I am looking at the Grizzly G1033X and the G0454 planers. What I like about the 1033 is the heavier bed, higher amperage motor and the smooth steel outfeed roller. Unfortunately, it only comes with the spiral cutter head.
The thing is, on my current planer I replace the knives, maybe, two or three times a year, on average. I understand that the individual cutters on the spiral head have four edges that can be turned when one side gets knicked or dull. That means a set of cutters would last 16 months to two years and replacing the entire set costs about $650.
I wonder what I'm missing here about the spiral cutterhead. The only advantage I see are better cuts on the occasional board that has an irregular grain and quieter operation.
I would love to hear from anyone who has the G0454. Are you happy with it ? Is the motor stout enough for you. Is there any reason why I should be wary of the knurled outfeed roller ? I'm sure it still results in a smooth board, right ?
Any response is welcome and appreciated.