New here, and a quick Q:

[eric auer]

Nice forums, been enjoying the lurk for a bit, and decided to ask ya all something.

Ive been looking at the great Deals on Grizzly tools lately, and could really use a lunchbox planer etc.

Where are these tools usually made?

I make an effort to not buy too much chinese stuff, or from any other country with blatantly oppressive regimes.

Thanks

Eric

[Chuck Saunders]

Taiwan and China

[Nancy Laird]

Just about all major woodworking machines are being made in China or Taiwan. And most are made in the same cookie-factories as other brands. The one exception that I have personal knowledge of is the Steel City line - made in their own company-owned factory in China. They also make the Orion line sold at Sears. They are relatively new (about 3 years), but they are putting out some GOOD machines. Take a look at their benchtop planer - it's a honey--here's the specs:

115V, 15A, 1PH motor - 16/23 FPM.
2" dia. cutterhead with 3 HSS knives - 8,000 RPM; 24,000 CPM.
Polyurethane infeed and outfeed rollers with anti-kickback fingers.
1/8" maximum cut depth; 13" maximum planing width.
6" maximum stock thickness; 7" minimum length.
4" dia. dust port.
Includes dust chute, magnetic knife holder and complete instructions.
19"H x 22"W x 33"D.
66 lbs. net weight; 71 lbs. shipping weight.
Five year manufacturer's warranty.
Imported.
and only $389.00 at Woodworker's Supply

[Matt Meiser]

If you don't want Chinese or Taiwanese, you'll have to dig deep into your wallet and buy something Italian or buy something old and be prepared to do some work fixing it up.

[Don Bullock]

General tools still has two planer models that are http://www.general.ca/images/CANADA_A.jpg.

See:

http://www.general.ca/pagetitre/ang/planers.html

[Rick Fisher]

General tools still has two planer models that are http://www.general.ca/images/CANADA_A.jpg.

See:

http://www.general.ca/pagetitre/ang/planers.html


You can almost get a full set of woodworking equipment from General, made in Monteal, Canada. The quality of the Canadian made equipment is very high.

The 14" planer is about $5000.00, the 20" is well... like buying a car.

They make Jointers, tablesaws and other tools in Quebec. If your okay with the cost, they are fine tools. Otherwise, I might suggest Taiwan over China if politics is an issue.