Replies

1. 
   RickL | Jun 17, 2004 02:43pm | #1

   Can't speak for the newer 12" jointer but have tuned and maintained a friends older 12" jointer  and 16" planer by Bridgewood and was impressed. Good solid machines that kept their adjustements. Have you seen the Invicta 12"? Parallogram tables are real nice and easy to adjust when necessary.

   http://www.invicta-usa.com/jointers.html

1. 
   EWE | Jun 18, 2004 04:55am | #4

   Thanks Rick

   I checked out the invicta. Looks great, like the price, but I want hand wheel adjustments for the tables. I can't stand levers!! It's too bad because there are several 12" jointers that are otherwise very nice, like the Powermatic

   I'd get the Canadian made General 12" if I could afford it ( about $6500.00 ) I can't spend more than $4000.

   ThanksBrookfield Woodworking

   Cushing, Maine

1. 
   RickL | Jun 18, 2004 10:57am | #6

   I've used them with the levers and have no preference personally. Insignifigant point in my experience

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 17, 2004 06:17pm | #2

   "because it is made in the same factory as the Grizzly 12"."  So what the heck does it mean?!  The first-hand reports on these boards seem to indicate their 8" jointer is a great machine.  Some specific problem with current 12" Grizzlies??

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   EWE | Jun 18, 2004 04:48am | #3

   I've never met a Grizzly machine that I have liked. Many woodworkers I know agree. The tolerances are super sloppy. You get what you pay for.Brookfield Woodworking

   Cushing, Maine

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 18, 2004 05:36pm | #9

   Many woodworkers also disagree.  There have been enough first-hand reports on the Grizzly jointers in particular to indicate that they hold their own after thousands of BF of lumber. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   EWE | Jun 19, 2004 02:56am | #10

   Can we just agree to disagree? Don't want another Grizzly product in my shop. Period.Brookfield Woodworking

   Cushing, Maine

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 20, 2004 08:48am | #13

   No reason you should have any tool you don't like.  I was mainly taking aim at the global slam on Grizzly.  Hope you find the perfect jointer for your shop.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   DJK | Jun 19, 2004 04:03pm | #12

   It's your preference on what you buy and use. Many on this site pray to the Grizzly GOD without ever owning the machine in question or used a vintage American made machine.

   Look for a used jointer.

   Dave Koury

3. 
   shopdoc | Jun 18, 2004 07:42am | #5

   EWE,  I got the Bridgewood 12" jointer 5 years ago and I'm very happy with it. Mine has had very heavy use and I have had 0 problems with it. Since I live in between York, Pa and Williamsport, Pa I was able to see both the Bridgewood and the Grizzly first hand. I checked the tables for flatness with winding sticks and found the Grizz floor model to be way out. The salesman said lets go in the warehouse and check a few more. I checked about a dozen and never found one that was flat! At Wilke Tool the BW was perfectly flat and thier repair guy got out a machinist's straightedge so we could check for co-planer etc. The fit and finish was also superior to the Grizz and Wilke also fits all thier machines with American made motors. At the time I bought mine it was also about $100 less. Don't get me wrong Grizzly makes some pretty good machinary and I've owned several of thier machines over the years. By the way you should go the extra bucks and get thier dial indicator setup it's well worth the bucks and makes blade changes eazier.        Steve

1. 
   EWE | Jun 18, 2004 02:21pm | #7

   Thanks Steve!!!

   If I may ask you a question:

   Does the outfeed table ever get knocked out of whack, like when your jointing heavy stock? Do those little locking levers effectivly lock the table? It is only of concern because the jointer I currently use ( 8" General ) is always needing adjustment. Its a pain!!

   Also: any comments on the fence? Do you have the the old style rack and pinion type or the new style?

   Thanks alot Steve!!!

   P.S. Last night online I fell in love with the Oliver 12", made in Michigan. I'm scared to see what it costs. I'll find out today. Anybody out there seen or used this machine?

   http://www.olivermachinery.net/Products/4255-12Jointer.html

   -eliBrookfield Woodworking

   Cushing, Maine

1. 
   RickL | Jun 18, 2004 04:09pm | #8

   The new Oliver company doesn't have anything to do with the old Oliver. I'd ask where this machine was made. I'm willing to bet it's an import. No problem with that personally but if it was made in Michigan they would be tooting their own horn about it.  I prefer the older style table on the Oliver with the four individual inclines per table or the new parallelogram design on European machines.

   "The engineering and marketing teams for Oliver Machinery are now located in Seattle, Washington. We are working to bring the highest quality products and the latest technology to dealers throughout the United States. Our goal is to provide customers with the type of machinery they have come to expect from Oliver Machinery."

   Doesn't say a word about where the manufacuring takes place. In fact the vintage pictures on the website were obtained from Dana Batory book on old machines, not from factory archives.

   The new head design looks interesting. PM has something similar on a new planer. I still like the basic Bridgewood machine better overall than the Oliver. Have you looked at used jointers?   Nice 12" Crescent on http://www.exfactory.com for $1,490.

   Edited 6/18/2004 9:12 am ET by rick3ddd

   Edited 6/18/2004 9:25 am ET by rick3ddd

1. 
   EWE | Jun 19, 2004 06:17am | #11

   I found out today on the phone about Oliver. Its like you said, Tiawain.

   Thanks for the exfactory.com link!! I'm gonna call about a few of them in the list.

   I was pretty impressed by the guy I talked with at Oliver. The machine don't sound too bad. It's 1400 lbs. They make it sound like a reproduction machine. Nice price too.

   Anyway thanks for your input!!

   -eliBrookfield Woodworking

   Cushing, Maine