Replies

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Sep 29, 2009 06:32am | #1

   I own an old general 6 inch jointer ? 1940. It will live another generation after I am gone.

   If it is the General made in Canada. Buy it.

   Every highschool wood shop is all General green a least around here. bulletproof.

   I have 3 General International beasts and am happy as a clam. Customer service is Great!!

   OOps I did notice last June at my daughters grad, they had a Stop Saw crate behind the highschool WW shop door. I'm glad they bought the Stop saw instead of letting the WW program go.

   Edit I am Biased "cause I a redneck, hoser, canuck" I have no $interest in General Tools.

   I only say because they are really good machines. But if GI watches this site, i got a lathe given to me and need turning tools.
   Shoe

   
   

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   Edited 9/28/2009 11:42 pm ET by Shoemaker1

1. 
   stpatrick | Sep 29, 2009 07:14am | #2

   Well, I have the 8 inch General (North American) jointer and the 15 inch General (No. Amer.) drill press . . . . but i understand that the General International machines are made in Taiwan, i think.   I am happy with the machines . . . but wish the jointer was wider . . .

   So, what 20 inch planers do y'all have??

1. 
   Shoemaker1 | Sep 29, 2009 07:41am | #3

   I got the Dewalt lunch box in 97 first model?, put many feet of stock and a few blades, still great. wished I could upgrade but at this,time ??

2. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Sep 29, 2009 05:43pm | #4

   I don't have the General International 20" but... I do have the 20" York-craft which is no longer being imported by Wilke Machinery. But.. no sweat on parts as it is idenical to the Grizzly 20" and I do believe from the looks of the General Internationl... so is it which the exception of helical heads which I don't have. So... how does the 20" fare in use?

   30,000 linear feet 3 years after purchase passed through it so well.. very well. The good news on the General International is that GI is opening an American distributor-ship soon so machines and parts orders and request will be handled south of the border for U.S. customers.

   Good luck...Sarge..

   Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia

2. 
   jako17 | Sep 30, 2009 01:07am | #5

     It is most important to remember that General International and General (made in Canada ) are very different ,GI stuff is made in Asia and though good is not a patch on the Canadian made machines.However the price difference is large and you get what you pay for.The No 330  20" planer is all cast. The GI has quite a bit of welded steel.For a production shop no doubt General Canada but the GI should work well for you.I have used both and will stick with our 330 which is at least 35yrs old

1. 
   stpatrick | Sep 30, 2009 04:31am | #6

   Gentlemen,  thank you for the input. Patrick

3. 
   Y1RET | Oct 06, 2009 10:40pm | #7

   When I was looking to upgrade my planer from a lunch box, I looked at the same machine. I was concerned with the difference between General, Grizzly, Jet, PM, York Craft and all the other look a likes that are panted different colors. I was considering the General because I have a couple of there machines that I really like. I contacted General and ask what the difference is between the machines. What General told me was interesting. Ill paste a copy of there response below. The basic answer is that all the machines are produced by the same company and are sold under different names. I believe parts are interchangeable.

   I ended up buying a Jet 16 inch model from another part time woodworker who was upgrading to a 36 inch model. He was going to start building tabletops and wanted the extra capacity. The Jet works fine for me and I am glad I saved the extra money. I thought about upgrading to the Byrd head, and I may some day but the Jet works fine and I have found other tools to spend money on.

   The following is the answer General gave me about the differences between the look alike machines. I am not sure I buy the “pick of the litter” story.

   Good luck
   Bob T.

   Hello Robert,
   Your email was sent to our district office in Shawnee Kansas.
   Your question is a very good one, and comes up frequently.
   There are differences.
   However, most of the manufacturers are related, or have
   copied off of eachother.
   In machinery, as you well know I am sure, you get what
   you pay for.
   The General and Grizzly you refer to do look the same.
   The major difference is that ours is made in Taiwan and has
   been for a number of years.
   The Grizzly has many of our same features, but, and a "big"
   but, it is made by an upstart company in China. Quite
   different fit and finish than the General.
   There are other differences with the other machines you
   mention.
   The big thing is, General has a full time engineering staff
   in Taiwan and we get the "Pick of the Litter".
   All our machines are CSA standard, which is a cut above
   UL standards.
   Our machine has a lightly slower feed rate, which gives ####bit better finish. Our has Cast Wings, and a self contained
   Mobile base which not all of them have.
   Overall, I think the big thing is reputation, and what you
   can expect.
   Sincerely,
   Joe Hirt

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 07, 2009 04:59pm | #8

   General International 20" is indeed made in Taiwan as there other machines.... Sarge..

   Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia