Grizzly 16" Jointer Review- G9953ZX

[liam c murphy]

I purchased my G9953ZX in late June of 2018, shortly before the US government imposed the tariff. I had difficulty finding reviews for this model. Hopefully, this review will help someone in the future.

I compared this jointer to models from Felder, SCM and Powermatic. At the time of my purchase, the G9953ZX was the only immediately available single phase 16” jointer, that I could locate. I was able to find 16” jointer planer combos, and 3 phase 16” jointers. After considering my options, I felt that the G9953ZX represented a good compromise between features and value. However, after a few months of regular use, I do not feel that compromise is a good word to describe this machine. I think it is an excellent machine.

Setting up the jointer was easy. I used a 10’ long aluminum straight edge from McMaster Carr, and a 4’ Starret straight edge to inspect the machine. The tables were co-planer, and very flat. I was unable to get a .001 feeler gauge under the straight edges. As I recall, the fence was either slightly bowed or hollow by a few thousandths. I’ve never used or owned a jointer with a perfectly flat fence. I don’t think it matters. I’m providing this information in the spirit of thoroughness, not because I believe that it really matters.

UPS Freight canceled delivery a few hours before the scheduled appointment. This was inconvenient because I rented a forklift to help unload and position the machine. Liftgate service was unavailable for this item. I ended up renting a stake bed truck, and I picked up the machine from the freight depot. Lifting the machine off of the pallet was uncomplicated. The machine’s base has a convenient place for lifting straps.

I use this machine for business and pleasure. I’d recommend it to anyone who is interested in a stand alone 16” jointer. It is a large and heavy machine. It is over 99” long, and weighs over 1,600 lbs. I used it to build the 4’x 9’ table below. If anyone has any questions about this machine, please let me know. I’ll be happy to give information based on my experience.
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[John TenEyck]

Thanks for the review. Glad to read you were very happy with the purchase and the quality of the machine. After reading of the problems others have had with some of the Euro machines, I think you made a wise choice. Not only is Grizzly the value leader but they get the overall process right a high percentage of the time, too. How is the quality of the manual that came with your machine?

John

[liam c murphy]

John, I think the manual is sufficient. It is spiral bound, and generally informative.

[glenn bradley]

As I recall, the fence was either slightly bowed or hollow by a few thousandths. I’ve never used or owned a jointer with a perfectly flat fence. I don’t think it matters. I’m providing this information in the spirit of thoroughness, not because I believe that it really matters.

Just for clarification, jointer fence deviations will be problematic if you use the jointer to mill bevels that will mate with other surfaces. Many (if not most) people I see on the forums to not use their jointer for this function just as many of them never use the rabbeting function. Thanks for the review; very informative. I'm glad the machine turned out to be more than expected. I am Grizzly Green with envy :D

[liam c murphy]

I’m talking about a .003” to .005” hollow. In practice, it does not effect it’s use.

[Jim Andrew]

I would like to have ordered a similar jointer, but settled for a 12", model G0609 with a Byrd cutterhead because of cost. Can't say I am real sorry, it is a great jointer, but once in a while it would be nice to have a wider jointer. Last time I had some wider boards, I just ripped them down the middle and faced them flat, then glued them back together after surfacing them.

[Mel Fulks]

I've used some fine jointers but never one that would hold fence at 90 degrees. I just mark a V across the best layout and "joint line to fence " ,then "back to fence" on next board to cancel error.

[Bill Dufour]

single phase how many horsepower and Amps. What type of cutterhead, single HSS blades or some kind of inserts?
Bill

[liam c murphy]

I've used some fine jointers but never one that would hold fence at 90 degrees. I just mark a V across the best layout and "joint line to fence " ,then "back to fence" on next board to cancel error. Mel, I also had never used a jointer that would hold it’s fence settings. After the first time my fence moved, I added a Belleville spring lock washer to the fence assembly. It’s been 5 or 6 weeks since I’ve added the washer, and I’ve completed about 4 projects. It still hasn’t moved. Thanks for reminding me of this issue.
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[liam c murphy]

single phase how many horsepower and Amps. What type of cutterhead, single HSS blades or some kind of inserts?
Bill

Bill, it has a 5HP motor that runs on a 30A circuit. I believe it draws about 25A. The machine has a spiral cutterhead. It has 120 inserts, with 4 sides. They also include a few replacement inserts with the machine.

[Andrew Hughes]

Be sure to review again in let’s say 5 years. It’s a little bit early for me time is the real test. :)

[Patrick Kane]

Agreed, i like to use something for a full year before i say a peep. Things that appeared to be irksome in the beginning fade away, as does the shiny penny syndrome. With that said, thank you for writing the review, because i have actually considered buying this machine used twice now. Once was for $2500, and once for $4000. I probably should have done the $2500 one, but i tried to be cute and sell my 12" grizzly before buying the 16". Anyways, all worked out, because i got a 20" for $3k. As i considered buying the used grizzlies, i had very little user feedback on the forums to go off of. I owned the 12" straight knife 9860 and thought it was a decent machine, but i was interested in the fence design of the 16". The fence drove me nuts on the 12" model. It flexed with a moderate force and lost its 90° setting every month or two. I kept a square on the switch to check it every time. Speaking of which, how much do you need to spend before you get a bullet proof fence? This griggio fence seems ok so far, but it also doesnt instill the most confidence. Why do these things not have a micro adjustment feature? Something about whacking things into perfection with a deadblow hammer seems counterproductive.

[Tom Bender]

Ok I'm not familiar with those big jointers and the picture brings up a question about that round rack gear. Does it get jammed with chips?

[Chuck Saunders]

I have had mine for 6 years (G9953 straight knife) and a segmented head at our guild for 3 years (5 hp 3 phase). Once they are set up They have been smooth sailing. The only issues I have had is chip extraction and the new one came with a cutterhead brake. The brake is a good feature in a community shop, but the manual brake pad lever just didn't work out. I replaced with a Short Stop electronic brake (another 3 phase perk) and I'm very happy with this machine. I will say the porkchop guard gets in the way with wider boards (much like a toll gate). I have had no issues with chips packing into the round rack.
Chuck

[Van Huskey]

I purchased my G9953ZX in late June of 2018, shortly before the US government imposed the tariff.

FYI there is no tariff on this jointer since it is made in Taiwan.

[liam c murphy]

FYI there is no tariff on this jointer since it is made in Taiwan.
Yes I am aware. I never claimed that this item was effected by the tariff. I mentioned it to provide context.

[liam c murphy]

Ok I'm not familiar with those big jointers and the picture brings up a question about that round rack gear. Does it get jammed with chips? The dust collection is adaquate. Sometimes, I forget to turn on the dust collector, or I fail to open the correct blast gate. That is why there are chips in that picture.

[J.R. Rutter]

I got the 8" version of that jointer back when they still made it. It was a good machine. The straight knives were a little fussy to set and IIRC, I broke the fence adjustment handle. Overall good experience with it though. We had it set up with a feeder for edge jointing and moved the fence/feeder forward to fresh parts of the knife as it got dulled. Only got rid of it when the process changed.

[David Roberts]

I wanted to PM the OP and donated so I could. Unfortunately the OP would have had to donated to receive PMs. Ugghhh. I'm thinking about buying this jointer. It's on sale for $6995 for single phase model and $5995 for 3 phase model. Both are $1000 off. Any ideas why single phase is $1000 more? I was worried that maybe tariffs hit the single phase model and not the 3 phase, but they are both made in Taiwan like others have mentioned. I'm curious what OP and others have paid for this jointer? Do you think $6995 is good deal. I could actually buy 3 phase unit and order a replacement single phase motor and be ahead.

[nick johannsen]

Liam, I am considering the 16 inch Grizzly, but my question is how the helical head on this unit compares to the design of the Byrd heads, other Grizzly units have the Byrd design but when it comes to the 16 inch jointer it has a different design, without being able to look at it up close it would appear that the inserts are more set in the head and also looks as though getting rid of the wood shavings could be a problem

[Chuck Saunders]

These are spiral head cutterheads, the inserts are arranged along a helical line on the cutterhead, but the inserts are straight edged and are oriented parallel to the axis of the cutterhead. On a Byrd shelix head the inserts are aligned to the helical line and the cutting edge of the insert is curved. This provides a shearing cut instead of just a shorter interrupted cut. I have had no issue with chip removal from the cutterhead. The jointer overall could do a little better in chip evacuation.
Chuck

[Jeff Bartley]

I wanted to PM the OP and donated so I could. Unfortunately the OP would have had to donated to receive PMs. Ugghhh. I'm thinking about buying this jointer. It's on sale for $6995 for single phase model and $5995 for 3 phase model. Both are $1000 off. Any ideas why single phase is $1000 more? I was worried that maybe tariffs hit the single phase model and not the 3 phase, but they are both made in Taiwan like others have mentioned. I'm curious what OP and others have paid for this jointer? Do you think $6995 is good deal. I could actually buy 3 phase unit and order a replacement single phase motor and be ahead.

David, PM sent.

To the discussion I'll add that I would probably get a 3-phase machine and put a VFD on it. Less expense, more robust motor, and features like braking.

[David Roberts]

Thanks for the advice!!!! I just learned this morning that single phase to 3 phase VFDs exist. You can get a cheap 7.5kw one off Amazon for $200. Variable speed plus braking sounds like the $200 isn't wasted. This way I get to buy the much cheaper 3 phase jointer. I called Grizzly and they started an official inquiry as to why the single phase is $1000 more. The rep admitted the only difference is the phase of the motor. I checked other Grizzly items that offer 5hp single and 3 phase options (dust collector, table saw, etc) and the price is the same.

If Grizzly gets back to me and admits it's a typo and the single phase and 3 phase should be the same price, would you still get the 3 phase?

[David Roberts]

Well Grizzly got back to me and gave me a pretty generic answer "We get different discounts on each model and pass those discounts on to the customer". So that means the factory that is pumping out these 16" jointers really really wants to move it if a 3 phase motor is attached and not so much if a single phase motor is attached. I think something else is going on, but I am not spending $1000 more for a single phase motor. I'm looking around at other units. My fall back plan will be to buy their 3 phase machine and get a single phase to 3 phase VFD for it for ~$200. I'm just a little irritated at them right now to buy it immediately.

[Jeff Bartley]

David,
Check your PM's, I have another option for you that will give you a better machine for less money.
Jeff

[Devin Brenan]

Hey thanks for the review. I’m close to pulling the trigger on purchasing this exact model. So it’s almost April 2020, do you still have the machine and do you still like it? If you had to do it all over, would you buy it again? Also, how did the freight delivery go for you? I ask because the crate is 110 inches wide apparently, and that’s wider than a 53 foot trailer at about 8 feet. To load it or unload it from an enclosed trailer without a dock you’d have to use a forklift with extra long forks to get under it lengthwise (the wrong way) or slide it out with a winch onto a flatbed/tilt bed tow truck. That’s how pro movers unloaded my large woodworking machinery out of our semi truck.

For any residential delivery they can’t really use a truck with a lift gate because the crate is too big. It didn’t arrive on an open flatbed did it? Just curious how they would get that thing into or out of an enclosed trailer without a dock and using two pallet jacks to load it in longways.

This would be my largest freight purchase ever, and I’m just curious how they ship something that big and what the options are for residential delivery.

EDIT....annnnd it helps when one reads the entire original post. I see that liftgate service was indeed unavailable due to the massive size of the crate. So just curious what options did they give you for the standard shipping fee that you paid to grizzly? I see that you ended up renting a truck and picking it up yourself off of a dock? How did they get it into your rental truck? I imagine that picking it up at a dock is the only option unless the freight company does residential delivery with an open flatbed.

Cheers,

Devin

[Bill Dufour]

A single phase motor bigger then about one horsepower costs more to make because it has more parts. They both have about the same motor windings then the single phase has a starting winding, a starting switch, start and /or run capacitors and the extra wiring to connect all that together.
Above five horsepower or so most machines are industrial use ,not home use. Industrial shops will have three phase so that is what they prefer on bigger machines since it is cheaper to buy the motors that way. It is economy of scale as well.
Bill

[Zachary Hoyt]

I have never had to move a 16" jointer, but I have had to hire someone to move farm machinery, including some oversize balers and such and some parts tractors without wheels, and I had a guy with a rollback who would move pretty much anything as long as it fit. He also delivers sheds for the Amish who build them around here. Anything that can be winched onto the truck can then be slid off onto the ground at the delivery location, and he was pretty affordable. I would think that could be an option to get a jointer from the dock to your driveway.

[Devin Brenan]

I have never had to move a 16" jointer, but I have had to hire someone to move farm machinery, including some oversize balers and such and some parts tractors without wheels, and I had a guy with a rollback who would move pretty much anything as long as it fit. He also delivers sheds for the Amish who build them around here. Anything that can be winched onto the truck can then be slid off onto the ground at the delivery location, and he was pretty affordable. I would think that could be an option to get a jointer from the dock to your driveway.

Yea that's what I was thinking...a rollback trailer or a flatbed/tiltbed tow truck would be the best options for me. I doubt the freight company will oblige, but we shall see. I could get it off of a flatbed truck myself at the shop with my hydraulic-manual pallet stacker. rated for 2200 lbs with 98" lift and 48 inch long forks. Love that thing.

[Kyle Woodrome]

Hi Mr. Liam,

I recently received a G9953ZX 16” Jointer. I had a question about the fence.

My fence seems to ride on the tables. Does yours? I would
image this would scratch if not permanently etch the tables. I’ve called Grizzly tech support and have not received a solid answer. Most pictures I see the fence rides just above.

The fence also rocks back and forth when not tightened as your adjusting the fence.

I would be happy to get any info from anyone.

some say this is common, keep it waxed to stop scrathing.., some say ppl have used tape under the fence,
my last jointer was just a Ridgid and I could adjust the fence without worry, easy and fast. The thing is like new after years

thank you

[Rob Damon]

The cost difference between 1 phase and 3 phase are pretty simple to explain in some cases.

If a particular model is available in both 1 phase and 3 phase and the item is evenly purchased between commercial and non-commercial individuals you would expect the same quantity discounts for the motor to apply at the manufacturer's level. (i.e. 100 1 ph motors versus 100 3ph motors.)

If a particular model is available in both 1 phase and 3 phase and the item is mostly purchased by commercial individuals that want the 3 phase version and only a few non-commercial individuals buy it in the 1 phase version, then the manufacturer will be producing a larger number (95% of the machines) of machines with motors as 3 phase and fewer 1 phase motors. (i.e. 10 1 ph motors versus 190 3 ph motors.)
They would get a bigger discount on the larger number of 3 phase motors and maybe no discount on the fewer 1 phase motors. And in fact it maybe a special order each time a 1 phase motor is purchased.

The pure size of the 16" jointer pretty much limits it to someone running a business in a commercial building which has 3 phase electrical service. Yes, there are a few people that are going to buy one for home use, but the majority will be for businesses.

Which means that the majority of the motors for this particular model being purchased are going to be 3 phase which results in a cost savings.

I even asked Powermatic if they could simply replace the 7-1/2hp motor in their 16" jointer with a 1 phase 7-1/2hp motor since they did in fact have a 1 phase 7-1/2hp that was being used in one of their planers at the time. Even as a custom order, they said they would not do it because nobody buys that jointer that does not have 3 phase service and they could not afford to redesign it for one person. I even asked if it would work and I would do the swap out, and they would not respond. I have a 1 phase 7-1/2hp motor on my shop air compressor, so I knew these motors were readily available in 1 phase at that size.

[Thomas Marr]

My fence seems to ride on the tables. Does yours? I would
image this would scratch if not permanently etch the tables. I’ve called Grizzly tech support and have not received a solid answer. Most pictures I see the fence rides just above.


I recently bought this machine and it appears the fence does ride on the table. Maybe this is common. I haven't owned a 16" jointer before. You can tilt the fence back (so it's off the table) and then extend the fence toward the front and the adjustment mechanism will hold the fence off the table. So, it's capable of handling the load. However, the fence will rock up and down a bit in this position.

Also, on my machine, the infeed table is MUCH harder to raise than the outfeed table. The infeed table is longer than the outfeed table, and therefore heavier. But the level of effort is so much more that something seems to not be correct. I called Grizzly and they didn't have an answer. I will probably tighten the tension spring under the table to see if that helps.

[Devin Brenan]

Kyle/Thomas,

I'm no expert, but I've used ~ 10 to 15 different jointers in my time as a hobbyist and when I was younger. I own two now. All of them had iron-on-iron contact with the fence resting on the outfeed table in a specific section with a long relief cut for the infeed table to keep it floating.

It can certainly mark the tables, especially if grit is on the table, but not enough to matter in most cases and not if you keep things clean/waxed/treated. The only jointers i've seen that glide over the infeed [edit, meant Outfeed] table with rollers are pictures online of super high end machines (Hofmann and others).

[Todd Boyer]

Liam,

My G9953ZX will be delivered the first week of April and would ask if you could shed some light on the crate and my plan to get it into my shop. Assuming this end unloads from end of the crate given its width? My plan is to have delivered to my work and then put the crate onto 3/4 ton pickup and drive it to my house. I have a friend with tractor, forks, lifting straps. We are planning on removing crate from truck then disassemble crate and use lifting straps to remove jointer from crate base and position it in place. Does this plan sound feasible/doable? If not, what recommendation might you have? TIA

[Rod Sheridan]

The cost difference between 1 phase and 3 phase are pretty simple to explain in some cases.

If a particular model is available in both 1 phase and 3 phase and the item is evenly purchased between commercial and non-commercial individuals you would expect the same quantity discounts for the motor to apply at the manufacturer's level. (i.e. 100 1 ph motors versus 100 3ph motors.)

If a particular model is available in both 1 phase and 3 phase and the item is mostly purchased by commercial individuals that want the 3 phase version and only a few non-commercial individuals buy it in the 1 phase version, then the manufacturer will be producing a larger number (95% of the machines) of machines with motors as 3 phase and fewer 1 phase motors. (i.e. 10 1 ph motors versus 190 3 ph motors.)
They would get a bigger discount on the larger number of 3 phase motors and maybe no discount on the fewer 1 phase motors. And in fact it maybe a special order each time a 1 phase motor is purchased.

The pure size of the 16" jointer pretty much limits it to someone running a business in a commercial building which has 3 phase electrical service. Yes, there are a few people that are going to buy one for home use, but the majority will be for businesses.

Which means that the majority of the motors for this particular model being purchased are going to be 3 phase which results in a cost savings.

I even asked Powermatic if they could simply replace the 7-1/2hp motor in their 16" jointer with a 1 phase 7-1/2hp motor since they did in fact have a 1 phase 7-1/2hp that was being used in one of their planers at the time. Even as a custom order, they said they would not do it because nobody buys that jointer that does not have 3 phase service and they could not afford to redesign it for one person. I even asked if it would work and I would do the swap out, and they would not respond. I have a 1 phase 7-1/2hp motor on my shop air compressor, so I knew these motors were readily available in 1 phase at that size.

Hi Rob, three phase motors are smaller, lighter and less expensive than single phase motors, and the starters are less expensive because they carry less current.

I’m not surprised they wouldn’t do a one off.....Regards, Rod