Replies

1. 
   JerryPacMan | Jun 06, 2005 03:15pm | #1

   I have the Grizzly G0543 spiral cutterhead jointer.  It is a nice machine that cuts and runs very smooth.  The build quality is much better than on the 20 year old Powermatic that it replaced, especially the cabinet.  The tables are the flattest and best ground of any of the large machine that I own.  I have not required any service but Grizzly has been responsive to my questions before purchase.  I do not expect to require much service or have problems with Grizzly about service.  I did consider the Delta 8" but decided that the Grizzly was a better machine.  I am happy with my decision. 

    

   Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans .

2. 
   RickL | Jun 06, 2005 03:45pm | #2

   Make sure you compare aples to apples. The DJ20 is a parallelogram design which is superior to a dovetailed way design on the G0543.  Sunhill sells the Byrd head retrofit which is superior to the Grizzly spiral head. Do your homework on the differences. Grizzly has gotten a lot better with the tool quality.

   The G9859Z would comparable to the DJ20 with the paralellogram tables. Adding the Byrd head to the Delta would still be under the cost of the Grizzly.

   http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?ItemNumber=G9859Z&gid=BE90A425-569D-4CA7-88E1-AD6E07DCE7D2&site=grizzly

3. 
   frenchy | Jun 07, 2005 01:10am | #3

   stevebell 151,

        I had a disaster, with the new Delta stuff I bought,, I then bought a Grizzly 8 inch jointer (pre spiral head) and it arrived damaged!  The trucking company had badly damaged the crate and with it several castings were busted..

     A phone call and the very next day every part needed was in my hands and since then it has been totally trouble free.

       MY success with Grizzly had forced me to buy every power tool since then from them.. none has disapponited me and never needed adjustment or repair,  (well that's not totally true, I did break a belt on my 20 inch planner (one of three) it cost me 5 dollars at my local auto parts store and took me less than 10 minutes to replace)..  4 years and 20,000 plus bd.ft. (heck it may be 30,000)  bd.ft. of hardwood and I still am happy and haven't needed the constant adjustment forced on me by the Delta stuff I've purchased..

    

1. 
   WillGeorge | Jun 07, 2005 05:03am | #4

   The shippers NOT Grizz. You SHOULD HAVE NOT exceped the shipment!

   Glad it worked out for you anyway!

2. 
   DustyGeorge | Jun 07, 2005 10:57am | #5

   "A phone call and the very next day every part needed was in my hands and since then it has been totally trouble free."

   Frenchy,

   The quote above is by far the most significant part of your post.  It says worlds about Grizzly's customer service.  If I were to weight the factors I consider in buying something, I would give customer service a 10, quality an 8 and price about a 4 or 5. 

   At the end of the month I am retiring for the second time (30 years Air Force active duty, 19 years Air Force civil service).  This fall I plan to build a dedicated woodworking shop and equip it with dedicated tools.  (I've been working with a Shopsmith in the garage for 25 plus years.)  In my mind's eye I was seeing a lot of Delta gray tools.  After following this and another woodworking forum I am seeing more and more Grizzly green tools.  It looks like a gain in both customer service and price with no real loss in quality.   I really like all the positive comments I hear about their customer service.  I also like the fact that Papagrizzly routinely follows these forums and seems to really care about his customers satisfaction.

   Thanks to everyone for their inputs on these forums.

   George

1. 
   frenchy | Jun 07, 2005 04:51pm | #6

   Dusty George,

      I didn't know that Papa Grizzly follows these posts.    I do know that somebody from Delta has read several of my posts and tried to get all of the details about every thing I've complained about..   Doesn't seem to have any impact.  I speak to several Delta owners and they give me a steady report of adjustments and how they solved this or that problem with a few parts and consulting the factory.

     Hey Papa Grizzly,  why are all of your machines at slightly different heights?   Why can't I use the table of my tablesaw as an outfeed for my shaper?  Why can't I use the jointer as an infeed table for the planner?  

     Boy if it's one thing I would change on every tool Grizzly makes it would be that!  (of course nobody standardizes bed heights)...  

1. 
   JeffHeath | Jun 07, 2005 05:13pm | #7

   frenchy

   If they standardize bed heights, they won't be able to sell us 10 outfeed tables and rollers!  Great point, though.

   Jeff

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 07, 2005 06:19pm | #8

   "Papagrizzly routinely follows these forums."  That fact has escaped me, and I'd love more details.  Maybe he "lurks" but doesn't post (that's OK!) or perhaps only certain forums?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. 
   DustyGeorge | Jun 07, 2005 10:40pm | #10

   >>"Papagrizzly routinely follows these forums."  That fact has escaped me, and I'd love more details.  Maybe he "lurks" but doesn't post (that's OK!) or perhaps only certain forums?<<

   Actually I am not sure about this forum.  I know I have seen him posting on the WoodNet forum.  Latest post was this morning in response to a question addressed to him about Grizzly billing policy.

   George

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 07, 2005 10:42pm | #11

   Thanks for the info!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" .... :>) 

3. 
   bones | Jun 07, 2005 06:20pm | #9

   Congratulations on the freedom you will soon be experiencing. I too used the shopsmith until I started buying green. I started with the 17" BS and then the 1023TS. It arrived damaged (in shipping). I refused the shipment and called CS. They had another one out the next day. Have not had a problem since.  Give them a good consideration. I still have the Shop Smith for horizontal boring, but it is taking up a lot of room, so I'm considering letting it go. You will love not having to make all the test cuts & the change overs.  Have fun making saw dust!

1. 
   WillGeorge | Jun 07, 2005 11:01pm | #13

   but it is taking up a lot of room..  saw in the adds SAVED SPACE??

1. 
   bones | Jun 08, 2005 01:43am | #14

   saw in the adds SAVED SPACE??  Yea, until I started buying the pieces. I can't bring myself to let it go .... yet!

2. 
   WillGeorge | Jun 10, 2005 10:08pm | #15

   Hay! Nothing wrong with a shopsmith.. Especially if you have all the goodies!..

   I have used one a few times.. Not bad... Cept the saw part! Well just me..

   I came pretty close to gettin' one long ago!

4. 
   WillGeorge | Jun 07, 2005 10:58pm | #12

   Grizz. Is Like a MAMA Grizz Bear.. TAKE care of Her Pups!