Oliver vs Grizzly: Which 15-Inch Planer Should You Buy?

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Oliver vs Grizzly 15-Inch Planer Review: Which One's Worth Your Money?

If you're hunting for a powerful, pro-level planer for your woodworking shop, you're probably eyeing two of the most buzzed-about models in the last year: the Oliver 15-inch Helical Head Planer and the Grizzly 15-inch Spiral Cutterhead Planer.

They look almost identical and are built in the same factory—but the price tags are very different. The Grizzly is around $800 cheaper than the Oliver. So what’s the difference, and which one should you choose? I put them head-to-head in my shop and here's what I found.

Unboxing & Setup

Both machines are heavy-duty and arrive via freight, weighing well over 100 pounds. Expect to need help lifting them.

The Oliver arrives well-packaged with infeed and outfeed tables included (big plus). Assembly is quick—just attach the tables, crank handle, and dust chute. I highly recommend adding Lightning Lock dust collection adapters to make hose swaps easier.

The Grizzly, on the other hand, does not include infeed/outfeed tables, though they are available aftermarket.

Key Features Breakdown

1. Cutterhead Design

  • Oliver: 40-tooth Helical head, angled cutters for smoother cuts, especially in figured or exotic woods.

  • Grizzly: Spiral cutterhead with straight blades—still better than straight knives, but not as refined as a true helical head.

2. Power Requirements

  • Oliver: 2.5 HP, 230V. Great for heavy-duty work, but you'll need a 230V outlet.

  • Grizzly: 2 HP, 120V with a 20A plug. Easier for most home shops to power.

3. Digital Readout (DRRO)

Both have one, but the Oliver's DRRO is noticeably easier to read, with brighter blue-toned numbers. Still, both suffer from a slight ghosting effect.

4. Build & Operation

  • 4-post design for smooth, level movement

  • Turret-style positive stops for common thicknesses

  • Two feed speeds (12 & 22 fpm)

  • Built-in return rollers on top (for feeding boards back)

Performance Test: Let’s Plane Some Wood

I ran multiple species through both machines: pine, walnut, oak, leopardwood, and quilted maple. Here’s what I saw:

  • Softwoods (Pine): Both machines did great. Smooth finish, no tearout.

  • Hardwoods (Walnut, Oak): Clean cuts on both, but slightly smoother on the Oliver.

  • Exotics (Leopardwood, Quilted Maple): The Oliver's helical head clearly outperformed the Grizzly here, with noticeably less tearout.

If you work with figured or exotic woods often, the Oliver will save you sanding time and headaches.

Noise Levels

Surprisingly quiet for machines of this size. Both are much quieter than a standard 3-blade benchtop planer like the DeWALT DW735X.

Which One Should You Buy?

Choose the Oliver 15-Inch Planer if:

  • You want the best surface finish possible

  • You work with exotic or figured hardwoods

  • You already have 230V power in your shop

  • You want infeed/outfeed tables included

Choose the Grizzly 15-Inch Planer if:

  • You're on a tighter budget

  • You don't have 230V power (Grizzly runs on 120V/20A)

  • You're mainly planing softwoods or basic hardwoods

  • You're okay buying the tables separately

What About the Oliver 13-Inch Planer or DW735X?

If you don’t need the size or power of a 15-inch planer, the Oliver 13-inch is a fantastic alternative. It comes with a Wixey-style DRRO and a helical head, runs on 120V, and is easier to move around.

And if you're still rocking the DeWALT DW735X, you can upgrade it with a Byrd Shelix head or install your own helical head upgrade for a huge performance boost.

Final Thoughts: My Honest Take

Both of these machines are excellent, but it really comes down to budget and power requirements.

The Oliver is premium in both price and features, and if you can swing the cost and power setup, it’s a fantastic investment.

The Grizzly offers unbeatable value for hobbyists and small shops looking to step up from a lunchbox planer.

Either way, you’re getting a serious upgrade.

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