Replies

1. 
   frenchy | Dec 20, 2006 10:12pm | #1

   dovetailjoe,

    I bought a 20 inch Grizzly and it's planned maybe 40,000 bd.ft so far with needing only one $5.00 fan belt (local auto parts store had it in stock) all hardwood!

    

    I am so pleased I brag to anyone who listens.. every pice of equipment I own is from Grizzly it's all simple and rugged, durable stuff that just works..

    The fact that it's as cheap as most used equipment doesn't hurt my feelings a bit!

    

    

2. 
   cheerycherry | Dec 21, 2006 01:58am | #2

   I am no expert, more of an advanced beginner vs beginner intermediate:)

   So for what it is worth, i have the 15 inch powermatic along with the 6 inch powermatic jointer, and have enjoyed both of these for the past five or six years without a hitch. Very functional and durable. Maintenance simple. I have no experience with others, as these where my first purchases for this species of tool.

    

   Marc

1. 
   frenchy | Dec 21, 2006 04:38am | #4

   The trouble with asking that question is almost nobodies buys each type of planner and uses them in controlled conditions to evaluate their choice,

     I have good luck with Grizzly and terrible expeiance with delta. does that make delta junk and grizzly the best?

    No, just my experiance..

     Your experiance with pwrmatic is certainly another point..

    

2. 
   Radio Flyer | Dec 21, 2006 07:14pm | #6

   I have the Delta 15" planer for 9 years.  I have never had a problem with it.  It receives moderate use.  Almost all ash, red oak and white oak. 

   I think all planers have their glitches, but once you get familiar with their special personalities and have a good periodic maintenance program most will offer you very good service.

   Glenn

3. 
   Quickstep | Dec 21, 2006 04:34am | #3

   I have the Delta 15". It works well and I like that the head moves up and down rather than the table. This way if you use outfeed rollers for long pieces, you don't need to re-adjust the outfeed stand. My only gripe (and I've almost forgotten it) was that there was a lot of assembly and many of the bolts were so soft that they'd break right off when tightening them. I replaced them with new bolts and all was fine.

1. 
   frenchy | Dec 21, 2006 04:51am | #5

   Quickstep,

      I had terrible experiance with three pieces of delta stuff I bought,   and great experiance with all the grizzly stuff I've gotten.. However that certainly doesn't mean that delta is junk and grizzly is the best. just one persons experiance..

    Even when a magazine tests equipment in controlled conditions you really don't get a good picture.  seldom is any machine used for more than a month at most and since the work load is split between all the machines tested any thought about reliability is a pure guess.

      Plus the tester has their own prejudices.. maybe they like the feel of careful machining or like at lot of features, it may be as simple as prefering a particular color or way to make an adjustment..

     Plus I'll admit a secret little glow when testers give the brand I selected a top choice or other such award.  If mine is rated below others I poo-poo the reasoning and curse the magazine!(kill the messenger) 

      Someday consumer reports might do testing on our gear and I'd give them a fair degree of credibility, as long as they agree with me  ;-)