When you’re setting up your woodworking shop, a planer is one of those tools that can make or break your projects. Smooth boards, consistent thickness, and clean finishes all come down to having the right machine.

Recently, I got my hands on the Grizzly 15-inch Spiral Cutterhead Planer, and let me tell you—this thing might just be the best budget-friendly alternative to big names like Oliver and DeWALT. In this post, I’ll walk you through my experience unboxing it, testing it on different woods, and comparing it to other popular options.

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First Impressions: Build Quality and Setup

When the Grizzly 15-inch Planer showed up on the pallet, the first word out of my mouth was beast. At 133 pounds, this isn’t a tool you’ll be moving on and off a bench every day.

Assembly was simple—attach the dust chute and you’re basically ready to roll.
I use Lightning Lock dust collection connectors in my shop, which made setting up my hoses much easier. If you don’t have those, I highly recommend grabbing a set (Lightning Lock Dust Collection).
The raise and lower wheel is smooth as butter, thanks to four ball screws. One full turn equals a sixteenth of an inch, which makes dialing in your cuts super precise.

👉 Check the Grizzly 15-Inch Planer at Home Depot
👉 Direct from Grizzly

One Big Surprise: The 5-20 Plug

Here’s where things got tricky. Out of the crate, I was ready to plane some boards—but the planer comes with a 5-20 plug. That’s a sideways-prong 20-amp plug, not the standard 15-amp most folks have in their shops.

Do NOT use an adapter to force it into a 15-amp outlet. You’ll need either a proper 5-20 extension cord(Amazon link) or a 20-amp circuit in your shop.
Grizzly should really include an adapter or at least make this clearer in the product listing. It’s deflating to get a new tool and have to wait days just to use it.

Features That Impressed Me

This planer packs a surprising number of features for its price:

Two feed speeds (low and high) – just don’t switch them while it’s off.
Digital readout – not iPhone-clear, but accurate and handy. You can zero it out to match existing boards.
Depth stops in turret style – presets for common thicknesses like ¾” and 1”.
Spiral cutterhead with carbide inserts – smoother than straight knives and less prone to leaving lines when a blade chips.
Stock rollers on top – great for staging boards while you’re planing.
Anti-kickback fingers – extra safety for when stock hangs up.

Performance on Different Woods

I ran the Grizzly through a variety of species to see how it stacked up:

Pine – Butter smooth with zero snipe.
Bird’s Eye Maple – Absolutely flawless, no tear-out.
Leopardwood – A little tear-out, even with the water trick. Spiral cutterheads aren’t quite as clean as true helical heads on tricky woods.
White Oak – Handled a full 15-inch wide piece with no issues.

Noise levels were also lower than expected. It stayed under 95 dB, which is much quieter than my DeWALT DW735X. Still, always wear hearing protection.

Comparing Grizzly vs. DeWALT vs. Oliver

DeWALT DW735X

Stock model uses three straight knives (prone to tear-out).
You can upgrade with a Byrd helical head for smoother cuts.
Built-in blower for chip ejection (a feature the Grizzly lacks).
Lighter and more portable.

👉 DeWALT DW735X
👉 Helical Upgrade Kit
👉 Pre-Installed Version with Byrd Shelix Head

Oliver 15-Inch

Made in the same factory as the Grizzly.
Runs on 220V power and comes stock with a helical cutterhead.
Typically around $800 more than the Grizzly.

👉 Oliver 15-Inch Planer at Woodcraft
👉 Oliver 15-Inch Planer on Amazon

Grizzly 15-Inch

Lower price point with nearly identical build quality.
Spiral cutterhead is a step up from knives, but not as premium as helical.
Ships free from Home Depot, saving you about $200 in freight.

👉 Grizzly Planer at Home Depot

The Bottom Line: Who Should Buy the Grizzly?

If you’re a beginner woodworker looking for a shop planer with serious capacity without spending $1,800+, the Grizzly 15-inch is a fantastic choice.

Best for: hobbyists and small-shop pros who want 15-inch capacity and a spiral cutterhead at a reasonable price.
Skip it if: you absolutely need a helical head or already have 220V and want the Oliver.

For me, the Grizzly hits a sweet spot: big performance, fair price, and a couple quirks you can work around.

Shop the Tools From This Review

Stay Safe and Keep Learning

Woodworking is rewarding, but safety always comes first. Always use proper dust collection, hearing protection, and eye protection when planing.

Final Thoughts

The Grizzly 15-inch Planer proves you don’t have to spend top-dollar to get pro-level features. It’s not perfect, but for most woodworkers, it’s more than enough to deliver smooth boards and consistent results.

Want to keep exploring woodworking tips, tool reviews, and shop upgrades? Check out more of my blog posts below and keep building smarter, safer, and with confidence.

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