01-12-2016, 09:00 AM
This morning I was paging through the Grizzly catalog I keep next to my favorite seat in the "reading room" and took notice of something I had not previously seen. The spiral cutter head with carbide insets (74 inserts) on the 15" model planer (G0435ZW) could be ordered with the spiral head pre-installed on the machine for $1895 which is a $700 upcharge from the 15" model with the straight blades (G0453W). If you already own the planer with the straight blades, you could but the upgraded spiral head and install it for $835. What actually caught my eye is the cost of the inserts ... $73.95 for a pack of 10 inserts.
I know from what I have read from folks who own these type units that the inserts last forever, but if you were to replace all 74 inserts, 8 packs of these will run you $600.
So I think my question is, Do you consider the entire machine disposable after you've run it for say 5-6 years and the carbide inserts wear out? It would almost seem more cost effective to replace the entire machine instead of paying 1/3 the price of the entire machine or nearly the cost of a new head just for the price of cutter inserts. For anyone who owns these, what is your opinion.
** Note - the prices above are updated from the grizzly site for 2016 **
I know from what I have read from folks who own these type units that the inserts last forever, but if you were to replace all 74 inserts, 8 packs of these will run you $600.
So I think my question is, Do you consider the entire machine disposable after you've run it for say 5-6 years and the carbide inserts wear out? It would almost seem more cost effective to replace the entire machine instead of paying 1/3 the price of the entire machine or nearly the cost of a new head just for the price of cutter inserts. For anyone who owns these, what is your opinion.
** Note - the prices above are updated from the grizzly site for 2016 **