Just need some confirmation.

Mike Grimm

Member
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159
Those of you that have Grizzly tools...you like them yes?

I just returned from a trip to Vegas where the casino's were very friendly to me. I was there for 4 days. I came home with $22 dollars more than I went down with to spend. That doesn't sound like much I know, but my initial wad was of a decent amount, so I'm going to buy some tools finally!

Planning on getting:

this jointer

this planer

this mortising machine, and the matching tenoning jig

The only other thing I want is a band saw, but thought I'd go look locally at trying to acquire one of those. I don't plan on doing any huge thick cuts with the band saw at this point, and resawing doesn't much interest me on a grand scale..maybe sometime down the road, but I don't know.


Opinions?
 
I have the GO555 bandsaw, GO462 wood lathe andthe H7762 heavy duty tool grinder and am very pleased with them. I even was able to modify my lathe to slow it down to 500 rpm. The bandsaw Ive cut up to 2" thick stock no problem with aa dull home depot blade and also 3/16" thick cast aluminumwith a metal cutting blade no problem. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them again:thumb:.
 
I don't own any Giz tools, but it looks as though you've made some good choices. The only thing I remember hearing less than good remarks about was the planer. Seems to me I remember a tool review rating it pretty low. Could be wrong. For a little bit more you might look into the Rigid planer - lots of great reviews on that one.
 
That planer design looks several generations old, kind of like my venerable delta 12 incher. It works pretty well, but you do have to allow for a few inches of 'snipe' at either end of the board you plane.

I haven't shopped for a planer (Since I have the old delta), but if I was in the market for one, I'd look for one that reduces or eliminates snipe.

It's not that big of a deal to me, so I just keep using what I got... :thumb:
 
Oh, just to be clear, I'm a grizzly fan. I've got a drill press from them (probably 12 years old) and cabinet table saw from them.. I like them both :thumb:
 
Jointer - search here and elsewhere noticing the high number of 6" jointers that got swapped for 8" in short order. There are exceptions and some folks are perfectly happy with 6". You can generally find a 6" readily available, used, from someone ready to change.

Planer - As others have said, I have read a few positive reviews on that small planer but mostly negative.

Mortiser - I couldn't find one I liked that was less a machine than the General 75-050T. After weighing pros and cons and price, I got a Mortise Pal and have been very happy. If you really want the mortiser, the Shop Fox cousin for a very few dollars more gets good reviews.

Tenoning Jig - I have a similar one and used it quite a bit up until I got the Mortise Pal. I still use it for bridal joints (which I like the look of).

Just food for thought; your spending about $1085. For about $1120 you could get this jointer, this planer, and the mortise pal. I'm not saying this is what you should do. I am just showing an example of possible alternatives.
 
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Looks like the Ridgid planer is 369, with free shipping, but they also have a factory reconditioned one for 269...wonder if its worth getting that one, or just going new.

I thought about a 8" jointer, but the need to do something that size, I figured the 6" would be more than enough for me....I'm sure once I get it....that could change. :huh:
 
Jointer was back ordered too!!!!!! WTH!

So far, I can't decide if I'm thrilled with Grizzly's performance. I got the email from them this morning telling me that the jointer was back ordered. So I decided to call them up and see about getting a different one. There was a similar model that was only 15 dollars more, and the only difference that either I or the rep could see was that the table top was 1 1/2" narrower. So, I had them switch that around.

So the rep goes on about asking me what kind of shipping I want, freight is fine I tell her, thats how everything else is coming. Then she tells me how it works. The truck arrives, and moves the items to the back of the truck, I have to get them down from there. WHAT? How is that "delivered"? I figured I'd be on the hook to get them from the street into the garage...but I have to get them down out of the truck too? For an extra $25.00 they will lower the item to street level. Why not just increase your shipping cost and explain what shipping actually covers.

Maybe I'm just new to ordering large tools, but this seems alittle misleading to me that they will ship it, but not take it down off the truck. Something about that just doesn't seem right.

On top of that, I was assured my credit card wouldn't be charged for the jointer that was supposed to be back ordered til August, especially since I was canceling that part of my order. Guess what's showing up as a charge on my credit card already? I think the only thing that's going to make this any better is if a half naked cute girl delivers my stuff. I won't be holding my breath. Guess I should have spent the 10 hours driving and just gone up and picked up the stuff myself. Now I know.
 
Mike after the same thing happened to me I found out the trucking co that does the residential deliveries has a lift gate on it so when I ordered my lathe I didn't request liftgate service and saved the $25 or $30 it cost.
 
The truck arrives, and moves the items to the back of the truck, I have to get them down from there. WHAT? How is that "delivered"? I figured I'd be on the hook to get them from the street into the garage...but I have to get them down out of the truck too? For an extra $25.00 they will lower the item to street level. Why not just increase your shipping cost and explain what shipping actually covers.

That's pretty much the way it's worked for all the bigoleheavystuff I've had delivered.
Table Saw, Band Saw, Swimming Pool, Camper Jacks, Big orders of lumber.

Once stuff is too big for the UPS guy to get it, things get a little less convenient having to deal with the freight companies. The freight companies really prefer to deal with business, who will usually have a loading dock, so they don't really need the lift gate trucks for them.

I've also just had them leave it at the freight depot before and drove my own truck to pick it up.
 
well i am late to the party here, but i can tell you that you could get some good used tools for less. here is an example of a jointer thats not mine but is listed for a friend.. http://familywoodworking.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13754 and if you were to look on craigs list in your area you might be surprized as to what you find..by the way where are you located? it helps to know where one is to be able to help better sometimes...:wave:
 
Hey Larry,

I'm in Vancouver, Wa. I've been scouring the craigslist ads here for the past couple months and what few wood working items I have seen on there, have not been in the best shape and people were wanting near new prices for stuff. I decided to go w/ new for the warranty and what not...plus I think my garage will look good in Grizzly Green :)

I had this money set aside for my vegas trip, and when I came back w/ it all still in my pocket, I decided I wouldn't feel guilty using it to spend on tools since I was going to be ok blowing it all in vegas anyway. So it worked out well in all aspects.

I just find it kinda silly that they tell you its "delivered" to you, but don't bother to fill you in on the rest of the stuff. Bringing it to the street out front isnt delivered in my book.
 
Mike, as the others have mentioned, the freight companies typically charge a bit extra for residential or liftgate service. It's just kinda how big equipment purchases and deliveries work. (Most big equipment is purchased by companies, and many of them have their own loading docks.) Grizzly does enough business with the various shipping companies that they get better freight prices than you'd typically get on your own, so the extra $25 or so is still a pretty good bargain. As Brent mentioned, picking it up at the freight depot is another option, if you trust their forklift driver loading your truck.
 
The truck arrives, and moves the items to the back of the truck, I have to get them down from there. WHAT? How is that "delivered"? I figured I'd be on the hook to get them from the street into the garage...but I have to get them down out of the truck too? For an extra $25.00 they will lower the item to street level. Why not just increase your shipping cost and explain what shipping actually covers.

Mike,

I solved this problem long ago. How? By marrying Doorlink! See, I just make sure I'm not home when the tool is gonna get delivered, and she is. She's got the whole spiel down. "Oh, that stupid husband of mine, he was supposed to be here!" And always elegantly dressed, so the guy wouldn't dream of asking such a delicate flower to help, and when she says, "oh, you look like such a nice strong man" the guy does everything he can to prove it. :rofl::thumb::rofl:

Worked for my lathe, my bandsaw, the jointer...I'm telling you, works every time. ;)

Sadly, there are other expenses involved, darn it. Why, just the cost of the engagement ring alone woulda paid for a sawstop! Maybe it would have been cheaper just to pay for the lift gate service... :rofl:

Thanks,

Bill
 
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