grizzly parallelogram jointer w spiral..
Rcohen81
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
What do you guys think about the possibility of purchasing the grizzly GO490 (http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0490) with their $375 optional spiral cutterhead (http://www.grizzly.com/products/h7654)? I’d have to repack the bearings which scares me (don’t even really know what bearings are), but the tech rep says its not so bad. The spiral cutterhead is not a byrd (they do not yet make one for the grizzly 490), but its looks more like it than say the sunhill.
Replies
I have the 593- it's the 8" with a spiral head cutter standard, but dovetailed ways. I've had it for a year and like it a lot. I made a single adjustment to the tables using a 48" machinist's straight edge last January when I set it up and haven't had to recalibrate since. Every once in a while I recheck it with a straight edge- but it has remained spot on.
I think Grizzly has done a good job with their jointers. The four features I would focus on are: 1. Width (at least 8"), 2. Bed length (> 72"), 3. Spiral cutterhead, and 4. Dovetail vs parallelogram design. If you could find all 4 in a machine at a price within your budget, go for it. If not, I would value the spiral head over the parallelogram design.
This has been debated before, and others might feel differently. I value the cutterhead over the parallelogram because the carbide inserts on the spiral head last much longer, are easier to change and easier to align. I think if you are buying a jointer for use in a one person or small shop, the risk of the tables sagging is minimal. In schools, large shops, etc. where someone is liable to sit eating their lunch on the infeed table- that's another matter.
When I had been using my jointer a couple of months, I decided to put a mobile base underneath it. I hoisted it a few inches off the ground with a chain wrapped around the tables (not a procedure I am recommending, mind you) and slipped the base underneath. When I checked the tables again, they were spot on. So I don't think in the course of normal usage, that table sag is likely to be a problem. If you do notice it, you can readjust the tables using the gib set screws. Shimming is only rarely needed.
I'm not sure I'd be enthusiastic to repack the bearings on an optional cutterhead. I think that it's a pain, and a fussy procedure to get right. In the end you will pay more (and work harder) for your 490 + optional head than for the 593, and I'm not clear that you will be much ahead.
Just my 2p,
Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
Edited 12/16/2006 1:09 pm ET by Glaucon
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