[BattleRidge]

I have the Grizzly G0490 Jointer and like it really well. It has been a good performer, has plenty of power, is easy to use, dust collection is good and I have no complaints. I bought it used (Facebook Marketplace) last year for $650. My intent is to add the helical head at some point in time but at the present the standard cutter is working fine (though could use sharpened - which can be done economically locally). My plan is to replace my Dewalt DW735X cutterhead with a helix first when the cutters are eventually worn and then the jointer head.

I can also recommend considering the used option and there can be money to be saved by doing so - allowing the addition of other woodworking gear with the money saved. The caveat is to check the machine over well, though my experience thus far has been more than satisfactory. Another plus to buying used is that you can also eventually sell it at the same or near the price you paid with the original purchaser taking the biggest cost difference when they bought the equipment new.

I can also recommend Grizzly and have quickly become a fan - more than satisfied in every way with their equipment. My first major piece of quality woodworking equipment was the Laguna 18BX bandsaw (purchased new and I really love it) followed by a new Dewalt Planer but since then, I have been fortunate to find great buys on used Grizzly equipment in great condition which has allowed me to fill my shop in a much swifter timeframe than I would have been able to do otherwise. My first was a "new" Grizzly G0548Z Dust Collector ($200) that the seller purchased new but never placed into service due to buying a larger unit at an auction shortly thereafter (he sold it when he eventually needed the space in his shop but wasn't able to find some of the unassembled parts which I obtained from Grizzly for $40 delivered). I then bought the Jointer, then a Grizzly G0123 Table Saw ($650) and most recently a Grizzly G7944 Drill Press ($250).

My recommendation on purchasing used equipment is to search frequently, have a wide search radius (distance) and move on it as soon as you find something you want - particularly if it is at a reasonable price. The best buys don't last long and I learned quickly that they can disappear swiftly. I had each of my Grizzly machines sitting in my shop the same day that it was listed online, and after calling the seller would often research the machine while my wife was driving to the seller's location (ranging from 15 - 100 miles away). Give the machine a thorough look and run some boards through (with the dust collector, it had never been run so we had to wire it up) and if all checks out, buy, load and go.

To put things into another perspective, I saved over $2,500 on the Grizzly equipment I bought used (when shipping is factored in) and I haven't had any issues. To be honest, I never realized I saved that much until I just now compared my machines to the cost of new.

 

[BattleRidge]

Grizzly is Harbor Freight with lipstick.

One other thing are parts. Where do you buy Grizzly parts? Can you buy them from different parts stores online or do you have to get them directly from Grizzly? I have no idea but that's important.

Grizzly is Harbor Freight with lipstick...? My experience has been much the opposite and I have found Grizzly to produce a well made and dependable machine. I have been to Harbor Freight and while there may be some items that I would consider purchasing there, powered equipment is not one of them unless it was for a one time or very limited use (nothing against Harbor Freight fans and HF has a large selection). The Grizzly equipment in my shop have proven to be trouble free and each performs as well as my Laguna 18BX Bandsaw which I purchased new. All of my Grizzly gear was purchased used and likewise most have wracked up use over time, but since I have obtained them, they have performed as well as they likely did the day they were made - quite well.

In regard to parts... I purchased my Grizzly Dust Collector (my first Grizzly product) from someone that had purchased the DC new, then bought a larger unit at an auction at a great price for use in his business and never placed the Grizzly into service. It sat in the corner of his home shop unassembled for several years until he needed the space for something else. Over this time he lost track of several of the pieces that went with it and while he was searching for the missing items, I went to Grizzly's website and easily found each of the pieces in stock and available, each at a reasonable price (online ordering was easy and shipping was quite quick). I have also checked Grizzly for parts availability for my other equipment which appears to have ready availability, though I have had no need to purchase anything as of yet. As a note, the DC seller had some Grizzly machines in his personal home shop as well as several others (larger and much more expensive) at his gunsmithing and metalworking business and he was quite pleased with each, as well as with any dealings he has had with Grizzly - a well satisfied Grizzly customer.

The Jointer was my second Grizzly purchase and the only reason it was being sold was that the seller was moving out of state to live near his relocated children. He was taking some of his equipment during the move, but in downsizing didn't have a future need for everything. He had ran a side cabinet / woodworking business in his garage and had a full shop of Grizzly equipment and was glowing in his satisfaction with their quality and the company. My Grizzly Table Saw and Drill Press came from sellers that were older and downsizing and had no future needs for the equipment, though each were happy to show the equipment in use and share of their experiences with the machines, each satisfactory.

I find that the statement of Grizzly being "not quality tools" to be quite misleading and frankly, with my personal experience, personal contact with other Grizzly owners and through extensive research, I take it with a grain of salt. I have seen negativity with all manufacturers at various points in time and haven't found Grizzly to be in inferior product in any way, particularly when compared with other mid-level manufacturers (Jet, Powermatic, Laguna, Rikon, etc.) for everyday folk (including professional and semi-professional) woodworkers or others. There may be some upper-level manufacturers of quite pricey gear to be an exception, but am sure they have their issues too. I have also seen a variety of folks seeking advice on unavailable parts from a variety of companies and I don't think any manufacturer stocks everything into perpetuity. In addition and with a little research, you can find that a multitude of companies are interlinked with each other so to imply that by Grizzly not specializing in anything would seem to ignore the diversity of so very many of the other manufacturers that supply woodworking equipment - most of which obtain their parts from many places throughout the world as well as have manufacturing / assembly scattered in various locations.

The bottom line is that I wouldn't hesitate to buy and do not hesitate recommending Grizzly products and personally feel that when it comes down to Grizzly, Jet, Laguna, Powermatic and Rikon that for me it often comes down to the individual machine, the features, design, size, and build, and that the overall quality is on similar par with each other - and recognizing that each mfg has an occasional machine produced that falls below their individual standards. Each buyer needs to make their own personal choice and there are many considerations and I have been quite satisfied with mine.