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For the Powermatic and Jet fans !!!

8K views 16 replies 5 participants last post by  Ottis 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I drove to Tulsa today to my local Woodcraft (If you can call a 2 hour drive "Local") and bought some supply's. While I was there I was dripping drool all over a powermatic cabinet saw…..the sales man came up and after wiping up my drool off the saw, he asked me if I was in the market for a new saw.

After telling him I could not afford any tool that was colored gold, he told me that Powermatic/Jet was having a 20% off sale the 15th and 16th of May. He said it was a first for Powermatic and that they have never had a sale like this before.

Their flag ship cabinet saw the PM2000 3hp which goes for a little over $2500 will be on sale for $2000. So any Powermatic or Jet you have been wanting to buy….this may be the cheapest they will ever be.
 
#2 ·
Hey Don,

Based on this would you have delayed your purchase of the Grizzly router you recently reviewed?

I am also in the market for a jointer and planer, specifically these jointers:

Grizzly G0656X 8" Jointer with Spiral Cutter head
Jet JJ-8HH, 8" Jointer with Helical Head Kit
Steel City 40660 8" Granite Deluxe Jointer with Helical Head

Do you have a favorite of this bunch, based on your research?

I am expecting the Powermatic equivalent to be beyond my budget, but who knows.

Kindly,
graham
 
#3 ·
Hey Don
It looks like you may have found Mr in between . Grizzly vs Saw Stop = Powermatic ?
If I can butt in Graham I have had a Grizzly 12" Spiral head jointer for close to 2 years and it works great I don't think you'll do any better even if you spend 3 times what the Grizzly cost. I have several grizzly tools and they all perform very well. I don't mean to mitigate Don's answer just add my 2 cents.

Jim
 
#4 ·
Thanks Jim. It seems, in general, peeps are quite happy with their Grizzly tools. Some have mentioned tweaking is often needed, but that doesn't bother me too much.

It sounds like the Jet tools might come down in price May 15th and 16th and am wondering if the Jet and Grizzly tools were priced the same if the preference would change?

graham
 
#6 ·
Graham,
Now that I have had even more time to use my jointer…..I couldn't be happier with it. Like Jim said why spend twice as much or more to get the same quality cuts and finsh I am all ready getting. Oh by the way Graham, I was asking the guys at Woodcraft, about a steel city tool, and "THEY" said not me, but they said that they are dropping Steel city, when I asked why, they said that they feared Steel city was about to go under.

Jim,
I seriously thought about the Powermatic, and still may spend the extra $$$ for it. I have my search narrowed down to the Grizzly I was telling you down and the Powermatic PM2000. But as happy as I have been with my Grizzly, it will be a hard decision.
 
#7 ·
Dock,
As long as it is Jet or Powermatic, all tools in both lines will be on sale "In-store" only, meaning you have to buy it in house and not on-line, but if they don't have it in stock, they will order it in for you at sale price.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey Graham
I bought the Grizzly 20" spiral head planner when I bought my jointer and it has been great also very nice smooth cut and very quiet for a 20 inch planner it works great on highly figured wood. I've never had to tweek any of the Grizzly products I've bought and I have 5 machines from grizzly.

Jim
 
#10 ·
Al-righty, that's it. I am getting the Grizzlies. They sure have quite a following.

These are the items:

G0453Z 15" 3 HP 220V Planer with Spiral-Cutter head

Could you folks comment on these two items?

http://www.grizzly.com/images/specsheets/g0656x_ds.pdf
http://www.grizzly.com/images/specsheets/g0593_ds.pdf

I am having a little trouble understanding the trade offs.

There are quite a few:

656 versus 593
-----------
Weight - 465 lbs versus 418
Motor HP - 3 versus 2
Belt - Single V versus Double V
Fence Length - 34 7/8" versus 38 1/4"
Fence Height - 5" versus 4"
CPM - 21,400 versus 22,000
Cutterhead Speed - 5350 RPM versus 5500 RPM
Table Length - 72" versus 75"
Cabinet - One Piece versus Preformed Steel

Any experienced based guidance would be greatly appreciated. The price is close enough not to be a factor. It's well within my budget.

If I should start another thread, please let me know. I don't want to hijack Don's thread.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
Graham,
Well you know my thoughts about the 593, I LOVE it. The other one does have a 3hp motor and a built in roller base. Depending on your taste/needs and wants the decision is all yours. I will say in all my research, 90% of the 8" jointer's out there are one and a half hp. SO the two hp is more than enough, yesterday I ran several LONG boards of walnut through mine and it never even made a sound….just ate it up.

Me personally, I do not like factory mobile base's, I prefer to make my own (Read my review on casters in reviews) again, depending on your set up in your shop, the factory mobile base may be perfect for you. But I have limited space and have to move my equipment around allot. Most factory base's have one set of swivel wheels and on set of stationary wheels. Which means you have to "Steer" your tools to where you want them (and these 8" jointers are as long as aircraft carriers), when I make my own, I put swivels on all four corners so it is easier to put it were I want it.

I built my base for $60 (all wheels, wood was scrap) so with shipping, and base, I have right at $1000 in mine, so it just boils down to if you want to pay the extra $200 for the extra one hp and the mobile base.

Don
 
#12 ·
I just placed the order!

G0453Z - 15" 3 HP 220V Planer with Spiral-Cutterhead 1 $1,495.00
G0593 - 8" Jointer w/ Spiral Cutterhead 1 $895.00
H3249 - Free Gift-Halogen Machine Lamp (Long)

They threw in a little gift too, which is nice. I will report back when they arrive and I get them set up.

Thanks again for the help,
graham
 
#14 ·
Just to piggy back on Don's original entry, I came home from work yesterday and had a piece of mail from the manager of my local Woodcraft. Inside was a lime green note from him saying that all Jet/Powermatic products were on sale at 20%. His note read: "You've got from now until May 16 to purchase as much Jet and Powermatic products…" I don't know if he personally took some liberty there since I checked the Woodcraft website and there's an ad that says the 15th and 16th. At any rate, he echoed what Don was told when he wrote that he has never had a sale like this and never will again. Not to make you envious Don (well maybe just a tad), but I planned on buying a PM2000 this fall. At a price like this, I will probably be getting it sooner. If so, I plan to post a blog about it's delivery, set up, first use, etc.
 
#15 ·
Thanks Lenny,
Did they say from now until the 16th of May ? Lucky dog, My Woodcraft said May 15th and 16th only. I told him I would buy some stuff right then and there and he said he couldn't at first. Then he tried and made some calls to see if he could get around it, and then even the store manager made some calls to see if they could sale some things then instead of waiting till the sale dates.

He told them that I was not local and had a 2 hr drive one way and 4 hr round trip. But whoever he was talking to said no way. BUT the manager knows me well and asked me what I wanted, I told him and he said he would make SURE that the things I wanted would be held onto and not sold until I came back up on sale day.Can't beat service like that.
 
#16 ·
I agree Don. I have had nothing but superb service from my Woodcraft store. Of course, over the course of the past 9 months or so, I have given them some substantial business: a General International hollow chisel mortiser, a Rikon 14" band saw to name a couple. Anyway, I was quoting his note verbatim. He definitely wrote from NOW until May 16th. I remain skeptical as to whether he can truly offer the sale before the 15th. He was out sick both yesterday and today. I will be checking in with him. Nice of you to post this heads up for everyone.
 
#17 ·
Graham,
Has Grizzly already shipped your tools yet ? I bet they have, but if they have not, call them and see if you can change your order. from a G0453Z to a G0453. the G0453 does not have a spiral cutter, but it does have free shipping, then also order the spiral cutter head for $495 also free shipping. You will save about two hundred dollars AND have a back up cutter head. Other than the cutter head, they are the same planner.

cost of ordering the G0453, separate spiral cutter head and shipping =$1465.70 (Free shipping)

cost of the G0453Z (no free shipping) = $1639.00

Same planner, but my way you save almost $200 AND get a extra cutter head
 
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