grizzly jointer….spiral or no….and which one
I am looking into getting the G0490 jointer from Grizzly. I was looking at both the G0490 (HSS blades) and the G0490X (carbide spiral cutter). I think I would prefer carbide but you cannot get carbide blades for the G0490 and i’ve heard the spiral cutters give a better finish. So if i go with a spiral cutter…which one?
the G0490X comes with the T10126 spiral head which is a more expensive head. the head has 40 carbid inserts and appears to be precisely machined to cradle each carbide insert which i think would make changing them easier but the inserts are oriented parallel to the cutting surface thus no shearing affect which i thought was the benefit of spiral heads. The other option is to get the G0490 with the H8803 spiral head (less expensive than the T10126) which appears to have 54 carbide inserts and the inserts are skewed to the cutting surface giving the shearing affect.
Does anyone have any thoughts/comments/experiences to help in my decision?
Replies
Jointer
atmartin:
I have the G0490 with the HSS blades and so far am very happy with it. I opted for the blades first figuring i can always switch at a later date if I'm not satisfied. It's a long sucker but the wheels allow easy movement. It's also pretty loud so you might want good ear protection. It's pretty easy to set up but you'll need another pair of hands to lift the table onto the cabinet.
The jointed surfaces are very smooth, the spirals may produce a smoother surface, however I'm happy with the surface I've got.
Good luck with your choice.
Jim
My memory's good, it's just short.
I have used jointers with straight blades as well as spiral heads and find the spirals to be far superior. I am not saying that straight blades do not make a very good cut.
I purchased the 0593 (8" with 75" bed) and could not be happier. The cut is almost finish ready. The reason for purchasing the spiral head is that I did not like replacing and adjusting straight blades. The idea that if you chip a blade and only had to replace one cutter with no adjusting sold me.
Good luck on your purchase.
Al
been there
When I purchased my griz 12" jointer I struggled with the same decision. I toyed with the 8" with SC or the 12" with HSS. In the end I went with the 12" and HSS figuring I could upgrade the head later since the cost to add it later was the same price with it installed. I've had it now for a couple years still going on the HSS. I have no doubt that the SC would give a much smoother cut right off the bat but its not been an issue with me. I run both faces through my thickness planer anyway so it's really a moot point. I have never regreted the decision though. Probably will upgrade one day.
response from Grizzly
I sent the Grizzly the same question and they responded to me today.
Basically, they informed me that the majority of the their customers prefer the Shelix cutter heads (the cheaper version i mentioned in my original post). This is because the Shelix heads give the shearing affect allowing for a better finish. Also, the Shelix heads come from an outside supplier so parts are available (carbide inserts, etc) from other resources.
The G0490X Spiral head is not a shearing head so basically your just getting the carbide and ease of blade change...not the finish you get with a shearing affect.
With that said i think i'll get the HSS with the ability to upgrade to the spiral in the future. The G0490 is a parallelogram jointer. I've heard mixed reviews but i've also read that anyone that has one loves it. They just don't have the 100 years of use/experience like the dovetail jointers do. Any comments?
Bones,
As much as i would love a 12" jointer, I'm not sure i could justify the cost to myself (I'm not married yet so there's no boss to also justify the costs to...mwahahaha). the Grizzly 12" jointers are running about 2000 after shipping. Woodworking is my hobby and the majority of the rough cut lumber from the lumber yard out here (Utah) is usually under 8" wide. How often do you or anyone reading this post use anything beyond 8" wide?
Thanks for the input!
did not intend to imply
I simply used my experience as an example. I did not intend to say you had to get a 12" jointer. Indeed the 8 will do a fine job. I upgraded from a 6" delta POS. Near the end I was doing the jointing the a LN #7. I'm sue either will be great tools. I have a lot of green machines. 17" BS, the jointer, 10" TS, and horizontal boring machine. All good stuff.
I have a 490x
It is an excellent jointer. The spiral head is awesome. I will never buy a jointer or planer w/out a spiral head again (w/possible exception). I have used well maintained Felders w/HSS and the Grizzly surfaced as well or better. The Shelix head appears better to me than the head on my 490x, but the 490x is so cheap.
As to the question of jointer size, I work with wood as wide as possible, often 9-15"s or wider. The exception to spiral I mentioned above would be a big, old iron 16"+ jointer, I also have a 12" Grizzly and it's to small. There's nothing worse to me than ripping wide boards unnecessarily.
I've used HSS knives for +30 yrs. and see no spiral's in my future. I do see a difference in the cut on maple and a few squirrel grained woods but... I seldom use maple or squirrel grained woods. The finish from HSS is almost finish ready IMO just as stated about the spirals with the exception of maple. But.. with that said I have never seen a surface from any knife I consider ready straight off the jointer. Same with re-saw blades on the BS... Carbide BS blades gets pumped as finish ready by many on forums. That is a pipe-line dream IMO....
Good luck...
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