Grizzly jointer help!

[F-2_Challenger]

I am looking at getting a grizzly jointer. It has to be 110 right now. This is the one I'm looking at. Grizzly G0452Z - 6" X 46" Jointer w/ Spiral Cutterhead. Or should I get the longer table with 4 blades. Currently I'm stuck with 110 and will not be able to change that. Any advice will be helpful. Budget is about 1200 bucks.

 

[turbowoodworker]

I don’t own one but that looks like a good jointer. The spiral cutter head is considered an expensive upgrade. I dream of switching mine out for a spiral, but they are very pricey, and the three or four blade heads are good for the hobbyist. In other words, consider saving some money and skip the spiral. Do you have a planer yet?

 

[JVB]

Just a word of advice, I thought I would be happy with a 6” jointer. I purchased and sold my 6” jointer within 3 months. I think 8” is that sweet spot of what size boards I need and often use. I would consider stepping into an 8” now.

Everyone has different needs and uses so the 6” may just as well be all that you will personally need.

I do enjoy the extra length of the long bed jointer models as I work with longer lengths often. As I do wood working on the side and not as a daily use, I have always been happy with a standard cutter head. The helical cutter head was just not an upgrade I saw the need for as much as I use my machine.

 

[F-2_Challenger]

I have a dewalt planer. But I can't get the stuff straight with it.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Just a word of advice, I thought I would be happy with a 6” jointer. I purchased and sold my 6” jointer within 3 months. I think 8” is that sweet spot of what size boards I need and often use. I would consider stepping into an 8” now.

Everyone has different needs and uses so the 6” may just as well be all that you will personally need.

I do enjoy the extra length of the long bed jointer models as I work with longer lengths often. As I do wood working on the side and not as a daily use, I have always been happy with a standard cutter head. The helical cutter head was just not an upgrade I saw the need for as much as I use my machine.

Great advice. Use the money saved not getting the spiral head (which is of limited value to most--including most pros) and get a bigger jointer. A jointer is one machine where bigger is always better.

 

[Max]

Grizzly makes reasonable stuff. Most everything is made in either China or Taiwan, and they do note the COO. I personally avoid the China stuff and go for Taiwan, but it’s really up to you.

I have an older 6” Grizzly jointer and it’s worked well for me. There are times that I wished it was larger, but so far I’ve been able to work around it. If I was constantly working with large rough boards I’m sure I’d have a different opinion, so it’s really what you’re going to be doing with it that will affect how happy you are with a 6”. I do agree with the other posters that I’d take an 8” with a regular head over a 6” with a spiral.

You do need to get your planer adjusted correctly, otherwise you’re not going to be able to go from rough lumber to good 4S lumber without issues. I’ve learned the hard way that if your lumber is not right, your end results will suffer.

Max

 

[turbowoodworker]

Remember the proper way to prep a board is to use the jointer FIRST to get one flat side and a 90* right angle straight edge. Then the surface planer has a reference side to surface to. Without the jointer, the planer's rollers will push down and the planer will cut a smooth surface but it may not be exactly parallel to the down side. Then you can safely rip to width with your jointed edge.

 

[woody 73]

Just my two cents...

If you do buy the 4 blade knives they can be (key word here) a ***** to replace at the same cutting height; now don't get me wrong today you can buy a magnetic jig that sets them all to the proper cutting height and this will make your life a lot easier...

On the other hand the spiral cutterhead eliminates the need for any special jigs so 50 of 1 or 50 of another if you see what I mean.

Yes good advise from above buy the largest width that you can afford.

Hope that helps you out some.

 

[jhnlngn]

Are there any 8" jointers that are 110 though? I'd definitely go with the longer beds over the spiral cutterhead.

 

[danb35]

On the other hand the spiral cutterhead eliminates the need for any special jigs so 50 of 1 or 50 of another if you see what I mean.

...which is the biggest reason I have my eye on one for my 8" jointer.

Speaking of that, the G0500 I have can be wired for 120V use, but it draws 24 amps and therefore needs a 30-amp circuit.

 

[Cooter Brown]

There's no need for special jigs to set jointer knives. In fact I've got one of the magnetic ones and it doesn't work worth a flip. A waste of money.

A simple dial indicator set from HF works far better and is cheap. I'd bet I can set the knives on my jointer faster than I could spin all the inserts on a spiral head.

Look on youtube for Bob Vaughan's video on setting jointer knives.

Spend the money on a bigger jointer or some nice hardwood.

 

[shoot summ]

I would expect it is the same for a jointer, I put a helical head in my DeWalt Planer, my only issue, was that I didn't do it sooner...

Not sure what you use a jointer for, but I would make the helical head a requirement, they are fantastic.

 

[jimreed2160]

This one seems to meet your requirements.
https://www.baileigh.com/index.php/ij-655-hh-wood-jointer-with-spiral-cutter-head?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuOPpisjz4AIV0FuGCh0WoAPXEAQYASABEgIEyPD_BwE

 

[F-2_Challenger]

That baileigh seems way better made than the grizzly.

 

[tarbellb]

That baileigh seems way better made than the grizzly.

Baileigh is JUNK. Do not be fooled, search around, they rebrand all sorts of bottom tier machines that are notoriously bad.

Grizzly is a proven machine builder with decent to good quality.
----

Have you considered rewiring for 220v? Its not a very hard job for a competent sparky.

 

[Milton Shaw]

The spiral cutting heads really shine on wood with a lot of figure in it. Bird'e eye, Curly or crotch knots are what they do the smoothest job on. I saw a demo of a 15' planer with a Byrd spiral cutting head. So quiet you didn't need hearing protection with it like you normally would. Expensive but worth it if you work with those expensive woods. I don't have one but had tried to buy one for my grizzly 8" but mine was an early one and the Byrd heads are for the later ones.

 

[shoot summ]

The spiral cutting heads really shine on wood with a lot of figure in it. Bird'e eye, Curly or crotch knots are what they do the smoothest job on. I saw a demo of a 15' planer with a Byrd spiral cutting head. So quiet you didn't need hearing protection with it like you normally would. Expensive but worth it if you work with those expensive woods. I don't have one but had tried to buy one for my grizzly 8" but mine was an early one and the Byrd heads are for the later ones.

My little Dewalt 735 went from a noise level that would piss my neighbors off, to now I don't need hearing protection. Plus I do a lot of glue ups that are end grain and cross grain. The helical head shines on those to.

 

[R_einan]

i have a 6” that is enough for me, for now anyway, it’s a Powermatic 54A (not the quick-set knives). I can manage just fine with it for my projects. I got it used for a great price, and with a 66” long table and 38” fence it handles long stock much better that a smaller unit would. Now if a DJ-20 came around for a good price I don’t think I would pass

 

[JohnM45]

I have had a Grizzly 8" parallelogram jointer w/ spiral cutterhead for about 10 years now. I'm just a hobby woodworker, and even that hobby is part-time with several others. But, I think Grizzly makes a great machine - I also have their 15" planer w/ spiral head, too.

I would NEVER mess with old-school knives again...my buddy had a Jet 6" with blades that were just a nuisance. If you don't mind tinkering with things, don't fear the old blades. If you'd rather spend time being a wood worker, spend the extra for the spiral cutter head.

And by all means, try to get an 8 inch. I had the same dilemma and took the efforts to get a 220 volt outlet wired up. WELL WORTH IT in the long run.

I think the length of jointer bed is going to depend on what type of projects you're working on. Mine are not extra long...I forget the model off the top of my head...either way, I'd vote for a 8" wide, standard length and a spiral head.

 

[Jay H 237]

In that price range also look at Jet too.

I've yet to use one with the spiral cutter head so I have no info there.

 

[richardanmmol]

Just a word of advice, I thought I would be happy with a 6” jointer. I purchased and sold my 6” jointer within 3 months. I think 8” is that sweet spot of what size boards I need and often use. I would consider stepping into an 8” now.

Everyone has different needs and uses so the 6” may just as well be all that you will personally need.

I do enjoy the extra length of the long bed jointer models as I work with longer lengths often. As I do wood working on the side and not as a daily use, I have always been happy with a standard cutter head. The helical cutter head was just not an upgrade I saw the need for as much as I use my machine.

Me too

 

[cheechi]

one of the biggest benefits of the spiral is when you joint stock thats less than your total width you are only dulling part of a standard blade, but otherwise dulling just the spiral blades that are being used. So besides the 4 sides on your spiral you can also swap inner & outer blades to even things out. Not to say 'its not worth it' because it will vary from one person to another but for now I have a 6" benchtop with standard blades and will eventually upgrade to an 8" with a spiral. That may be years down the road though. If you have plans to eventually be able to use 220, you might want to consider doing it this way as any jointer is better than none but put the extra saved now towards the later purchase.

 

[JohnM45]

one of the biggest benefits of the spiral is when you joint stock thats less than your total width you are only dulling part of a standard blade, but otherwise dulling just the spiral blades that are being used. So besides the 4 sides on your spiral you can also swap inner & outer blades to even things out. Not to say 'its not worth it' because it will vary from one person to another but for now I have a 6" benchtop with standard blades and will eventually upgrade to an 8" with a spiral. That may be years down the road though. If you have plans to eventually be able to use 220, you might want to consider doing it this way as any jointer is better than none but put the extra saved now towards the later purchase.

Same principle applies if you nick something like a nail...you'll only damage a couple teeth, which can be turned to a fresh side very easily.

 

[javajaws]

I've had both a 6" and a 8" long bed jointer. As far as upgrading from a standard 6" I find length more important than width. The 8" I had (a Grizzly) was so long though it was impractical for my 2-car garage shop so it had to eventually go. You should really ask yourself what you need it for and buy accordingly unless you just have money and space to burn. Nothing wrong 90% of the time with a 6" 110v jointer.