GRIZZLY BENCHTOP PLANER
There are good reasons to use a benchtop planer over a standing one. Namely, those would be cost and shop space. When a benchtop planer can be stored neatly under your workbench or in a cupboard — and costs nearly half as much as its full-sized counterpart — a slight reduction in performance isn’t a tough pill to swallow. However, Grizzly’s G0999 Benchtop Planer shown here has the power and capacity of a standing planer with the portability and minimal footprint of the benchtop variety.
A PORTABLE POWERHOUSE.
The G0999 has a 2HP motor and a 15"-wide bed, granting it plenty of power and a capacity to rival many standing planers. Additionally, it features a spiral cutterhead with carbide inserts that can be easily rotated or replaced as they dull (Photo 1).
While I’ve referred to this tool as portable, it’s not necessarily one I’d go toting around jobsites. Weighing in at a little over 130 pounds, my preference for keeping it portable was to place it on a rolling cart that could be moved around the shop as necessary.
PRECISION GAUGES.
One aspect I applaud on this planer are the gauges and stops that aid in precision thicknessing. As shown in photo 2, the planer features both an analog and digital readout depth gauge. Alongside that is a rotating depth stop (photo 3). A depth-of-cut gauge sits above the bed as well. This measures how much is being taken off at a time, which is great for dialing in a smooth surface.
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| A depth stop and a digital readout gauge help you maximize precision when milling down stock, no matter how many pieces you need. |
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| The planer offers a 15"-wide bed. The gauge above it measures the depth of cut as the workpiece passes through, letting you know if you’re removing too much. |
PERFORMANCE.
In terms of performance, I found little to complain about in this planer. The cutters leave a clean surface and the motor has more than enough power to take a decent layer off of hardwoods in a single pass. Is it worth a buy? I’d say yes, but there is an important consideration. Grizzly makes high-quality tools, and their products are priced accordingly.
As such, the G0999 has a pricepoint equivalent to standing planers of some midtier manufacturers. With that in mind, I found it outperformed many of those, and if the cost is something you can stomach, then this planer is a great way to achieve the quality of a standing planer without committing to a permanent spot in your shop.
