Used planer and upgrade, or new planer?

[Derek Voigt]

I’ve been in the market for a 15” planer for a while now, just never pulled the trigger. I have been eyeing the Grizzly G0453Z (15” planer with spiral cutter head) currently listed for $1845 after shipping.

There is a used G0453 (regular cutter head), looks brand new and only used for about 1 hour, asking price is $950 (which is about $300 cheaper than a new one after shipping). So I was thinking that I could get this, then add on spiral cutter head after the fact for about $650, and I could have the option to get the regular spiral cutter head, or the Byrd brand one.

Doing that would still make it about $250 cheaper than buying a new G0453Z one.

So what do you guys think about doing that? I like the thought of a brand new tool… but saving money is saving money
Is the Byrd cutter head that much better that it would be a better option than the stock one from Grizzly?

Thanks,
Derek

[Cary Falk]

I have a Byrd on my 8" jointer and a G0453Z. There isn't any difference in the cut. I can't help you with your decision.

[Jim Andrew]

I have a Byrd on my G0609, and the Grizzly G0453px, and can't say which is better. I think the Grizzly cutterhead is less for the 453, so I'd order that. I enjoy saving money when there is no difference in quality. Maybe that's why my shop is filling up with Grizzly equipment.

[eugene thomas]

I would buy mew with spiral head. 250 dollars is not that much savings from old machean to brand new with warrenty machean.

[jim gossage]

I would go with new also. More peace of mind because you have the warranty and Grizzly's generally excellent customer service. You never really know why someone is selling a like new tool - is there a subtle problem that affects performance. I have the Z with the Grizzly cutterhead and it leaves a nice finish.

[Stephen Cherry]

Used is better in my opinion- the older 15 inch planers were made in Taiwan for a long time and they are all about the same and generally OK; the new ones are chinese. Plus, if you look a little, they pop up for around 500 dollars very frequently. I got my Jet on fleabay a while back for 500. I've thought about the byrd head, but the normal head usually works fine for me.

[Joe Angrisani]

I would go the used+Byrd route, but in this case I think the price of the G0453 is a bit high. $800 seems more like the average, for this part of the country at least.

[Rich Riddle]

I agree with Steven and Joe here. If you can find one of the Taiwan planers and add the Byrd head, go for it. But the price is too high for this particular one.

[David Kumm]

The original blue Delta Taiwan 15" or even better the old rockwell RC33 were great machines to retrofit. They usually go for more like 500-700 if in good shape. Dave

[Derek Voigt]

they pop up for around 500 dollars very frequently.

I guess this is relative. I have been looking for over a year and only seen 3. Just a couple days ago there was a Jet for $550 and it was gone within 12 hours. I would pay $500 for used no problem... $700 ok... but anything over $800 is too much.

[Rob Holcomb]

I have the G0453 15" Planer and bought it in 2008 for $950 new. In 2010, I upgraded the machine by buying the Grizzly spiral cutterhead for $650 and installed it. It took about 2 hours start to finish and wasn't a hard job at all but the prices have gone up since then. In comparison, the current price of the G0453 is $1095 and the cutterhead is $795. The G0453Z is $1695 so if buying new, and you have the cash, buy the G0453Z and save $195. If you can't afford to buy the planer and cutterhead all at once, I'd still buy the G0453 for $1095. First, you get a warranty and second, the price difference isn't much for a brand new machine. If you go used and this guy wants $950 for the planer and won't budge on price, and then you have to go spend another $795 on the cutterhead that fits it, that's $1745. This would be the most expensive option when all said and done, comparing apples to apples but I didn't figure in the tax and shipping you would pay. That may make things more equal. Keep in mind though that most used woodworking machines sell for about 50% of what a new machine would cost. 60% at most.