Can I cut metal or other non-wood materials with your planers?
Although our planers can physically cut various materials, they are only designed for natural wood.
Cutting non-wood materials:
-
Presents a serious safety risk
-
May damage the machine
-
Voids the warranty
Can I still use my planer without connecting it to a dust collector?
Yes, but we don’t recommend it. Operating without a dust collector will:
-
Cause dust buildup in and around the machine
-
Require significant cleanup time
-
Create respiratory hazards from airborne fine dust
We strongly suggest connecting your planer to a dust collection system that pulls the minimum recommended CFM for your machine’s dust port.
How do I know what size motor I’ll need for my planer?
Motor size depends on:
-
Average stock width
-
Wood type
-
How often you use the planer
All our planers can cut to their max width at a slow feed rate, but:
-
Too slow = ripples and chipping
-
Too fast = motor bog-down and overheating
A motor under thermal stress can fail if it’s not allowed to cool down between cuts. A larger motor handles higher workloads without overheating.
General rule of thumb:
-
1.5 HP motor: Can aggressively cut 6" wide hardwoods
-
3 HP motor: Can handle double that width at similar feed rates
Choose a motor that supports the majority of your regular cutting tasks.
Why do some machines say 110V, others 115V, and some 120V? Aren’t these all the same?
Yes and no.
-
All three voltages operate on the same household supply
-
Labeling varies by country:
-
USA: 120V
-
Taiwan: 110V
-
China: 115V
-
Power companies must deliver voltage within ±5% of the nominal value. Motors must run reliably within ±10% of their listed voltage.
We list the exact nameplate voltage to give customers the most accurate specifications available.
What are the benefits of a spiral cutterhead?
Spiral cutterheads offer several advantages over straight-knife designs:
-
Longer edge life — Carbide inserts last ~10x longer than HSS blades
-
Indexable cutters — Each insert has four cutting edges
-
Easier maintenance — No sharpening or setting knives
-
Smoother cuts — Reduced ripples and tear-out, even at faster feed rates
-
Quieter operation — Lower overall machine noise
-
Better surface finish — Less sanding required on your workpieces
Is there a spiral cutterhead upgrade for this planer?
Yes, the T27899 Spiral Cutterhead is compatible with the G0815.
Can you install the spiral cutterhead before shipping the machine?
Unfortunately, no. However, we do offer similar machines that come factory-equipped with spiral cutterheads.
How difficult is it to upgrade from HSS blades to a spiral cutterhead?
Installation takes about one hour.
Grizzly provides a step-by-step video guide to help you through the conversion process.