The Grizzly G0456 was among seven heavy-duty lathes I tested ranging in price from $1,200 to $3,200. I measured each for ease of speed control, vibration, lathe movement, power, tool-rest design, and ease of adjustment for outboard turning. I also evaluated the tailstocks and live centers, and tested how each lathe performed both on small and large workpieces.

The Grizzly is big on the outside but lacks the guts of other the lathes tested. It has a 20-in. swing, a skinny drive belt, and an automatic shutoff that stopped the lathe frequently and annoyingly when turning large bowls. The tool-rest base is too short for large turnings. An auxiliary disk sander on the headstock means that you can’t use a knockout bar to free drive the center. In addition, the tool-rest base is too short to allow large bowl turning.

In power test, the the Grizzly could handle only 22 lb. of pressure before stopping, compared to about 40 lb. on the better performing lathes. As a result, the lathe stalled whenever I took a heavy cut at a slow speed. One reason for this is its 1/2-in.-wide drive belt—more appropriate for a mini-lathe than for one with a 20-in. swing. The others use a 3/4-in. or 1-in.-wide belt.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Makita LS1219L Miter Saw

This is the saw I want in my shop. For one, it’s easy to use. All of the controls are easy to reach and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is both robust and smooth. The handle works well for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no other saw has. For instance, its hold-down is superb, as it can move to different locations, hinges for a greater range of coverage, and actually holds down the work. In addition, the saw has two points of dust collection, letting it firmly beat the rest of the field. The one downside was the saw’s laser, which was so faint we had to turn off the shop lights to see it. Still, all these pluses in a package that fits tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.

Buy at Amazon

DeWalt 735X Planer

At high speed, the planer works fast and leaves a smooth surface. But the slower, finish speed produces an almost glass-smooth surface. Knife changes are easy.

Buy at Amazon

Grizzly G0495X Industrial Helical Cutterhead 8-in. Jointer

Regardless of the board’s grain, this jointer produced excellent results. Its fence was totally flat, worked smoothly, and locked well, staying in place even after jointing multiple edges. Getting the fence to 90° was very easy, but the 90° stop was a little tricky to set and the fence did not go back to square when using it. For those who would use it, there is also a digital depth-of-cut scale.

Buy at Amazon