How much vibration to expect on Grizzly G0490 8" Jointer

[Eric Garner]

Just got a Grizzly G0490 jointer and finished putting it together. The manual indicates a test run after assembly and before final adjustments are made.

I quote: "The jointer should run smoothly with little or no vibration."

This is my first jointer so what would be considered an acceptable amount of vibration from the jointer?

My first test run produced what I would consider too much vibration. So, I took off the panels, tightened the v-belt, and double checked the pulley alignment (I used a plumb bob for this. Please let me know if there's a better way. The manual says to visually align, but I don't trust my visual abilities.). This helped, but their is still vibration and it is more apparent at the ends of the table.

Thanks,

[Tom White]

I have no problem standing a nickel up at either end of mine .....

[Clay Crocker]

You might want to ditch the factory v-belt and install a Powertwist link-belt. I did this on my G0490 and it made a big difference in the amount of vibration.

Clay

[Rob Haskell]

I have the same jointer and had the same problem. After fiddling with the
belt pulleys about 50% went away and after using it for a month another 25% went away. The vibration still seems too much so I'm going to get a link belt soon. To adjust the pulleys I cut out some of the sheet metal to get a straight edge to fit vertically from the bottom pulley face to the top pulley face.
Rob

[John Hedges]

I switched to the link belt but I also noticed how poorly machined the original pulleys were, so Grizzly replaced them. My vibration is now at an acceptable level. It has also seemed to lessen over time not sure why, but I suspect it might have to do with the flex in the thin metal the base is made out of, just a guess.

[Jeff Norri]

Also you should check the set screws on the lower pully, when setting mine up I noticed that the set screw would work loose, the pully would move and vibration woudl insue. I little blue lock tite fixed the issue.

[Craig Kershaw]

I just got my new 490 up and running. Its vibrates some at start up but then settles down nicely after less than a second. Passed the nickel test, the nickel doesn't move at all. Love those flat boards

[Dick Sylvan]

I guess I am a little surprised by what I hear. Normally I read of nothing but praise for Grizzly products. However, it seems as if quite a few of you have had a vibration problem with a jointer which I would think shouldn't have such a problem. It makes me wonder if Grizzly gets a free pass too often because it's prices are so low, even when the performance is not. BTW, I own no Grizzly tools.

[John Hedges]

Dick, I fully agree. Since buying the jointer (which was my first Grizzly purchase), I have not bought another Grizzly product, although I have added a lot of gold (PM2000, PM15HH and Mortiser) which I am thrilled with. I think for the pricepoint that Grizzly sells it is a good value, but in my experience (and a few other local WW'ers I know) I would rather buy something with a little more quality even if it does cost more. It is just more enjoyable to use in my opinion.

The jointer is not bad, it just is not my favorite tool to use, and took a lot of work to get it to what I consider an acceptable working state. I get very little time in my shop and it is a place I go to enjoy myself, so if a tool makes that experience better then it is worth it IMO. Oh well, lesson learned.

[Jack Camillo]

More justification for my decision not to purchase a Grizzly. In a few months, you forget about the couple hundred you saved, but you never stop wishing you went with a high quality machine. "Not bad" doesn't cut it for me when you put out that kind of money for an essential machine. I'd rather wait (which I am doing) to be able to afford the quality.

[John Hedges]

I just want to clarify, that I am not ripping Grizzly products. As long as you know what you are getting and the lower price is important to you then it is a good buy. But just because their machines LOOK like others does not mean they are. Don't expect to get a DJ20 when buying a GO490 etc. The quality of things like bearings, motors, pulleys etc are different. For example instead of balancing the cutterhead during the manufacturing process, Grizzly grinds down sections of the cutterhead after it is made.
I think it is great that there is a company like Grizzly that offers a value oriented line of tools as it allows more people to enjoy this hobby, that might not otherwise be able to

[BARRY RESNICK]

John, do you have a review or close up pics of the PM15HH?

[glenn bradley]

I guess I am a little surprised by what I hear. Normally I read of nothing but praise for Grizzly products. However, it seems as if quite a few of you have had a vibration problem with a jointer which I would think shouldn't have such a problem. It makes me wonder if Grizzly gets a free pass too often because it's prices are so low, even when the performance is not. BTW, I own no Grizzly tools.

Although I see 3 out of 5 posts saying the tool was great out of the box (and many more throughout the forum) there are always outside influences. Was the base assembled wherever it happened to be convenient or was a flat, level surface used.

We see posts here and there on all makes of tools not acting for one person the way they acted for another. I know my shop floor is less than ideal and have found my rate of initial success has climbed since I started doing my assembly work on a known flat and level surface. These machines are heavy and will joyfully embrace gravity in the search for the point closest to the ground even if it means racking the stand to get there.

[Aaron Hamilton]

I hope this is your problem as well. I have the ShopFox W1741 8" jointer (your same jointer w/ pbeds). It almost walked itself across the shop. Before I did anything, someone suggested checking the belt. I went to my local belt store and picked up the equivalent v-belt (the length and width are in the manual). Put it on, and it ran like a top. VERY little vibration at start up w/ a little belt slap and then she smoothes out to where I could stand a nickel up on the bed.

I hope this is your problem - the belt was very poorly manufactured and I'm sure Grizzly/ShopFox has no quality control over that. It was a 15 minute/$5 fix.

Hope this helps!
Aaron

[John Hedges]

Barry, Dont want to hi-jack this thread, Below was a thread I posted when I got them, with pics etc.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=63626

[Aaron Hamilton]

Just to give a bit of input on the low vs high end product debate. I have the shopfox 20" planer and the shopfox 8" jointer w/ pbeds. Other than my belt issue - I have nothing but GREAT things to say about the products. I grew up working on General and Powermatic for 15 years, but now that I have to buy my own tools - I'm limited to my production/sales level (family driven/low $$), and my quality expectation (high enough to buy a 20" planer and 8" jointer).

When you couple these things together, for the hobby woodworker who has the time to perfect/adjust a tools performance, I think my ShopFox is an unbeatable buy. I realize the mustard may outlast my miracle whip, but then again, as little as I use mine, it could last 40 years...and that's all I ask out of a tool.

Remember that w/in the Grizzly product line as well as ShopFox, there is well noted high and low end products that vary quite a lot on price and features, I chose a medium/high end on both of mine and still saved over $2000 over mustard - and have been more than pleased w/ my purchase.

Hope this helps people decifer some of the comments in favor of both.

[SCOTT ANDREWS]

Although I see 3 out of 5 posts saying the tool was great out of the box (and many more throughout the forum) there are always outside influences. Was the base assembled wherever it happened to be convenient or was a flat, level surface used.

We see posts here and there on all makes of tools not acting for one person the way they acted for another. I know my shop floor is less than ideal and have found my rate of initial success has climbed since I started doing my assembly work on a known flat and level surface. These machines are heavy and will joyfully embrace gravity in the search for the point closest to the ground even if it means racking the stand to get there.

Another great point Glenn.They serve yellow hot mustard in chinese restaurants,but not all people think it's hot.I think any machine needs to be setup the way you expect it to work.Trust no one,even the best forget to tighten things on ocasion.

[Jack Camillo]

John Hedges,
good point about the ability of more folks being able to enjoy this hobby. What I'd like to see is more middle/highschools getting youths acquainted with woodworking, like was the case when I was a kid. Guess that went out of style.
I hope I didn't seem snobbish. Just ask my wife, I can't afford the expensive stuff either! It's almost like the current Harley generation - if you aren't a doctor, lawyer, or bigger business owner, you can't afford a recreational bike.

[CPeter James]

A friend of mine has the PM joint similar to the G0490 and his belt was no better than yours. If you don't want to go to the link belt, they make a serrated belt that will work and not take the set like a regular belt does.

CPeter

[Don Bullock]

I just got my new 490 up and running. Its vibrates some at start up but then settles down nicely after less than a second. Passed the nickel test, the nickel doesn't move at all. Love those flat boards

I had the same experience and I need to add that this is my first jointer so I don't have any experience with setting one up or "fixing" problems. I'm sure if I take a little time to make some adjustments to the motor mount that it will be even better when I start or stop it. I'm very happy with my purchase and don't see how a more expensive maching would be any better. :D

[Keith Outten]

There isn't a tool manufacturer on this planet, any make or model machine, that we haven't seen someone post problems with here at The Creek. A very large percentage of the time shipping damage and operator error durning assembly is found to be the cause for problems. Bad belts obviously are just one of the things that need to be checked when you startup a new machine and find vibration issues.

If you can't diagnose the problem on your own contact the manufacturers tech support people and work with them to resolve any problems. Don't just live with vibration issues because you think you got an inferior machine. A good manufacturer will work with you until the problems are corrected.

Concerning Grizzly if you can't get the service you think is appropriate from their tech support department send a Private Message to Shiraz here at The Creek. To the best of my knowledge Shiraz has taken care of every individual here that has asked him for help.

.

[Jeff Norri]

I own or have owned Tools from the big names and grizzly, I found Grizz to have the best customer service (even better then Delta who I was really happy with). I have become a bit of tool dork and I tend to hit a new tool with every straight edge, feeler gauge, angle doohickey and thing-a-ma-bob I have. 50% of the time I find something wrong. On My G0490 I found the fence was not as flat as I would like. I called grizzly to see what their tolerance was for the fence, I never did find out what their tolerance was, as the tech guy said that didn't matter what their tolerance was, what matter was that is was within my tolerance. I told him it wasn't and he said a new one is in the mail! A week later I had perfectly flat fence.

With big tools I didn't expect it to be perfect out of the box, but I do expect the company to make perfect if it isn't.