Can I cut metal or other non-wood materials with a planer?
No. Although our planers may physically cut a variety of materials, they are designed exclusively for natural wood.
Using the planer on metal, composites, or other materials:
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Can result in serious injury to the operator or bystanders
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May damage the machine
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Will void the warranty
Can I run my planer without a dust collector?
You can, but we strongly do not recommend it.
Operating without a dust collector:
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Leads to rapid dust buildup inside and around the machine
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Increases cleanup time
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Exposes you to harmful fine dust particles
For safety and efficiency, use a properly sized dust collector that meets or exceeds the recommended CFM for your machine’s dust port.
How do I choose the right motor size for my planer?
It depends on three main factors:
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Stock width
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Wood species
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Cutting frequency or workload
Key Considerations:
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All our planers can cut hardwood at max width with a slow feed rate.
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Too slow → ripples and tear-out
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Too fast → motor bogs down and overheats
If the motor overheats repeatedly, it can fail permanently due to insulation breakdown.
General Guidelines:
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A 1.5 HP motor can repeatedly cut 6" wide hardwoods at an aggressive feed rate.
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A 3 HP motor can handle approximately 12" wide hardwoods under the same conditions.
Choose a motor that can handle your most common workload without bogging down.
Why do machines say 220V, 230V, or 240V? Aren’t these the same?
Yes and no.
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Yes — All of these voltages refer to the same type of power and are compatible in most shop environments.
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No — The nominal voltage varies slightly by country:
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USA: 240V
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Taiwan: 220V
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China: 230V
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Power companies are required to stay within ±5%, and motors are designed to operate within ±10% of the voltage on the nameplate.
We list the actual nameplate voltage to give you the most accurate info—so you see the same number in your manual as on the machine.
This machine says 220V or 440V. Can I plug it into either?
No. The machine is factory prewired for 220V.
To use 440V:
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The machine must be rewired
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Some electrical components must be replaced
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To maintain the warranty, Grizzly must perform the conversion at the time of purchase
Conversion details:
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Fee: $250
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Lead time: Additional shipping time required
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DIY option: A 440V conversion kit is available for used or second-hand machines
⚠️ Important: The 440V conversion must only be performed by a licensed electrician or qualified service personnel. Improper conversion may result in electrocution, severe burns, or death.
If converted to 440V, can I run the machine on 480V?
Yes. The motor is rated to run safely within ±10% of its voltage.
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Acceptable range: 396V to 484V
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Running near the low end of this range may increase operating temperature and reduce component life.
What's the difference between G7213Z and G5851Z?
Model | Voltage | Phase | Convertible to 440V? | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
G5851Z | 220V | Single-phase | No | Prewired for standard 220V use |
G7213Z | 220V | 3-phase | Yes | Can be converted to 440V with Grizzly's help |
To convert the G7213Z to 440V:
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Grizzly must perform the conversion at purchase to preserve the warranty
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Fee: $250
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Extra lead time required
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440V kits available for second-hand machines
⚠️ Warning: 440V conversions should only be performed by qualified professionals.