Replies

1. 
   mrfu | Mar 08, 2008 07:46pm | #1

   AZMO
   Have you looked at the Grizzly with their version of a carbide insert head, all the reviews I have seen of it are pretty favorable. The only thing I've seen that is different is that the Byrd head gives a true shearing action since the inserts are skewed. I don't know if it makes a real difference in cut quality or it could also be advertising hype on Byrd's part and people are just repeating what they have read on Byrd's website without any real world results.
   As for service these things are pretty heavy duty and not much goes wrong with them and if your comfortable switching out cutterheads then you should be able to tackle any problems that occur.
   Byrd has a tutorial on there web site on switching out a cutterhead on 15" import planers which are all pretty similar in design to each other.
   Tom

1. 
   scottvelie | Mar 08, 2008 09:49pm | #2

   I have the 5Hp 20" grizzley planer and I use it a lot. It was 3 days out of the (1yr) warrenty that the motor fried (loud zap, bright flash, lots of smoke).

   No problem they shipped me a new one (motor) in a week. They had to pull it out of a new machine because it was out of stock. I did not even have to return the bad one.

    [email protected]

   View Image

1. 
   AZMO | Mar 08, 2008 10:21pm | #4

   Scott,

   That sounds like decent service, though I wonder if it had been out of warranty by 3 days. Pounding sand is not what you want to do.

   Do you have issues with keeping in adjustment? Or is pretty much set it and it stays put?

   Thanks

   Morgan

1. 
   scottvelie | Mar 10, 2008 12:01am | #5

   It was OUT of warr technically.

   The adjustments don't move. When I got it I checked every one and I had to adjust NONE. I have not adjusted it at all. (except knife changes)[email protected]

   View Image

1. 
   AZMO | Mar 10, 2008 03:17am | #6

   Now thats the way a tool should work. Thanks                  <!----><!----><!---->

   -----------_o

   ---------_'-,>

   -------(*)/ (*)

2. 
   pezeshki | Mar 10, 2008 08:42am | #7

   Hi Folks,I have a couple of Grizzly tools, including the 15" planer, and I think they're great. They're not quite as glamorous as some of the more expensive stuff, but I do serious woodworking (not just buying stuff to look at as part of a power tool collection) and I think that they're great.They are, all in all, a high VALUE product.

2. 
   AZMO | Mar 08, 2008 10:19pm | #3

   Tom

   Thanks for the link to Byrd Tools, the tutorial is well done. Looks manageable, but wrenching is not really enjoyable. Griz has a couple of spiral cutters, some of which use chrome vanadium steel. I seached and found the extreme 15" planer which now has the carbide version. I had missed that. Probably right, not that much different from the Shelix, who of course have to tout their idea as the first and best.

   In phoenix we have some different tree sources. Mesquite, Ironwood, Acacias that are all tropical trees that have adapted to the desert. Some pretty wood and I am collecting from my Arborist friends. Will be interesting to get some cured out and ready by this fall. (We have this Kiln Dryer here that is very cheap and you will never find  a wood with less moisture!)

    

   Morgan

    

2. 
   Nathan Barnard | Mar 10, 2008 04:01pm | #8

   Yes! Actually I just setup my new 15" grizzly planer (G0453). I have ran some boards through it and seems to work very well, with no adjustment (and no snipe). The finish off it on high speed (30ft/min) is certainly as good as my lunchbox delta. It has no problem chewing off 1/8", and is fairly quiet, compared to the delta 12.5". I feel it is a good quality industrial machine. I decided to wait on the spiral insert cutters. Not looking forward to sharpening the blades, though.

   Nathan