Bought the Jointer/Planner combo from Grizzly
Yep, I bit the bullet and bought the G0634XP – 12” Planer/Jointer with Spiral Cutter head – Polar Bear Series from Grizzly. As I was looking at the needs of my shop and where I could improve in both quality and process, the jointer and planners are both items that are both laking in both performance and process. I currently have the Jet JJ-6CS And the DeWalt DW734. Both are fine machines and served me well for the last 15-20 years. However, over the last couple of years, I have grown more and more disappointed with their performance. Also, the fact that there is not enough room in the shop to leave the planner out, it is a hassle to set up which means it is not used as often as it should be or more to the point, I avoid small projects that need a planner. There are four main areas that I looked at in determining where to go next.
Spiral Head Cutter – Every year I go to classes at Marc Adams School of Woodworking and use all their excellent tools. Almost all of them have spiral head cutters on them that produce a beautiful finish and run quietly. I have been looking at changing my machines over to these cutters for a while, but the cost is almost the same as I paid for the machines originally.
Larger Jointer – As my work grows, so does my tool needs, the six-inch jointer has been excellent, but I would like to get a more extended table at the very least, and an eight-inch full bed would allow me to flat join most boards you by these days.
Better Planner – The DeWalt, being a portable planner, does an ok job, but no matter how well I keep the knives it just does not leave a good finish. It has tons of snipe and is a little cumbersome to get dust collection working. The 12” size is excellent for the majority of work I do, but I would like better thickness adjustment, better quality of finish, and to work in my process better by being set up and ready to run.
Saving Space – Although I have a nice sized shop, I am always in need of more space. The lack of space means the planner gets tucked away in the corner and the jointer is never connected to dust collection. This means that both are a hassle to use and neither gets used as they should. Getting better in standard jointer and planners mean more space which I don’t have.
Enter the combo machines! The G0634XP – 12” Planer/Jointer with Spiral Cutter head answers almost all of my needs. By combining these two machines into one ultimately takes up less space. The jointer gives me almost 12 inches of flat cut, with about a foot long bed. Although the planner is roughly the same cut size, I should get better performance from the spiral cutter in both planning and jointing. The change over between the two machines seems simple, and I hear that the dust collection works as well, if not better than most conventional machines.
Why Grizzly? I have several Grizzly machines, and I am happy with both the company and the quality of the equipment. The G0634XP was also the best price when compared with the Jet and the Rikon. Most reviews that I found also rated the Grizzly the overall best unit, with the Jet being a little quicker on the changeover. So, in the end, I went with the Grizzly. Hopefully, it will arrive in the next week, and I can do a few test cuts. I also have a few small projects that I have been putting off. Maybe this will give me a reason to get to them.
More to come!
