Mysteriouswoodsmen

I just recently recieved the 08 Grizzly catalog. I'm just amazed with all of the tools they have to offer (Little disapointed in the wood lathe selection). Are there tools worth the investment? Are they just chinese junk?

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hcbph

Many of the Grizzly Stationary tools are highly regarded and get good reviews. I personally have a couple and I'm pleased with them. Some things are made in China but others (like my cabinet saw and shaper) were made in Taiwan. I expect them to last the rest of my life.

That's the long way of saying most would not be considered Chinese junk by anyone that took the time to check them out.

Paul

woodman51jfk

I'll have to add my shop to the list of satisfied Grizzly customers..........I purchased dust collection, band saws, drill presses, and lathes, along with many hand tools and router/shaper bits.........no complaints at all...the lower prices just mean I can buy more tools, and they really stand behind their products..even if it's one of my workers fault that causes a breakage....which is the only breakage/problem we've ever had with any of them in the last 8 years of daily usage......

joasis

There are very few truly "American made" tools in market today, and since Grizzly is an American company, the economics works out. Good stuff for th money, no doubt about it...you can also check out Steel City for tools as well...still made overseas.

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knotscott

Most of the machinery is pretty comparable to other Asian imports....Jet, GI, some Delta, Steel City, Craftsman, etc. I tend to stray from their handtools. They offer lower price because they sell directly with no middle man. The downside is a shorter warranty than some, mail order only, and no dealer support.

woodman51jfk

knotscott.............they have retail outlets...the one I go to is in Springfield, MO, a few blocks from the Bass Pro Headquarters.........it was only after "laying hands" and actually trying out their machines ( they have an in store shop ) that I was able to assure myself of the quality & workability of their power tools. Unfortunately, the only others at this point are in Pennsylvania and Washington state.
You are right about the hand tools........the ones I get from them are typically of the sacrificial kind......definitely not Crown or Marples quality.

Kingfisher

Grizzly 18" band saw, 10" table saw, 20" planer, floor drill press, and 2 hp dust collector. All are running great. I broke one small peice on the table saw fence and they replaced it for $20 in about a week. I'm sold and for the money I can ussualy get the next size up like the 20" planer for $1250 that is about what a delta 15" costs I think they have a program that lets you talk with someone near you that owns the tool you want?

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stuart

$1,250!!!!!!?????One thousand two hundred and fifty?

dafeesh

I really like grizzly. I wouldn't buy every tool that they sell however. I read lots and lots of reviews before slapping down my money. I have a 14" bandsaw (works great with the stock blade changed out of there), 8" jointer, 15" planer (dust collection is a little lacking on my model), and my baby the 5hp 12" table saw. The only blades that I have from them is a 1" arbor 10" dado stack that was less than $100 and works great and leaves clean flat dados. I don't regret any of my grizzly tools and would buy them all again. When I win the loto my shop will be baby crap yellow, but for now it is grizzly green!!

smitty1967

I'm heading down there Monday to perform the "laying on of hands." To the Springfield, MO store, that is. I have a new shop building going up, as some of you have seen or read. The new shop will be outfitted by Grizzly: 10" left tilt cabinet saw, cyclone dust collector, jointer, planer, shaper, spindle sander, drill press, band saw. I intend to visualize the footprint, power, d/c ports, etc. of each tool to make sure they will fit into their designed places in the new shop floorplan. (I will have two machines with power in the floor, so I must be sure of the location of the power in relation to the footprint of the machine.) I agree with the other comments that it's hard to find strictly U.S. manufactured items (Harley Davidson? General Motors? Maytag?) but the enterprise being in the U.S. and it's number of employees is good enough to get me to buy $7K in tools from them, and probably more in the future.

regards,
smitty

knotscott

Yeah, I've trekked down to Muncy to pay homage! Great trip if you can make it. They also used to have a policy where they'd put you in touch with a current owner in your area if there is one.....dunno if they still do that. I've been fortunate enough to see and use many of their machines, but I'd sure struggle with a major personal purchase like a TS buying on faith in their reputation alone.

Geoguy

I have the Grizzly left-tilt cabinet saw, 14-inch band saw, dust collector, 15-inch planar, jointer, and small oscilating spindle sander. The only problem I've had was a bad clutch on an 18 volt drill - and they replaced it for free. I like their tools very much.

Butch

6" jointer-14" bandsaw- 3/4 & 1.5 HP shapers-floor drill press-various hand tools, all bought @ Muncy... I'm about to sell the 6" and buy their 8"... I also have an older 48x12" 1HP belt sander, that I bought locally... I like their tools, and with thew cost of shipping, I can run up and bring 'em back for less.... I got a great deal on a Rigid TS 3650, or I'd bought green, no doubt about it.
go with Grizzly. Great customer service.

Gerry KIERNAN

Over the years there have been some problems with the Chinese/Asian equipment, but I think it is kind of like when we first started importing stuff from Japan many years ago. When the stuff first came in it was cheap crap, but as time went on it became recognised that the japanease were producing some of the finest equipment available, in some areas.

The quality of the equipment coming from China/Asia has improved, and is improving steadily. Yes there still is some junk coming in, but it is up to the company that puts their name on the product to decide what is acceptable, and to set the standards. Ultimately, all of us set the standards, because if we buy something and it turns out to be crap we are going to tell all the rest of us , on the forum, just what we think of what we got.
I, as well as many others, deplore the loss of jobs in our manufacturing sector, but the reality is that we live in a world economy, and we are going to have to learn to deal with it. The intriguing part, to me, is that as these emerging economies develop they are going to run into all the same problems that we have as developed countries. And, you know the old saying, "what goes around comes around"

Oh, and the other thing we are learning is that if we can't work cheaper, then we have to work smarter. I think North Americans are pretty smart people, so I think , in the long run, it will all start to balance out.

Just my two bits worth.

Gerry