Review of Grizzly 12" Jointer G609X With Sprial Cutter Head (Grizzly)

The big machine was unloaded with a fork lift using straps under the beds. Grease was present mainly on the beds and fence and was removed with a single edge razor blade and WD-40. It was moved to position using ½” water pipe and two people. I have since built a rollerbase which is pictured; and also added a Wixley digital planer height gauge to it which is also pictured.

Out of the box it required a little tweaking of the tables. The outfeed was a few thousandths out of level with the cutter head at one side. The eccentric bushings for table adjustment are not user friendly but I managed them with a cresent wrench. Once the tables were adjusted I edged some long pieces of beech a got a very accurate glue joint. The wheel adjustments have some play which doesn’t affect accuracy and the depth scale is down low and requires some squinting (it was removed to install the Wixley). I removed the original read out scale plate and used one of the existing holes to enlarge and drill a tap a small screw for the Wixley install.

The new short bed 12” machine was very tempting since it may be a little higher quality and also because grizzly has apparently redesigned the eccentric bed alignment bushings to accommodate a 12 point wrench or hex wrench which would be a great improvement. I am happy with the machine as the long beds are nice to have. I would recommend this machine and would buy it again.

P.S. One thing I found helpful in selecting grizzly machines is looking at the parts list. One can tell how the machine is designed and put together. That’s how is found the new style eccentric bushings in looking at the G0706 short bed jointer. Also, I ordered the $30 optional serpentine belt drive which was easily intalled and adjusted. It is standard on the short bed.

-- Merritt B Teddlie