New Planer/ Moulder

[Charlie Jones]

After months of agonizing about what to replace my aging Delta 22-540 lunchbox planer and (still running) and 6" jointer with. I have ordered a Grizzly 1037Z Planer/moulder.
I really wanted a Hammer A3-32 or Grizzly Jointer/ planer but I went in this direction for the following reasons.

The planer function on the JP's are to low and requires bending over to run the lumber through. May back feels better already

I love to walk over to each machine and use it without changing anything over.

I don't want to worry about the jointer tables returning perfectly or messing with changing dust collection hoses around or cranking the planer tables up and down.

I looked at the size of my shop and the room I have left and thought what I really need is a big lunchbox without the screaming universal motor. The 1037Z fills this niche perfectly and gives me the option of a molder to. I plan to buy an 8 or 12" jointer soon.

I will post my evaluation of this machine when it comes in and I have it set up.

[Charlie Jones]

The truck arrived yesterday afternoon with the planer. The driver helped me slide it into the bed of my pickup. After church I got a friend to come by and help me get it into the shop. I was concerned because there was two damaged places in the box where it was hit with a forklift. I thought it is ironic that the fork hit it on the label that warns to check for damage. We got it into the shop without incident. I had started to think of it as a big lunchbox but it is a lot heavier than that. We got it out of the box and on the floor. There does not appear to be any damage so far. The machine was surrounded by thick Styrofoam and plastic sheet. The machine looks to be very high quality and all the parts seem to be with it. I will start assembling the stand, install the motor and other parts tonight.

[Charlie Jones]

Last night I got all the bolts tightened, belts, guards and dust chute installed. I checked adjustment and cleaned the oil off the bed and cutter head and waxed the bed, lubed everything and did a few test cuts. The machine seems to be everything I had hoped. Very good surfacing. It does make enough noise for ear protection when the dust collector is on but the high pitched scream of a universal motor is missing. It has plenty of power. I will need to change it over to 220 V because on 110 it nearly puts the lights out on starting. It came wired for 110 with instructions on rewiring to 220. The only issue I had were the two misaligned bolts on the stand. Overall I give Grizzly kudos on a job well done at least so far. I have a Clear Vue cyclone and there were no shavings coming out with it running. it fits in nearly the same space as my lunchbox did. I did a little research. This machine has been around for a while and is a proven design. Jet and general also sell a version but the grizzly is a little less costly. I would be willing to bet they are made in the same factory.

[Charlie Jones]

Pictures may be seen here:

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/showthread.php?t=48501

[Rod Sheridan]

Very nice Charlie, thanks for the photographs................Rod.

[Curt Harms]

True about induction motor driven planers being quieter, no high pitched scream. That Delta 540 doesn't owe you anything though, gotta be what, 15+ years old? Did you buy it as a planer, or are you planning to maybe do some molding as well?

[Charlie Jones]

I felt a little sad taking the 540 off it's stand. I will keep it for awhile anyway. That thing has planed thousands of feet of lumber, cherry, oak,maple and pine, even the occasional exotic. The only repairs were the cutter head bearings had to be replaced and a couple of belts. I got the 1037Z mainly to be planer but I like the option of running molding. I probably would have bought the 15" if the cabinet were't so wide. My shop is small. I need to put the new planer in the same space as the old.