can fit a small shop well. The catch is that the maintenance burden stays with you, especially knife changes and chip cleanup, so it makes the most sense for buyers who already have dust collection and plan to use it regularly. If you want the lowest-friction ownership experience, a spiral-head rival is the safer buy.
Verdict
Buy the Delta 22-590X if you want a 13-inch portable planer for regular stock prep and accept knife upkeep as part of ownership. Skip it if your priority is the lowest-annoyance tool, because a DeWalt DW735-style rival does that job better.
FAQ
Is the Delta 22-590X good for hardwood?
Yes. It handles hardwood best when the knives stay sharp and the feed path stays clean. Hardwood punishes dull knives and poor support faster than softwood, so this model rewards regular maintenance.
Does the three-knife head mean better finish quality?
Yes, compared with a basic two-knife planer. The three-knife head gives a cleaner cut path, but finish quality still depends on knife condition, board support, and feed consistency.
What should I check before buying a used Delta 22-590X?
Check knife wear, feed rollers, table alignment, and cutterhead smoothness. A clean exterior does not offset worn working parts. If the seller cannot show a clean cut on a board, walk away.
Is the Delta 22-590X easier to live with than a DeWalt DW735?
No. The DeWalt is easier to own for most buyers because the daily-use friction sits lower. The Delta wins only when you want its conventional cutter-head setup more than you want convenience.
Does this planer need dust collection?
Yes. A thickness planer without strong chip management turns cleanup into part of the job. If your shop lacks dust collection, this model becomes annoying fast.
What kind of buyer gets the most from this planer?
A buyer who planes rough stock often, keeps spare knives on hand, and values a straightforward machine over a low-maintenance one. That buyer gets the most out of the Delta’s 13-inch capacity.
See Also
If you are weighing this model, also compare it with Echo 58V Chainsaw Review, Generac GP17500E Review: Heavy-Duty Portable Generator Field Guide, and Craftsman 10 Inch Miter Saw: What to Know Before You Buy.
For broader context before you decide, Air Compressor for Home Workshops and Best Portable Power Stations for Power Tools in 2026 help round out the trade-offs.