Review: Grizzly G0999 15-in. 2-hp Benchtop Planer with Spiral Cutterhead

Mighty Midsize Planer

For years, woodworkers have had only two choices when it comes to planers: affordable, portable benchtop planers, which generally limit surfacing width to 13 in., or far more expensive stationary machines that allow wider, more aggressive cuts. Thankfully, there are now more options available—and I’m very glad to have spent time with the Grizzly G0999 15-in. helical-head benchtop planer.

The 15-in. cutting head is well equipped with indexable carbide inserts—not the sparse layout sometimes found on lower-cost cutterheads. Combine that with two feed speeds and the G0999 provided tearout-free results on virtually every board I ran through it, including highly figured maple. The surface finish was excellent, with no visible machine marks and only the slightest hint of snipe at the beginning and end of some boards.

The digital thickness readout was surprisingly addictive for me. Before using this planer, I had never worked with a DRO-equipped planer, but after a few months, I’ve come to rely on it completely. It’s accurate and makes dialing in repeatable thicknesses effortless. It’s a feature I’ll be looking for in any planer I buy in the future.

One place the G0999 differs from most stationary planers is in the depth of cut. It has a contact plate that limits passes to about 1/16 in.; in practice, 1/32 in. per pass is a more realistic maximum. That limitation is understandable given the lighter construction and 2-hp motor. Honestly, it’s a small trade-off considering that in cost the Grizzly sits closer to a 13-in. planer than a traditional 15-in. floor model.

One note about the 2-hp 120-volt motor: a 20-amp circuit is required. So if your shop doesn’t have a 20-amp outlet, you’ll need to factor that into the cost. 

Another note: the word portable should be used loosely with the G0999. Most expect to be able to move a benchtop planer without substantial effort, but this machine weighs well over 100 pounds. I’d describe it more as a compact planer in need of a base. Build a dedicated cart or cabinet that allows you to take advantage of the space above and below it, and you’ll have the best of benchtop and stationary planers with very few concessions.

Overall, the Grizzly 15-inch Helical Head Benchtop Planer offers tremendous value. It bridges the gap between compact and stationary machines perfectly, delivering wide capacity, excellent surface quality, and modern features at a price that’s hard to beat. If I were shopping for a new planer today, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose this one.

—Ben Strano clogged FWW’s dust collector twice during this review.

Grizzly G0999 15-in. 2-hp Benchtop Planer with Spiral Cutterhead

$1,450

grizzly.com

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