Replies

1. 
   vertis | Feb 28, 2005 04:42am | #1

   Greetings from East York I couldnt answer that either but I have seen those units at busy bee but chances are they are made in the orient(like everything else King included) .Check out the Crappy(Cdn)Tire flier in the mail and they are advertising a Mastercraft 121/2" planer for $250.00. Hmmm .Good luck.

2. 
   RonInOttawa | Feb 28, 2005 05:48pm | #2

   Craftex is roughly equivalent to Grizzly, and I am given to understand that most equipment is made at the same location(s) in Taiwan. There appears to be a non-compete agreement between Grizzly and Busy-Bee, and Grizzly won't even send their catalog to Canada or ship any orders placed from Canada. Two or three years ago I heard a rumor that the owners of each company were related, perhaps brothers or brothers-in-law. I suspect the biggest difference is the color of paint and the breadth of the product line.

   I have purchased a few pieces of equipment from Busy-Bee (14" bandsaw, grinder, belt sander) and have never had a problem. The castings are rough in spots and the manuals suck, but the equipment seems to be well made and durable. Their new line of router bits are a great value.

   Regards,

   Ron

3. 
   Peter36 | Feb 28, 2005 06:07pm | #3

   Hi Ryan. I'm in Paris, beside Brantford, Ont. How were the prices comparing King to Craftex? I live near a large dealer of King and Delta, and I actually find that a lot of the time the Delta is cheaper!    Peter

1. 
   ryang | Feb 28, 2005 11:15pm | #4

   Thanks to all for the responses.  Not sure about comparison prices just yet, as I have just started my shopping, and probably won't purchase for a couple of months, but bust bee is having quite a sale right now.  All the major machines sere reduced quite a bit; the jointers (both 6"and 8" were close to 50% off.  check their website if youre interested.

    

4. 
   woodensplinter | Mar 04, 2005 06:19pm | #5

   Hi Ryan.

   I don't know if there is anything to the Busy Bee/Grizzly thing or not, but I do know that Grizzly started advertizing just after Busy Bee got into business.

   I bought a drill press from Busy Bee about 22 years ago (their brand name at that time was Rex Cut).  Fit and finish was about on par with most anything I've seen and I haven't had a single problem with it in that time.

   At work they bought a bench top Jet drill press.  Somehow, the manual got lost.  When they needed parts, I brought in my manual.  Turns out it was exactly the same as the Jet manual, at that time.

   I'd be leery abut purchasing a major piece of equipment from them without being able to see it first.  I'm talking about something like a table saw.  I did read a couple of things where people had purchased their contractor style saw and were quite happy with them.

   My biggest problem with Busy Bee is shipping.  I live out in the boonies so everything has to be shipped by truck.  My sister wanted to purchase their spindle sander for my brother-in-law a couple of years ago and their quoted shipping was nearly half the machine cost.  I bought my table saw from House of Tools, in Edmonton, and the shipping cost was about 1/3 of what Busy Bee wanted for the sander!

1. 
   Michmesquite | Mar 05, 2005 02:41am | #6

   What keeps you guys from buying General/General International. The GI Contractor saw is, my belief, the best one out there._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

1. 
   woodensplinter | Mar 05, 2005 10:52am | #7

   My reason for buying the drill press, at the time, was strictly economic.  General only had a comercial line of drill presses which were at least 4 times the cost.  Just simply couldn't do it.

   Purchased the GI contractor table saw about 4 years ago.  Works great.  I love it.  Wouldn't hesitate to buy again.

   Edited 3/5/2005 2:54 am ET by wooden splinter