Grizzly G0656 8" jointer perpetually backordered

[Ryan J Carpenter]

So after months of perusing Craigslist unsuccessfully in the Portland OR area for a reasonable 8" jointer with a Byrd cutterhead I saw the Grizzly add for free shipping on the G0656 8" jointer. When shipped with a Byrd head (seperately) came in at my upper end of my $1300 budget so I placed an order on February 18th (along with everyone else I suppose). They called the next day to say it was backordered and will ship mid-March - no problem for me. So I called up in mid-March and they told me there was another delay - new guaranteed ship date of May 17th. Seemed way too far out, but I suppose I can wait a bit longer and focus on non- jointer related projects right? ( if I finish all the projects that currently "justify" the tool before it gets here than I don't "need" it anymore - yikes!) after excitedly telling the wife this was the week it was really coming in, you can imagine my frustration when after calling Grizzly today I was told not to worry that it would be here in July....... No disrespect to Grizzly's friendly customer service, but it seems like there must be quite a few out there getting pretty impatient right now.

Seems like my options are pretty limited here. I did see a DJ 20 on Craigslist, but I wonder if I will start regretting that 1-1/2 hp motor vs. 3 hp and the extra space it takes up in my tiny small garage hobby shop.

Alright, frustration vented for now - time to go enjoy a nice spring evening. Maybe I will even get around to planting a walnut sapling so I have a nice full size tree to saw up and run over new jointer when it finally arrives in July of 2050 :)

[Matt Day]

Bummer to hear about the delays - that's the worst!

I'd give up on them and buy a used 8" or bigger. My 12" Northfield has essentially the same footprint as my old 8" shop fox.

I also don't think a spiral cutterhead is necessary, especially on a jointer. I sold my 8" for $750. If you got one for that you'd have money leftover for other shop stuff.

[Andrew Hughes]

I'm definitely superstitious so I'd take that as a sign.:confused:

[glenn bradley]

This is the shop-gods giving you a chance to change to the G0490X with parallelogram beds.

[Geoff Crimmins]

Powermatic offered their PM 60 jointer with anything from a 3/4hp to a 1-1/2hp motor. My 15" planer has a 3hp motor, so I can't fathom why you would need that much power on an 8" jointer unless you're planning to take a 1/4" or bigger cut on an 8" board. It sounds like Grizzly must be having some production problems. I wonder if their July arrival date will prove to be accurate. If you need a jointer anytime soon, I would sure be looking at the used market, or checking out the prices of jointers from other manufacturers. I hope you find something soon.

[Ted Baxter]

:) funny you would say that I have a G0490X ordered it is on back order also. I talked to them today and they are as frustrated as their customers. He said they have over 1100 on order due to come in from this week until the end of aug. The next date they shipper as giving them is june 7 but he is not promising anything. I looked a week or so back and they are out of ever jointer on the site but three I think. I am just a hobbist so I will just wait. I can't find anything equal to the grizzly even close to the price. I don't like to wait but i will survive.

[Ryan J Carpenter]

Good point about the motor HP, sounds like it is just fine. I will just take my time and keep an eye on Craigslist knowing that I always have a backup in July.

Until then I suppose my .25 hp (.3 if I just had my coffee :) ) Veritas jointer will have to suffice. Thanks for the input.

[Roger Green]

Ryan, I'm just north of Portland, you could use my jointer until something works out for you. Or you could joint the Oregon guilde. PM me if interested.
Random ROG

[Nick Stokes]

FYI, I have a DJ20 from the early 90's. It runs on a 1.5hp motor, wired for 110v and works fine. Knives are dull, haven't been changed in years dull... and it still has plenty of power.

[eugene thomas]

My 20 year old 8" grizzly jointer had 1.5 hp motor and never had need for more power..... think if did would of took that as sign to change blades.

[Eric Anderson]

I have the Powermatic 60 HH and it came with a 2HP motor, plenty of power to push hard maple at nearly full 8" capacity. Really nice jointer. Also have the 15HH planer with 3 HP. Both really nice tools.

[Chris Hachet]

I was in the same boat and found a nice pristine used Powermatic 60 for a really fair price. Right now my power tool needs are a planer and a grinder and I am done with power tools

[Aaron carter]

I am also waiting for the same jointer as you. I was also excited and then now let down... Another month and a half.... Ugh... I don't know where you guys get all these great deals on jointers but in Minnesota there are None I have looked for a long time and I live 4 hours north of the twin cities even if there was a good deal I couldn't beat anyone to get it. Grizzly is really my only option. People want new prices on very used equipment here...

[Chris Hachet]

I am also waiting for the same jointer as you. I was also excited and then now let down... Another month and a half.... Ugh... I don't know where you guys get all these great deals on jointers but in Minnesota there are None I have looked for a long time and I live 4 hours north of the twin cities even if there was a good deal I couldn't beat anyone to get it. Grizzly is really my only option. People want new prices on very used equipment here...I swear aliens must be abducting 8inch pointers, looked about six months for mine

[Ryan J Carpenter]

Roger, thanks for the offer, I will let you know if things change but right now the jointer is a time saver that I can live without for a few months while my 1500 BF of walnut is in the solar kiln. The Oregon Guild is an interesting option as they are literally just up the road, I just have never worked with them.

I second the high prices on used tools option- the seller with the 15+ year old DJ 20 is firm at $900 (plus the hastle of loading that 550 machine into a pickup truck I have to borrow) when grizzly will deliver that same machine (with some upgrades) to my door for only $150 more. Unfortunately Portland is not much better for options than Minnesota - either a 4 hour drive to Seattle on a machine that may not pan out or a well worn industrial surplus machine that is not very flat and takes too much work to restore.

With all that, I too agree that the aliens have obducted all the jointers - I will keep my eye out for a wooden UFO :)

[glenn bradley]

FYI, I have a DJ20 from the early 90's. It runs on a 1.5hp motor, wired for 110v and works fine. Knives are dull, haven't been changed in years dull... and it still has plenty of power.


Wait, isn't that 'Elder Abuse'!?!

[Ryan J Carpenter]

Now you guys have me thinking a bit. Replacing my lunchbox planer was in my 5 year plan anyways and the Grizzly 12" jointer planer is in stock. I do a bit of work with figured maple and am already sold on a spiral head.

Does anyone have expirience with Grizzly's new cutterhead that appear to have an angled cut angle like the Byrd instead of their previous heads with inserts perpendicular to the cut? Good enough finish quality to glue up as is or lightly sand for a reveal?

[Aaron carter]

The only downside of the combo machine is the bed size is significantly smaller at 59". Also upgrading from a lunchbox planer to this combo really isn't getting you much more than what you have because your capacity is the same. So the combo machine really does two things kind da mediocre for such an expensive machine. I say that without ever using it, just assuming based on specs.

I was also considering the 12 inch jointer as well but here was my logic for the 8 inch...

I was looking at a steelex 1013 with spiral cutter head. This is a 12 inch looks like a rebranded Grizzly for 2500 shipped. Where the equivalent Grizzly is 2950 with shipping and out of stock... The only thing is customer support.... But they are in stock right now...

I am getting a chainsaw mill soon and will have a lot of slabs over 12 inches which still won't fit on a 12 inch jointer. So then the question is since I will either have to mill one side flat with a router jig for live edge projects the 12 really does not become beneficial. The only time it would become beneficial is how often I actually integrate a board that is, in its final dimension, for a project, greater than 8", which I really have not run into often... So is double the price justified for the 12“? Or does the money go toward a sawstop?