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How to set up a planer

This video provides step-by-step guidance on setting up and maintaining a Grizzly planer, focusing on the G0453 model but is applicable to other planers as well. We'll discuss key aspects of planer setup, safety precautions, and maintenance practices.

We've also included the step-by-step instructions below so you can follow along.

Important Safety Precautions:

  1. Disconnect Power: Always disconnect the planer from the power source before performing any setup or maintenance.
  2. Wear Safety Glasses: Remember to wear your safety glasses.
  3. Wear Gloves When Handling Knives: Planer knives are extremely sharp; always wear heavy leather gloves to reduce the risk of cutting injuries.
  4. Read Manual: Watch this entire video and read your planer's manual thoroughly before you begin.
  5. Follow Shop Safety Procedures: Most importantly, follow all shop safety procedures.
  6. Technical Support: You can call technical support at 570-546-9663 if you need further assistance.

I. Setting & Replacing Knives:

  1. Disconnect the planer from the power source.
  2. Remove the dust hood.
  3. Remove the top cover to expose the cutter head.
  4. Remove the belt cover.
  5. Rotate the cutter head pulley to give you good access to one of the knives.
  6. For G0453: Loosen the Gib bolts until the knife is completely loose.
  7. For G0454: Loosen the Gib bolts until the knife is completely loose. You can choose to use either the jack screws or springs for adjustment. Remove the one you will not be using.
  8. If replacing or sharpening, remove the knife from the cutter head.
  9. Thoroughly clean out any debris from the knife slot.
  10. Position the knife gauge over the knife so that the knife edge is directly under the center pad. Ensure all legs of the gauge are firmly on the cutter head.
  11. Using Jack Screws (G0453 & G0454): Insert the appropriate hex wrench (2.5mm for G0453, 3mm for G0454) through the access holes in the cutter head and turn to raise or lower the knife until it barely touches the center pad of the knife gauge. Check both sides to ensure they are even.
  12. Using Springs (G0454): Push down on the knife gauge until all legs are firmly on the cutter head and the knife just touches the center pad.
  13. With the gauge still in place, slightly tighten the Gib bolts, starting at the middle and working your way to the ends by alternating left and right.
  14. Remove the knife gauge.
  15. Repeat the tightening sequence two more times until the Gibs are fully tightened. Tighten gradually and evenly to avoid distorting the cutter head.
  16. Repeat these steps for the remaining knives.
  17. Reassemble the belt cover.
  18. Reassemble the top cover.
  19. Reassemble the dust hood.

II. Setting Bed Roller Height:

  1. Disconnect the planer from the power source.
  2. Lower the table all the way down.
  3. Use a 3mm hex wrench and a 14mm open-end wrench.
  4. Use a Rotacator or straight edge and feeler gauges to check the height of the rollers on both sides (front and back).
  5. The general rule is to set the bed roller height within 0.002 to 0.020 inches above the table's surface. Set higher for rough stock and lower for milled lumber.
  6. If adjustment is needed, loosen the set screw on the bed roller adjustment bolt.
  7. Rotate the eccentric adjustment bolt to raise or lower the bed roller.
  8. Tighten the set screw.
  9. Ensure both sides are set at the same height. Adjusting one side can affect the other.

III. Setting Feed Rollers, Chip Breaker, & Pressure Bar Heights:

  • Note: Ensure the knives have already been set to the correct height before proceeding. Using a Rotacator is recommended for these adjustments. If not available, use two identically sized blocks of wood and feeler gauges.
  1. Disconnect your power.
  2. Lower the table about 4 inches below the head casting, then lock it in place.
  3. Remove the dust hood, belt cover, and top cover.
  4. Set the Rotacator directly under the center of the cutter head.
  5. Find the Bottom Dead Center (BDC) of any knife edge by slowly rocking the cutter head pulley back and forth.
  6. Set the Rotacator dial to zero at the lowest knife point.
  7. Move the feed speed knob to the neutral position to allow the infeed roller to freely rotate.
  8. Keeping the Rotacator dial at zero, position it under the right-hand side of the infeed roller.
  9. Find the BDC of a serrated edge by rocking the infeed roller back and forth. It should be set at 0.040 inches below the knives.
  10. If adjustment is needed, loosen the jam nut and use the set screw to adjust the height of the infeed roller bushing block until the Rotacator dial shows 0.040 inches.
  11. Repeat steps 8-10 on the left-hand side of the infeed roller.
  12. Recheck both sides and make further adjustments until the infeed roller height is 0.040 inches from side to side.
  13. Retighten both jam nuts.
  14. Keeping the same zero reference from the knives, move the Rotacator and repeat the procedure for the outfeed roller, but set it to 0.020 inches below BDC of the knives.
  15. Set the chip breaker to 0.040 inches below BDC of the knives.
  16. For G0454 Only: Adjust the pressure bar to 0.008 inches below BDC of the knives.
  17. Reinstall the belt cover, top cover, and dust hood.

IV. Roller Spring Tension:

  1. Disconnect the planer from the power source.
  2. Use a 6mm hex wrench to adjust the tension caps on top of the head casting.
  3. For the original factory settings, adjust the tension caps so that they protrude 1/8 of an inch above the surface of the head casting.
  4. Adjust tension based on the material: lighter tension for smooth/milled lumber (reduce if roller marks appear), and more tension for rough lumber (increase if wood stutters or stops).

V. Chip Deflector Adjustment:

  1. Disconnect the planer from the power source.
  2. Remove the dust port, top cover, and belt cover.
  3. Use the cutter head pulley to rotate the cutter head until a knife reaches the closest distance to the chip deflector.
  4. Measure the distance between the knife and the chip deflector. It should be about 1/4 inch.
  5. If adjustment is needed, loosen the hex bolts that secure the chip deflector.
  6. Adjust the gap to 1/4 inch.
  7. Retighten the hex bolts.
  8. Reassemble the belt cover, top cover, and dust hood.

VI. Anti-Kickback Fingers:

  1. Disconnect the planer from the power source.
  2. Check the anti-kickback fingers regularly to ensure they swing freely and easily.
  3. If they do not swing freely, first clean them with wood resin solvent.
  4. Inspect them for damage. If any fingers are damaged, the entire kickback device must be replaced before using the machine.
  5. Do not apply oil or other lubricants to the anti-kickback fingers.

VII. V-Belt Replacement & Tensioning:

  1. Disconnect the planer from the power source.
  2. Remove the front panel.
  3. Remove the V-belt cover from the left side of the machine.
  4. For Replacement: Raise the motor to release belt tension, roll off the old belts, and replace them as a matched set of three.
  5. Use the hex nuts to raise and lower the motor to apply tension to the belts.
  6. The V-belts are correctly tensioned when there is approximately 3/4 of an inch deflection with moderate sideways finger pressure midway between the pulleys.
  7. Once correctly tensioned, make sure the hex nuts are tight.
  8. Replace the front panel and belt cover.

VIII. Lubrication:

  • Note: Always disconnect your planer from the power when doing maintenance, including lubrication.
    1. Feed Roller Bushings: Approximately every 8 hours of use, add two to three drops of SAE 30 weight oil to the center hole of the four feed roller tension adjustment bolts on top of the head casting.
    2. Table Height Columns: Apply a thin coat of SAE 30 weight oil to the outside surface of the columns.
    3. Table Height Lead Screws: Brush on a light application of multi-purpose grease to the lead screw threads inside the columns. Move the table up and down to distribute.
    4. Table Height Worm Gear: Remove the three cap screws securing the worm gear housing, lift the housing and handwheel assembly, clean away debris, brush on a moderate amount of multi-purpose grease to the gear teeth, and reassemble.
    5. Table Height Chain & Sprockets: Remove the front and rear cabinet panels. Clean away debris and grime from the chain and sprockets underneath the base using shop rags and mineral spirits. Brush on a light coat of multi-purpose grease and reinstall the panels.
    6. Drive Chain & Sprockets: Remove the table height handwheel and the safety covers inside the drive chain cover on the right side. Remove the cover. Clean away debris and grime using shop rags and mineral spirits. Brush on a light coat of multi-purpose grease to the chain and sprockets and reassemble.
    7. Gearbox Oil: Change after the first 20 hours of operation and then annually thereafter.
      • Disconnect power.
      • Remove the fill plug.
      • Remove the drain plug and drain the oil.
      • Remove old Teflon tape from plugs and wrap with new tape.
      • Reinstall the drain plug.
      • Refill with 80/90 weight gear oil until it reaches the fill plug level.
      • Reinstall the fill plug and the chain cover.

We trust you will find this video to be beneficial. Please feel free to reach out to us HERE if you have any questions on how to set up your planer.


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