Close to 15 yrs on a grizzly G01021X 15". No complaints in full time woodshop - rebuilt gear box/brgs/seals, and recently had motor repaired (points stuck/burned) and new bearing in it as well. In process of gearbox rebuild, learned the weak link is a ~5/8" pinion engaging the gear-drive system. Had that guy ground down to about 1/2 of its tooth profile in 10 yrs of work. Would like to trade up sooner than later, as in the process of repairing, you naturally start looking....
Not necessarily needing larger capacity (43" wide belt on hand), but features such as adjustable bed rollers and segmented chip-breakers seem appealing, and could help get even better results (or more adjustment headaches?)
Observations:
1> Have an awesome new F900z shaper - why no planers offered by the Felder/Hammer group? All J/P combos. Definitely not interested.
2> Most all of these light industrial machines have way shorter beds. Currently 52" infeed through outfeed on the Grizz, yet 20-24" machines are short, like only 30" of feed-through material support. Concerned I'll miss those long iron wings, but almost all machines that meet upgraded specs are short like this. A non issue once I get used to it, perhaps?
Considerations:
1> Ironwood P500
2> Laguna PX-22
3> Grizzly G0544
4> South Bend 15 or 20" (separate, variable speed feed motors mitigate the tiny pinion issue, but no chip-breaker/roller upgrade)
Experience with any of these? Pluses/minuses? Any other good options I'm overlooking here for manufacturers?
3Phase - rather not, but have new digital converter, so could do. Trying not to hit 5 figures, but willing to stretch if it knocks it out of the park for performance.
MUST be helical cutter head, but then you already knew that, right?
Thanks!
jeff