New Grizzly Tools

[richard poitras]

New South Bend High end Grizzly tools? So has anyone seen there new line? What are your thoughts?

[Robert Hayward]

Have not seen it in person. That new edge sander sure looked nice though.

[Keith Outten]

Grizzly just recently provided a new banner graphic here with the link below.

https://southbendtools.com/

[Matt Day]

Got an email about it. Are these just rebranded Grizzlies, or an all new offering, or a different lineup out of a Chinese woodworking machine booklet?

[Ed Mitchell]

Their 20" planer is about the same price as a Powermatic (right now the PM is on sale and actually less expensive). PM has 100 years behind them and a 5 year warranty, this company is new and only offers a 2 year warranty. I don't see their value proposition.

[Alex Zeller]

Their 20" planer is about the same price as a Powermatic (right now the PM is on sale and actually less expensive). PM has 100 years behind them and a 5 year warranty, this company is new and only offers a 2 year warranty. I don't see their value proposition.

Except for the fact that Powermatic no longer makes tools. They just buy them painted to their color from the same factory that's making both Grizzly and South Bend tools.

My guess is, like the South Bend metal tools vs the Grizzly metal tools, that the SB tools will be made with nicer parts (like bearings and electronics) to possibly a tighter spec. Without buying both and taking them apart to see just how each one is made I'm not sure how you would know. It does seem odd given that Grizzly also has their Shop Fox brand that both they sell as well as others. I'm thinking that Grizzly is going after the commercial shops who want tools that they feel aren't going to be reliable.

[Richard Coers]

Except for the fact that Powermatic no longer makes tools. They just buy them painted to their color from the same factory that's making both Grizzly and South Bend tools.

My guess is, like the South Bend metal tools vs the Grizzly metal tools, that the SB tools will be made with nicer parts (like bearings and electronics) to possibly a tighter spec. Without buying both and taking them apart to see just how each one is made I'm not sure how you would know. It does seem odd given that Grizzly also has their Shop Fox brand that both they sell as well as others. I'm thinking that Grizzly is going after the commercial shops who want tools that they feel aren't going to be reliable.
Yeah they may come from the same factory, but you still get 4 more years of warranty than Grizzly offers. I'm curious to know if you have inside information about any quality differences, or bearing specification information between Powermatic and Grizzly?

[Robert London]

The South Bend model is interesting. As far as pricing, it's on the higher end and just as pricey as Powermatic.

The 20 Helical Planer looks good with it's variable speed that can go as low as 10 FPM. But Grizzly's own Extreme Planer is $3000, so not sure how many people will pay $4200 for a South Bend. It'll probably do well with 10% off coupons and reasonable shipping.

Looks like South Bend is more for Lathe products unless they expand the product line.

[David Kumm]

I have a hard time with the concept of selling or buying a respected name and reputation to brand totally unrelated stuff. Not blaming anyone for doing it but the sequel seldom equals the original. Dave

[Matt Day]

I have a hard time with the concept of selling or buying a respected name and reputation to brand totally unrelated stuff. Not blaming anyone for doing it but the sequel seldom equals the original. Dave

Agreed. Same as the new “Oliver”. Seems silly, and one would be a fool to think these new copy cats bring the same quality as the old American made machines.

[Jim Becker]

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?289845-South-Bend-brand-positioning-vs-Grizzly

[Curt Harms]

I have a hard time with the concept of selling or buying a respected name and reputation to brand totally unrelated stuff. Not blaming anyone for doing it but the sequel seldom equals the original. Dave

Polaroid and Bell & Howell come immediately to mind.

[richard poitras]

https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?289845-South-Bend-brand-positioning-vs-Grizzly

Jim thanks for posting as I did not know this was asked before

[Alex Zeller]

Yeah they may come from the same factory, but you still get 4 more years of warranty than Grizzly offers. I'm curious to know if you have inside information about any quality differences, or bearing specification information between Powermatic and Grizzly?

I don't. I have seen the Powermatic 209HH planer and the magnetic switch has a Square D logo on it. It looks identical to the mag switch on my PM66 table saw which I have seen the inside of and know it has name brand parts in it. My Grizzly 1033X has a mag switch but it's hidden so I don't know who makes it but my Grizzly Band saw's switch is mounted on the side and I've never heard of the brand. The only way to know for sure, as i said, would be to take identical tools from Powermatic or South Bend and Grizzly and take them apart.

I'm not sure if I would be tempted to buy a SB over a similarly priced same tool from Powermatic. Shorter warranty and I don't think SB has on-site customer service to do repairs.

[Andrew More]

I have a hard time with the concept of selling or buying a respected name and reputation to brand totally unrelated stuff. Not blaming anyone for doing it but the sequel seldom equals the original. Dave

DeWalt comes to mind. Black and Decker was having trouble getting people to respect their "pro" line of tools, so they bought the DeWalt name to rebrand everything, and it took off. It appears that Grizzly is attempting the same thing.

[Cary Falk]

I also don't understand Grizzly buying and expanding South Bend machines. I have several Grizzly and Shop Fox Machines. I am happy with all of them and can't see spending extra on the South Bend name.

[Jim Becker]

Cary, I suspect they are looking for a different kind of customer with the added brand name.

[Adam Herman]

on the metal working side, it looks like they are really a few steps up from the griz versions. heavier, more features like auto feeds and DROs and such, real control cabinets, etc. the woodworking stuff seems like copies with a few different things, but not a lot more for the price difference.

[sean meltvedt]

In the case of the South Bend planers specifically, they have a separate dc variable speed feed motor similar to my wood master sander. I have had to replace the cutterhead helical drive gear twice in my Delta DC-380, the last time with Grizzly parts! It may be optimistic, but I’m betting the new drive motor cures this issue as the drive gear speeds should be much slower. We will find out as I’m going to finally replace my old Delta with the SB1109. I’ll make a thread with the unboxing and first thoughts-unfortunately It’ll be a month or two. Finally the warranty reads 2 years, and I don’t see the PM exception where it is dropped to one year if it is not used in a hobby shop only!
Cheers
Sean.