Can I cut metal or other non-wood materials with my planer?
No. Grizzly planers are designed exclusively for cutting natural woods.
Although they may physically cut other materials, doing so can:
- Pose a serious safety risk to the operator and bystanders
- Damage the machine
- Void the machine’s warranty
Always use your planer only with materials it was designed for.
Can I use my planer without a dust collector?
Yes, but it’s not recommended.
Without dust collection:
- Dust quickly accumulates inside and around the machine
- You'll spend more time on clean-up and maintenance
- Fine dust particles can be harmful to your health
We recommend connecting your planer to a properly designed dust collection system that meets the minimum CFM rating for your machine’s dust port.
How do I know what motor size I need for my planer?
It depends on:
- Average width of the stock you plan to cut
- Wood type (e.g., hardwood vs. softwood)
- Frequency and intensity of use
While any planer can cut hardwood up to its maximum width if fed slowly, a slow feed rate can cause ripples and chipping. Too aggressive of a feed rate can overheat and damage the motor.
General guideline:
- A 1.5 HP motor can cut 6" wide hardwoods at a fast feed rate
- A 3 HP motor can cut approximately 12" wide hardwoods under similar conditions
Choose a motor that can handle your typical cutting needs without regularly bogging down.
What are the benefits of a spiral cutterhead?
Spiral cutterheads offer multiple advantages over traditional straight-knife cutterheads:
- Longer-lasting cutting edges – Carbide inserts stay sharp about 10× longer than HSS knives
- Multiple cutting edges per insert – Each insert has four edges and can be rotated to expose a fresh one
- Quick and easy cutter changes – No need for time-consuming knife sharpening and adjustment
- Superior cut quality – A cutting edge is always in contact with the workpiece, reducing ripples and chipping
- Quieter operation – Spiral cutterheads run significantly quieter than straight-knife cutterheads
- Less sanding needed – Produces a cleaner surface finish, reducing post-processing time
Spiral cutterheads are an excellent upgrade for both performance and maintenance efficiency.