Important Disclaimer: This article references a model that is no longer in production. Please note that the availability of replacement parts or discussed accessories is not guaranteed.
- Can I cut metal or other non-wood materials with your planers?
Although our planers will physically cut many different types of materials, they are only designed to cut natural woods. Cutting materials not intended to be cut on a woodworking planer can result in serious injury to the operator or bystanders, and it could decrease the life of the machine and void the warranty. - Can I still use my planer without connecting it to a dust collector?
Yes, but we don't recommend it. Without using a dust collector, the dust will quickly pile up inside and around your machine, resulting in additional cleaning time later. Besides making a mess, fine dust can be harmful to your respiratory system. A better choice is to connect your machine to a properly-designed dust collection system that at least pulls the recommended minimum CFM for your machine's dust port. - How do I know which size of motor I'll need for my planer?
The answer primarily depends on these three factors: (1) your average stock width, (2) your typical wood type or variety, and (3) your anticipated cutting frequency or overall demands placed on the planer First, it is important to note that with a slow enough feed rate, any of our planers can cut a piece of hardwood up to that machine's maximum cutting width. Unfortunately, using too slow of a feed rate can result in ripples and chipping in your workpiece, and using a feed rate that is so aggressive that it causes a motor to bog down will quickly increase the motor's internal temperature to a state of thermal breakdown. Once a motor reaches this state, continued operation (without allowing sufficient cool-down time between cuts) will result in the motor becoming so hot that its winding insulation will completely fail and the motor will die. A larger motor, however, could easily perform the exact same type of work without ever reaching a state of thermal breakdown. With that in mind, your goal should be to select a motor size that will handle the majority of what you'll be cutting on a regular basis, without bogging the motor down. To translate this into a more practical perspective, generally speaking, a 1.5 HP motor used with an aggressive feed rate can repeatedly cut 6" wide hardwoods without bogging down. A 3 HP motor, on the other hand, can repeatedly cut the same type of stock with the same type of feed rate at approximately twice that size without bogging down. - I see some machines advertised for 220V, some for 230V, and some for 240V. Aren't these all the same? And if so, why don't you just pick one and use it consistently on all machines throughout your catalog and website?
The answer to the first part of your question is both Yes and No. Yes, because generally speaking, all machines advertised with any of these voltages will operate on the same nominal power supply, and as a consumer, you really don't need to worry about it. No, because the official nominal voltage recognized in different countries actually does vary slightly. For example, in the USA the nominal voltage is officially recognized as 240V; however, in Taiwan it might be 220V, and in China it might be 230V. These differences really only matter to the power companies in these countries, which typically are required to guarantee that the power supply service provided to consumers is plus or minus 5% of the nominal voltage. Similarly, motor manufacturers typically must guarantee that their motors will operate on plus or minus 10% of the voltage indicated on the nameplate. As such, it is our policy to show the actual voltage indicated on the nameplate of the motor. This gives our customers the most accurate information we have, so they don't see one number in our catalog and a completely different number once they get the machine home. - What are the benefits of a spiral cutterhead?
Spiral cutterheads have several advantages over straight-knife cutterheads including: edge longevity, easier cutter changes, superior finishing on workpieces and machine noise reduction. The biggest benefit of using a spiral cutterhead with carbide inserts is carbide steel holds an edge approximately ten times longer than the traditional HSS (high speed steel) found in most straight-knife cutterheads. Every spiral cutterhead has many individual carbide inserts, each with four separate cutting edges. The inserts are indexable, which means each insert can be rotated three times to reveal a new cutting edge. (A reference mark on the inserts indicates how many times the insert has been rotated.) Sharpening and setting knives in traditional cutterheads is a time-consuming and potentially expensive process. Cutter changes are quick and easy with spiral cutterheads. Another advantage with spiral cutterheads is that a cutting edge is always in contact with your workpiece. This significantly helps to reduce ripples and chipping on your workpieces, especially when you need to employ an aggressive feed rate. The finish of a spiral cutterhead is also superior to a straight-knife cutterhead, reducing the time needed to sand your workpiece. And lastly, spiral cutterheads are quieter than straight-knife cutterheads, which reduces machine noise in your shop. - Is there a spiral cutterhead upgrade for this planer?
Spiral cutterheads have several advantages over straight-knife cutterheads including: edge longevity, easier cutter changes, superior finishing on workpieces and machine noise reduction. The biggest benefit of using a spiral cutterhead with carbide inserts is carbide steel holds an edge approximately ten times longer than the traditional HSS (high speed steel) found in most straight-knife cutterheads. Every spiral cutterhead has many individual carbide inserts, each with four separate cutting edges. The inserts are indexable, which means each insert can be rotated three times to reveal a new cutting edge. (A reference mark on the inserts indicates how many times the insert has been rotated.) Sharpening and setting knives in traditional cutterheads is a time-consuming and potentially expensive process. Cutter changes are quick and easy with spiral cutterheads. Another advantage with spiral cutterheads is that a cutting edge is always in contact with your workpiece. This significantly helps to reduce ripples and chipping on your workpieces, especially when you need to employ an aggressive feed rate. The finish of a spiral cutterhead is also superior to a straight-knife cutterhead, reducing the time needed to sand your workpiece. And lastly, spiral cutterheads are quieter than straight-knife cutterheads, which reduces machine noise in your shop. - Is there a spiral cutterhead upgrade for this planer?
Yes, the H7655, H7768, and T27695 Spiral Cutterheads will fit the G0453. - Can you install a spiral cutterhead before shipping the machine to me?
Unfortunately, no. However, we do sell similar machines that already have spiral cutterheads preinstalled and tested at the factory. - How difficult is it to convert a planer from an HSS blade cutterhead to a spiral cutterhead.
It takes about an hour to change-out cutterheads on a planer. Grizzly now has a video that guides you through the process. - What is the difference between G0453 and G0453Z?
The G0453Z comes equipped with a spiral cutterhead; the G0453 comes equipped with three 1/8" thick HSS knives. Aside from these differences and appearance, the two models are identical. - What is the difference between G0453 and G0453W?
The G0453 has a 3 HP motor that draws 15 Amps. The G0453W also has a 3 HP motor, but it draws only 12 Amps. The G0453 cutterhead speed is 4800 RPM; the G0490W cutterhead speed is 5000 RPM. Aside from these differences and appearance, the two models are identical.