15 inch planers

Assuming you are talking about the GI 30-125 (not 30-115) they are going to be very similar and probably functionally very similar outside the cutter head. If you are getting straight blades its a toss up outside of warranty and what the support is like for you locally and well money of course. If you are getting a helical head (which I strongly suggest) I feel the 4 sided insert version that Grizzly makes would be my choice, I would rather have a Byrd head but neither come with them, though they can be retrofit but will cost you more money and time. The Grizzly works almost as well as the Byrd.

I will say two LITTLE things stand out for me on the General, I prefer the angled dust chute (but it does take a healthier DC system not to clog) and the polyurethane outfeed rollers don’t leave marks with light passes.

The Grizzly does have a built in mobile base if that is of use to you.

I have a 15 inch general planer with a spiral cutterhead. After owning it for about a year now all I’ll say is I would not buy again and wouldn’t suggest buying one. I get tear out whichever way I run a board through. The dust port isn’t that great I get chips come out the side when I run a board at the ends. I have a grizzly 8 in jointer with spiral cutterhead. Grizzly cutterhead blows the general out of the water. I’m glad I didn’t pay full price for the general.

I have the 12.5” Helical head General planner and after some fine tunning works just fine for a lunch box planner.
That said I did pick up an old Hitachi F1000A 6” jointer and 12” planner combo a great machine! Only a 2 blade
machine but will match the General for smooth finish and the difference between sheet metal and cast Iron cannot be compared, anyways if you can find an old general 15” with blades grab it, they are a fantastic machine!

-- Lifting one end of the plank.

Thanks for the replies

Jeff, I am just a weee bit jealous. Have fun. That planer should make some nice size cutting boards.

-- Handcrafted by Mike Henderson - Channelview, Texas

Based upon others reports about Grizzly shipping, if it is within range I would suggest you go pick it up. Call first and make sure that it is in stock.

-- "I love it when a plan comes together" John "Hannibal" Smith

I use an older Delta X5 15” planer and it works well. Only reason that I would make a change is for a helical head. I found mine used for $300 sitting on a Delta stand and with 4 extra sets of sharpened knives. I reworked the dust collection port a bit and it’s entirely dust free, a big bonus.