What Would You Do?

[Brad Wood]

Another thread about rusty jointers from Grizzly got me to thinking.

This is my current shopping/wish list from Grizz...
G0654 6" x 46" Jointer $395.00
ship $74.00

G0505 12-1/2" Planer $295.00
Ship $44.00

G0555 The Ultimate 14" Bandsaw $435.00
ship $74.00
G7314 Heavy-Duty Mobile Base $69.95

Sub $1,386.95
Tax $113.73

Total $1,500.68

This is an alternative shopping list for Ridgid products
RIDGID 6 1/8 In Model JP0610
$429.00
no shipping

RIDGID 13 In. 3-Blade Thickness Planer Model R4330 $369.00
no shipping

RIDGID 14 In. Band Saw With Stand Model BS1400 $369.00
no shipping

sub $1,167.00
tax $95.69

Total $1,262.69

Now that you see the price range I am working in, what would you do differently? Please don't say "for $100.00 more you could....". $1500.00 is my absolute ceiling.
I don't know if I will ever have the need to resaw something over 6". I like having the option to put an extension on if needed at some point in the future.

Thanks for your input

[Paul Fitzgerald]

I have the Ridgid Jointer and Planer you are talking about. They're both great. I passed on the Ridgid Bandsaw though. I bought a Delta instead... But after the problems I had with it, I really wished I had purchased the G0555 or G0555X that I had looked at previously.

If it were me, I'd definately choose the G0555 over the Ridgid BS.

Paul

[Jacob Mac]

I have the Grizzly jointer and planer you mention. They are both very solid machines. I recently added a Wixey planer guage and it has made planing to tight tolerances pretty easy. I doubt you would be disappointed with their performance.

The only thing I would caution you on is that with a 6 inch jointer you will have to be creative with jointing boards wider than 6 inches. It can certainly be done, you will just have to figure out some way to do it. You can rip a board that is too wide, joint it, and glue it back, use a planer sled, use a hand plane... There are a lot of ways to do it, just be prepared to deal with it. For me it is worth the hassle b/c I couldn't afford a bigger jointer. And now that it is in the shop and I am used to work arounds, I just don't want to spend the money on a bigger machine.

I have never used the Rigid jointer so I can't speak to it, but I really like my Grizzly jointer and planer.

[Alan Frazier]

I have used the Grizzly ultimate bandsaw and it is great. Haven't used any of the others but have heard good things about the rigid tools.

[Brad Wood]

thanks guys.

Sort of put the Ridgid stuff up there for comparison cost. I'm open to other suggestions on tools of similar cost/specs

thanks

[Jacob Mac]

Brad,

Being as close to Portland as you are, craigslist might really help you stretch your dollar. See if you can pick up some nice used equipment.