15" planer advice

[Steve Ash]

I want to purchase a 15" planer sometime this year and would like some feedback/opinions/advice please. I was pretty sure I wanted a 15" Delta the local dealer here (www.theworkbench.com (http://www.theworkbench.com/)) is asking $1236.00 for it. They also sell Powermatic and it is selling for about $1800.00. I looked in the Grizzly catalog tonight and their 15" closed stand sells for $745.00.
So my question is several fold...anyone have the grizzly and what are your opinions....anyone demo the grizzly versus the Delta or Powermatic? Is it like the old saying "you get what you pay for"? Since I only plan on ever buying one planer (no plan to upgrade later)...it is something I plan on living with for a very long time and I want to make a good decision ... I know this forum is a great place to get the advice I need.
Should I look to buy a good used one at a savings?
Thanks in advance for your help!

[jack duren]

i tell you what i have the older 13" lil brother of the delta 15" you are looking at. the only reason i got the planner is the woodworker(retired and professional woodworker now) moved up to a 24" grizzly. moving up in size was his only reason for getting rid of it.

so... your 15" delta will do you just fine. if you are looking at a 15" delta comparison to a 15" grizzly well..... unless someone has actually used both a magazine review or personal preference is pretty mute.....jack

[Richard Wolf]

Steve, I have the Grizzly 15" with the motor under. It works fine, no problems, and it was in adjustment out of the crate. The digital readout was after market.

Richard

[John Miliunas]

Steve, as long as you're shopping, don't overlook the Yorkcraft at Wilke Machinery. The Yorkie equipment has been getting some pretty positive reviews/feedback and Wilke's Customer Service has never been an issue! Always excellent marks for taking care of their customers.:) :cool:

[Bruce Page]

Steve, I have had the PM15 for several years and it had proven to be bullet proof. If I were shopping for one today I would take a close look at the new PM with the ground cast iron infeed/outfeed tables.

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

If you're willing to even consider the Delta or PM 15, I'll suggest your money will be better spent on a Grizzly 1033 (or similarly priced) 20". We absolutely abused one of these at the mesquite outfit...I simply can't imagine a very, very serious hobbyist or even a smallish production shop using one harder. Unconditional recommendation, if that's worth anything.

KC

[Mike Cutler]

Steve. I gottta echo KC's post. I have the 15" Jet planer, essentially a clone of the PM and the Grizzly. I thought that I would never need a bigger planer, but I was wrong. The current project I'm building would have gone a lot faster with a 24" planer, even a 20" would have been a help.
I know that a 24" sounds like too much machine for the home shop, but it's not.
As far as quality is concerned.I find that alot of the planers, from various manufactures look suspiciously identical, but that the price can vary by several hundred dollars depending on the color of the paint.
Have fun looking, and consider a bigger sized planer. Ya' never know down the road. ;)

[CPeter James]

"The digital readout was after market."

Where did you get the digital readout? I would like one for my Jet 15".

Thanks,

CPeter

[Jay Goddard]

For those with the larger, stationary planers: What has your experience been with snipe on these machines? If the infeed/outfeed rollers and chipbreaker are properly adjusted and the board has been face jointed first, have you been able to eliminate snipe?

[Charles McKinley]

How much is the Griz with the spiral head? Never haveing to level blades again sounds very good to me. You may be able to add this feature to the Griz and still in the ball park or under for the other planers.

Just something to further complicate your decision. :)

[Richard Wolf]

"The digital readout was after market."

Where did you get the digital readout? I would like one for my Jet 15".

Thanks,

CPeter

I got the digital readout at a woodworking show, one of the big router bit suppliers, can't remember name. It cost $70.00 but works very well, once you dicide how to mount it.
Its purpose is not to work in 1000th of an inch, but to get consistent results.

Richard

[Dave Brandt]

The Grizz 20" w/ spiral cutterhead (G1033ZX) is $2300.

[Steve Ash]

Thanks for the helpful advice guys....I looked at the 20 Grizzly planer (not the spiral head) in the catalog today and seems that would be the best bang for the buck, but I'm still looking and comparing. Also got some advice to look at a Powermatic at an online source.

[Mike Hedges]

Steve , I have a Powermatic 15 and it has been fine ...Good machine .Mike

[larry merlau]

the one i have heard of recently has no snipe, easy to adjust, dust collection is a snap. complet control and is very powerful yet fully adjustable. the blade changes are as easy as it gets, take one out and drop in the new one .just a tad bit adjusting and it s ready to go, the power supply is mounted on the top as well and the table is rock solide. there are two main companys that i am aware of..lee valley and lie nelson or in the tradesman level the current stanleys.. all you need to do is contack (brad) and he can set you right up :D

[Greg Torok]

I just made the decision to get a PM 20" - I liked the 31fpm feed as an option, and the additional HP over a 15", plus it has the cast iron wings.

The difficult part will be getting it in the basement :eek:

[Steve Ash]

the one i have heard of recently has no snipe, easy to adjust, dust collection is a snap. complet control and is very powerful yet fully adjustable. the blade changes are as easy as it gets, take one out and drop in the new one .just a tad bit adjusting and it s ready to go, the power supply is mounted on the top as well and the table is rock solide. there are two main companys that i am aware of..lee valley and lie nelson or in the tradesman level the current stanleys.. all you need to do is contack (brad) and he can set you right up :D
You know Larry, I am a big strong guy but I think a 15" handplane might be just a bit out of my league...but thanks for your advice (snicker):)

[Derek Arita]

I had a 15" Transpower planer. It's an off brand, no bells or whistles, but looks similar to the Delta. Once adjusted and I stress, once adjusted, it worked beautifully. I sold it for a 15" PM with spiral blades. I have all confidence that it will work as well as the Transpower, once adjusted. Moral of the story is, I think most of your choices will work well for you, once adjusted properly.

[Jim Young]

I would have to give the Grizzley 20" a good hard look. I hate my 15" jet, It's leaked oil since the day I got it.

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

For those with the larger, stationary planers: What has your experience been with snipe on these machines? If the infeed/outfeed rollers and chipbreaker are properly adjusted and the board has been face jointed first, have you been able to eliminate snipe?

Realistically, I don't think you're ever going to eliminate snipe...but on the Grizzly 20" (and similar, I suspect), the adjustment isn't too tricky and you can get it awfully close.

KC