Review of the Grizzly G1023SL Cabinet Style Table Saw

To put it bluntly, I love this Saw.

Not, “Love” in the same sense as the way I feel for my wife, or my kids, or my dog, but this Saw is great.

I was quite reluctant to buy it frankly. At the time, I had recently quit a job teaching woodworking where I was able to use a Powermatic Cabinet Saw that was about 20 years old, and I also loved that Saw.

When I decided to buy my own Table Saw after leaving that job, I had to decide what to get. I didn’t have any money, and still don’t, so the Powermatic was off my list.

I kept asking around about Grizzly tools, seeking advice from the internet, and finally just asked the folks at Grizzly to convince me that I should buy it. They sent me emails telling me the features, and some testimonials from folks.

So, I mustered up the nerve, got out the credit card, and made the purchase. I think about 6 years has passed now since I fell in “love” with this saw.

Out of the box, it was heavy. Ok, ok, in the box it was heavy. That is a good sign for a tool in my estimation. So, I couldn’t unload it, so I dissassembled as much as possible, and took it out of my truck. When I loaded it in the pickup, the shipping dock easily put it in with a forklift. I tied it down with straps, not sure why now, and headed home.

At home, I realized that as young as I was, 38 then, I couldn’t budge it off of the truck. So, I tore it apart and unloaded each piece and reassembled in the shop. I went through the calibration process, and the safety notes, ok, ok, I didn’t read any of the safety notes.

I then installed the blade guard, grabbed some wood, and turned it on. It hummed like a baby, and I slowly raised the blade up through the table, and stuck a board through it.

I was so impressed, that I stuck another board through, and then another, and then another, and then…...

I was out of wood before long, and had lots of kindling.

What I discovered on the first or second board, was that the blade guard was just plain dangerous, so I took it off, and have happily used the saw every day in my business since. I just love this saw, I guess I already said that.

The Nickle Test:
So, when a guy, or lady, is reading reviews, there is always the “Nickle Test”. Now that doesn’t mean much to a person from a country that doesn’t have “nickles”. This test is where a small coin is placed on it’s edge on the table top, and the saw is turned on. I did that test, and the nickle didn’t even vibrate. I tried a Dime, and it fell over, but that was because the edge of the dime is domed. So, I sanded a small flat spot on the edge of the dime with a belt sander, and it stood up also.

This is a great saw.

I have not used a modern made Powermatic, but I can tell you that this Grizzly is as good as the old Powermatic I have used. Really. Same power, same stability, and a color I like better and a really cooool looking Cast Plate with a Grizzly Bear on it. My son looks at the bear and says, “GRRRRR!” It is a great saw.

Here is a link to the current Grizzly website page for this saw: http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-Table-Saw-3-HP-Single-Phase-220V-Left-Tilt/G1023SL

I think at the time I bought it, mine was listed as $750.00. See, now they are $995.00. So, if you want to save money, buy it now, quick, before the “Dollar” deflates any more!!

thanks for reading along,
Mark DeCou
www.decoustudio.com

This writing, and the photos, are protected by copyright, M.A. DeCou 1-19-2008, all rights protected.)

Note: no money was given to me for this review. Although if you are from Grizzly, I would gladly accept some and use the donation toward buying a Grizzly Surface Planer with the carbide spiral head, (hint hint). I want one to match my Grizzly Jointer, which I will review in the near future. Another great machine.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com