Top 5 Grizzly Planer Review in 2023 – New Guide

Trying to source a planer for yourself from Grizzly Industrial? But do not know where to start? Well, look no further. Welcome to our Top 5 Grizzly Planer reviews list.

We have gone through all the models Grizzly has in their lineup and presented the best of the best in a handy little review guide.

So grab your snacks, make yourself at ease, and have a go at this article.

5 Grizzly Planers Review in 2023

So, whatever the reason, you have decided you need more info on Grizzly planers. We have got you covered. Below we have gathered the best they have to offer. Have a read.

Grizzly Industrial G0889

We are starting out our reviews with one of the most well known of Grizzly Industrial’s planers, the G0889. Powered by a 2 HP motor, it can chew through almost all types of 13-inch woods. And as with most Grizzly products, it too punches way beyond its price bracket.

The unit includes an adjustable depth stop for the cutter head, a fairly premium feature. It allows us to go for repeat loaning without the need to adjust the cutter head every time. The cut depth indicator helps us get the most precise of cuts.

Raising or lowering the cutter head is an absolute breeze, thanks in part to the fixed height design. This is to say the cutter head itself is lowered or raised instead of the table. This is useful, especially when opting for more permanent outfeed and infeed roller setups.

And the conveniently placed grab handles on the sides further aids portability. Did we mention that this unit comes with a built-in chip blower? Because it does. With a convenient dust bag too. It performs as you would expect, except for the chips that fly out during the inflow. All in all, it catches around 95 percent of the shavings.

After some planning work, simply remove the bag and dump the chips in your nearest fill or waste site. This included a manual in the packaging. It is good enough, but there is better. And it includes useful info on various types of woods and how to deal with each.

Moreover, the second best thing about getting into Grizzly has to do with the availability of spare parts and accessories. They are all stored in their in-house warehouse down in Springfield, so it is just a matter of shipping them over whenever the need arises.

Grizzly Industrial G0505

Looking for a thickness planer on a budget? But want it from a household name? Let us introduce you to the G0505 from Grizzly Industrial. You might feel like shying away after a good look at its price tag. How could something this cheap be any good? Well, if it were not, we would not be featuring it on our reviews list.

This budget planer works as well as any other model from something like Delta or even DeWalt for that matter. Yes, this punches way above its price bracket. A very durable construction, it is made out of high-grade metal. So, it will take quite the beating before going belly up.

Solidly constructed, but it also makes leaps in the performance department. We reckon it will plow through any type of wood you throw at it. For these units like these on the budget, we usually receive complaints about vibrations. We are happy to report that the vibration levels are kept at a minimum by this unit.

It is sturdily built and performs well. But what is the state of the wood afterward? This results in smooth surfaces and will require minimal levels of sanding on your part. Even though this is a highly portable unit, the cut quality and finishing still manages to be sublime.

And it draws its power from a 2 HP motor that spins the cutter head to about 10000 RPM. You can feed wood into it at a max rate of 32 FPM. Top-mounted return rollers plus large table extensions mean that this unit is not a slouch in any way in the world of thickness planers.

You compromise slightly in the knives department. We get two knives in the cutter head as opposed to three on most models. But remember, the result is all that matters. We are quite pleased with it as it earned its well-deserved spot on our grizzly wood planer reviews list.

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Grizzly Industrial G1021X2

So, by now, we have seen that Grizzly sure has a lot of planers in their arsenal. They do offer quite a few 15-inch planers, and the lineup includes a couple of planers with helical cutter heads. The Grizzly Industrial G1021X2 is one of them.

What sets the G1021X2 apart from the others? Firstly, this particular model is not made in China. So, there are no extra tariff charges. Secondly, there are the cutter heads. They are curved to 30 degrees. Other units, for example, the G0453 is manufactured in China and utilizes inserts that work parallel to the cutter head.

Let us come to the unboxing experience, or rather the uncrating experience since the unit arrives in a crate or a pallet. They do not secure the unit to the crate, and the thing nearly came off during the transit. A side of the pallet nearly broke through from the weight of the unit.

Thankfully, the unit was not damaged in any way, and it was mostly smooth sailing after we got it out of the pallet. The unit is very top-heavy and comes mostly assembled.

One thing we are going do recommend is that you should install the tables at the very end. Else, it would make the tuning and the adjustments a little difficult. The included manual is adequate in relaying the necessary info, and we managed to set it up without too much trouble.

Now, let us get down to our initial impressions. The inserts (made of carbide, double yay) are very sharp. And the cut quality is very, very good. Though it is kind of hard to explain through words only. No wave marks or scallops of any sort, whatsoever. Neat!

Overall, for anyone looking to buy an all-rounder, heavy-duty 15-inch wood planer with curved cutter heads, we highly recommend this offering from Grizzly industrials.

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Grizzly G1037Z Planer/Moulder

Looking for something a little for robust than a unit meant for hobbyists? Introducing the G1037Z from Grizzly. It is a whole lot for cost-effective and economical than other units. But do not be fooled. The 1.5HP motor delivers effective power, meaning you will be planning through a variety of wood in no time at all.

Also, the motor generates enough power to turn the cutter head in order to produce clean, fine surfaces. The motor is now situated at the very bottom of the unit; in other words, it is very, very easy to change out the knives adjusting all the different guides.

Got a dust collector lying around? Even better. The unit comes with a 4-inch dust port. Thus, you can link it to the dust collector and make the workshop a little bit cleaner.

But why did this particular unit make it to our review list? A simple answer: it delivers a whole lot of value for the price we are paying for it. The wood it churns out is planed all nice and smooth with minimal to no scratches.

There are no teeth marks from the rollers, and of course, the dust is not pressed in.

Grizzly Industrial G1021Z

Looking to carve in 15-inch wood? Our next recommendation does exactly that. This is in the more premium price bracket in the wood planer market. However, in that bracket, it is still cheaper than the competition.

It still costs a fair number over a thousand dollars, though, but with Grizzly, you can be sure that you are getting what you are paying for.

The unboxing is a pretty standard affair. And the provided instruction manual is what we would describe as being okay. The unit ships with three HSS knives and also a three-piece knife setting tool to support it.

It is easy enough to set up and start using. The weight after assembly is somewhere in the neighborhood of 500-550 lbs.

So, what does this unit have going for it? Let us start with the design. It is one of the best-looking wood planers in the market, period. It is quite the looker with its clean, purpose-built, almost utilitarian looking design. That old Chevy’s paint scheme really drives up its attractiveness factor.

Also, it comes with a cabinet stand. Even if you are not quite using the unit, it still duals up as storage. It looks quite good with its cabinet and all in the corner of the workshop.

A ball bearing construction and powder coated with that sweet 60’s Chevy’s paint scheme, it will be a while before you see any rust action. Powered by a 3HP motor (single-phase), the cutter head can achieve rotation speed to up to 5000 RPM. A handwheel design on the side makes it quite easy to shift around in your workplace.

We are happy to report that this unit does come with a dust port, much like the other offering from Grizzly, the G0453. The port itself is located on the same side as that of the G0453, conveniently at the back of the unit.

Overall, you are pretty much getting what you are paying for, if not more. Much cheaper than its closest competitors, you would not go amiss on any front if you decide to pick this one up for yourself.

Features to Look for before Buying

So perhaps you, dear reader, decided to source a planer for yourself. Our reviews should serve as a good starting point. However, it is not the only bit of info you would need.

Some units forego factors that others make into their strong point and vice versa. So what are those factors or features you should be looking into?
Let us take a look!

Your Workplace

This may seem quite rudimentary, but this is an important start point. What kind of workplace do you have? Can you utilize any space for a planer? This is especially important as this may affect the type of planer you end up investing in.

The Number of Blades

If we consider other factors or features to be constant, generally, the more the number of blades, the faster the operation. This, however, is not a given.

We recommend options with knives made of carbide steel. They are quite durable. These wood planers usually come with knives ranging anywhere from two to five.

The Type of the Planer

Before making that purchase leap, do a bit of research on how and what do you wish to achieve out of a planer. Specific types of planers have specific use cases, and as such, it would be wiser to evaluate and define your needs before you get to select a particular unit.

The Capacity

As we have mentioned before, specific types of planers have specific use cases, and once such differentiation would be in terms of width and thickness.

The planer can plane woods of different sizes. Knowing the maximum width and thickness of wood you are bound to come across is a major determinant in the type of planer you are the most likely to purchase.

The Type of Motor

The motors used across industrials planers are different from those used in portable ones. And the industrial ones make use of induction motors, which tend to be more heavy-duty. Portable planers rely on standardized universal motors for their power.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the most commonly asked queries regarding the top 5 Grizzly planers:

How important is a dust collector in a planer?

As we have mentioned earlier on, a clean workshop is a safe workshop. Having a built-in dust collector means that dust will not be getting everywhere and cause a health hazard, and in turn, impede workflow. So it is in your best interest to source a model with a dust collector.

How do you change out the blades on a planer?

Be sure to turn off your planer before attempting this. These planers usually come with blades that are screwed on.

So, it is just a simple task of unscrewing the used blades and screwing in the new ones.

While you are at it, be sure to clean out the area before attaching the new blades. Take care not to cut yourself as these blades can be quite sharp.

Any safety measures to consider beforehand?

Yes! Safety is paramount. Before operating a thickness planer, make sure you are wearing eye-protecting and loose clothing. No jewelry should be worn when operating such tools.

Can a planer be used on hardwood?

It depends on the make and model of your thickness planers. There are indeed models that are rated for use with hardwood.

Which types of planers are better?

There is no better or worse when sifting through the types of planers. Each is manufactured to different kinds of work, and there are merits and demerits which make them purpose-built for that kind of work.

Final Words

So, there you have our top 5 Grizzly planer review list. That certainly was a whole lot of information to digest. However, that info should prove to be quite useful if you are in the search for a planer from Grizzly.

We hope you gained some solid insight into the world of Grizzly planers.
Happy hunting!