Allan Speers
05-16-2015, 6:18 PM
It's the classic connundrum, and been covered many times, I know, but I still need help. (Or just a forum for venting my thoughts. :o ) If someone has the time, PLEASE share any thoughts at all.
I have to decide basically RIGHT NOW between a 21" Grizzly and a 1960 Yates American J-120. (The Yates has sealed bearings and is in perfect condition.) I'd love to know which you'd pick. My decision has nothing to do with "big old American arn" and I have nothing at all against modern imports.
The machine I get will be used only for re-sawing and some ripping of smalls stock. I just picked up a little 12" for curves and such. The Grizzly has a 5 HP import motor, and the Yates has a 3 HP Baldor. For my hobbyist use, either should be fine.
The Yates has no fence. Once I add a Laguna Driftmaster, plus a quality magnetic starter, it will cost me about $300 less than the Grizzly. - Not enough difference to sway my decision.
Both machines have beefy frames. The Yates is about 50 lbs heavier, but that's probably due to its cast base, which adds nothing to the frame's rigidity. Both machines probably can tension their maximum blade thicknesses just fine. - though with the Yates I'm sure of this, with the Grizzly I SUPPOSE it might be something to consider.
=================================
Here are the important (to me) differences:
.............. YATES:..........GRIZZLY:
----------------------------------------
Wheels:..... Alu ............... CI
re-saw: .... 12” - 13.5” .. 14.25”
blades: .. Up to 1” .... 1/4” - 1-3/8”
TABLE: ... 24” X 24” ... 20.75 X 29.5”
Fence:... Driftmaster .... Nice Aluminum - but no adjustment for blade lead.
BRAKE: ...Foot (drum) ....... Magnetic
## OTHER: The Grizzly has a tension quick-release, which is a really big deal for me. it also has a tension read-out, but I think that can be retrofitted to the Yates, if really needed, and there are other ways to test for tension.
Other: The grizzly is 5 miles away, the Yates is 250 miles. I don't mind the drive, but I can't bring anyone with me to get the Yates, and the seller is an old man. Not sure what to do about that.
=======================
And so:
Table Size: Firmly favors the Yates. I don't care about lots of throat (where the grizzly excels) but I do want lots of support as I feed stock trough the blade. Even the Yates' 24" seems short, but the Grizzly's 20.75" has me wondering what those designers were thinking.
Wheels: Balanced CI should be nicer than cast aluminum, but I'm sure Yates knew what they were doing in 1960. Would this sway you towards the Grizzly?
Re-Saw capability: We always want more, but realistically I can live with 12", and 13.5" from the outside.
BLADES: This seems like a big deal to me, and heavily in the Grizzly's favor. Is the Yates' 1" maximum width going to be enough for me? Will I someday kick myself for passing on having 1-3/8"
FENCE: The Grizzly aluminum resaw fence is very nice, but the Driftmaster is definitely superior. I suppose that using a 1-3/4" blade on the grizzly, having easy drift-adjustment is less important. Your thoughts?
------------
Brake: Heck, I'll be happy with ANY brake, but I think I prefer a mechanical footbrake to a magnetic brake that has no foot-pedal. - Maybe I can add a foot-controlled E-stop to the Grizzly's mag starter?
## Getting it here: I'll be dipped if I know how I can bring that Yates home.
==========================
That's the extent of it. I sure would appreciate it if anyone reads this whole thing, and shares any opinions at all.
THANKS.
I have to decide basically RIGHT NOW between a 21" Grizzly and a 1960 Yates American J-120. (The Yates has sealed bearings and is in perfect condition.) I'd love to know which you'd pick. My decision has nothing to do with "big old American arn" and I have nothing at all against modern imports.
The machine I get will be used only for re-sawing and some ripping of smalls stock. I just picked up a little 12" for curves and such. The Grizzly has a 5 HP import motor, and the Yates has a 3 HP Baldor. For my hobbyist use, either should be fine.
The Yates has no fence. Once I add a Laguna Driftmaster, plus a quality magnetic starter, it will cost me about $300 less than the Grizzly. - Not enough difference to sway my decision.
Both machines have beefy frames. The Yates is about 50 lbs heavier, but that's probably due to its cast base, which adds nothing to the frame's rigidity. Both machines probably can tension their maximum blade thicknesses just fine. - though with the Yates I'm sure of this, with the Grizzly I SUPPOSE it might be something to consider.
=================================
Here are the important (to me) differences:
.............. YATES:..........GRIZZLY:
----------------------------------------
Wheels:..... Alu ............... CI
re-saw: .... 12” - 13.5” .. 14.25”
blades: .. Up to 1” .... 1/4” - 1-3/8”
TABLE: ... 24” X 24” ... 20.75 X 29.5”
Fence:... Driftmaster .... Nice Aluminum - but no adjustment for blade lead.
BRAKE: ...Foot (drum) ....... Magnetic
## OTHER: The Grizzly has a tension quick-release, which is a really big deal for me. it also has a tension read-out, but I think that can be retrofitted to the Yates, if really needed, and there are other ways to test for tension.
Other: The grizzly is 5 miles away, the Yates is 250 miles. I don't mind the drive, but I can't bring anyone with me to get the Yates, and the seller is an old man. Not sure what to do about that.
=======================
And so:
Table Size: Firmly favors the Yates. I don't care about lots of throat (where the grizzly excels) but I do want lots of support as I feed stock trough the blade. Even the Yates' 24" seems short, but the Grizzly's 20.75" has me wondering what those designers were thinking.
Wheels: Balanced CI should be nicer than cast aluminum, but I'm sure Yates knew what they were doing in 1960. Would this sway you towards the Grizzly?
Re-Saw capability: We always want more, but realistically I can live with 12", and 13.5" from the outside.
BLADES: This seems like a big deal to me, and heavily in the Grizzly's favor. Is the Yates' 1" maximum width going to be enough for me? Will I someday kick myself for passing on having 1-3/8"
FENCE: The Grizzly aluminum resaw fence is very nice, but the Driftmaster is definitely superior. I suppose that using a 1-3/4" blade on the grizzly, having easy drift-adjustment is less important. Your thoughts?
------------
Brake: Heck, I'll be happy with ANY brake, but I think I prefer a mechanical footbrake to a magnetic brake that has no foot-pedal. - Maybe I can add a foot-controlled E-stop to the Grizzly's mag starter?
## Getting it here: I'll be dipped if I know how I can bring that Yates home.
==========================
That's the extent of it. I sure would appreciate it if anyone reads this whole thing, and shares any opinions at all.
THANKS.