Inside Grizzly Tools Quality

I am not paid for this review. Rather this is a look at Grizzly woodworking tools to see how well they measure up. There are a few quality brands on the market. Those who begin woodworking often become easily confused by where to go or what brand to trust.

If you are on a tight budget pinching pennies it is hard to go wrong with Grizzly Tools. They are the Toyota of tools and will get you where you need to go. You may not be riding in high style but it is a good piece of equipment. We need to get into the why behind this and whether or not it really works for you.

Before we dive into Grizzly itself we need to understand something about the hobbyist or small shop professional market. A lot has changed in the past twenty years that people should be aware of which branding will not tell you. This is important to know if you begin to look at purchasing used machinery compared to new and may open other opportunities in equipment.

Understanding Where Tools Are Made

Years ago there were many brands which we recognize that were made in the USA. We had the infrastructure to build the parts and do the assembly. Those who remember the original Steel City brand would know what affordable and durable made in the USA meant. This idea is hard to come by today.

If you are looking at older tools often they will be better made. Mileage may vary and there are considerations on things such as how many hours a motor may have on it. Yet when it comes to these older tools even if not all made in the USA they can still be better.

Today made in the USA needs a subscript which states “many parts made in Taiwan or China”. Grizzly is made in China. Jet, Powermatic, and SawStop are made in Taiwan. Grizzly itself while made in China they do have distribution centers in the USA and primarily focus on sales rather than building here.

The initial reaction most American buyers may have to this is often not good but you must understand these markets. Virtually anything we purchase today has within it Chinese made parts or components. This is especially true when it comes to electronic components or small electrical motors.

There is no way to get away from this even if one buys European made equipment. In order to determine quality one must look at where the engineering and design comes from. The better brands will have this done within the USA and manufacturing will be done in Taiwan. So how does this bode for Grizzly?

Dissecting Differences In Grizzly

Shopping Grizzly is like going to a car lot. Knowing you need a vehicle is not enough. So we need to narrow down the range to specific tools or models. The smaller tools from them I personally do not care for. It is not that they are bad, I just have other preferences.

In terms of woodworking equipment such as cabinet saws, larger bandsaw’s, large planers and so forth is where we want to be. Here is where value is found if you are pinching pennies. You gain a tool that will be there for a long time and serve to a standard you need. Yet there are some differences you need to be aware of.

Their tools are not made to specifications such as SawStop or Powermatic. This does not mean that they are sub par. For a beginner or the experienced woodworker there is very little out there in the market which can match the quality for the dollar you spend. Yet the fit and finish with the finesse in out of the box accuracy are often left to higher end tools.

Here is where we begin to see products diverge. When you get a Grizzly there will be a lot of tuning which you will need to do. All tools need to be tuned, just some more than others. A bandsaw for example can give many people nightmares while a table saw is easier in this regard.

Brands are the same way. Grizzly is a brand which needs more tuning than others. Accuracy to some specifications are found lacking in features. An example of this can be found in comparing something such as miter slots of a Grizzly and a SawStop to the blade out of the box. Fence systems are another major component which one will need to look at in comparison.

In order to have a rugged machine at an affordable price there are compromises which must be made. Yet the good thing about Grizzly is that they make these compromises in the right places. They attempt to get you a quality machine which allows you to determine the level of finesse you which to invest.

If you want a high degree of accuracy then you can upgrade and tune your systems to fit your needs. Many woodworkers do not need thousandths of an inch in accuracy. Yet with SawStop or many Powermatic tools you get that right out of the box.

When it comes to their motors which drive their machines I have rarely heard anyone complain about quality. The materials used in building Grizzly tools are on par with what you find in the broader market. Here they do not cut corners nor try to slide in something a buyer would be unaware of yet the specifications are not to the degree of higher end brands.

It really all comes down to specifications and engineering which are put into the different machines.

When To Not Buy Grizzly

Now I want to bring out an element few often look at in terms of their tools. Earlier I mentioned they are like the Toyota of woodworking. With this they make a tool for almost everything. I will use an example here from a situation I ran into in my shop.

When I was looking at purchasing a dust collector I did consider Grizzly. Yet while they offered value in dollars the equipment simply could not match what a better brand would do. In order to meet the same efficiency of air flow of this better brand I would need the largest unit Grizzly had to offer.

With this the size did not meet the space I had available for the tool and it was less efficient in power consumption. The motor was not as well made nor as well rated to their higher end competitor. In this case the price difference from what Grizzly offered to what I bought from Oneida was about 1k usd. I paid more for the Oneida and it was worth it.

With this I received a tool with a smaller footprint, less heat buildup, a more efficient motor and better air flow. Yet keep in mind Oneida specializes in dust collection tools, Grizzly does not. Here is where one may need to consider investing with better made tools when it comes to specialization.

Another example can be found in cnc applications. Grizzly does offer cnc solutions yet personally I would never purchase this from them. In fact I would refrain from buying anyones all in one solution. I am a strong advocate for building your own cnc mill. You get the most for your money doing things this way and in turn get a far better machine.

There are brands you will run into that do specialize in something. Whether it is dust collection, cnc applications, or others, you would do well to research the fine print. When spending thousands of dollars you want to make sure that you get the best mileage for the money.

Sometimes a one size fits all mentality does not work best for our needs. At times our work may require more accuracy or we have specific needs. Dig into the spec sheets when you feel the need in order to compare.

New Machines vs Older

The older Grizzly machines were better made in my opinion. Other older woodworkers tend to agree with this opinion. Although the newer models are still great, generally speaking the competition was tougher in past years with more American made products. There are advantages to newer machines though.

With a newer machine you gain better technology in components. I personally feel that the motors today are better in many cases than the older ones. Many will argue with me on this point and I accept that. Yet aside from being a wood artist I also love fpv flying. In the fpv hobby we use all Chinese made dc motors.

In short the technology the Chinese have put into electric motors has grown by leaps and bounds. This has allowed for better tech development in several fields ranging from fpv to also woodworking tools. Understand that not all are equal and you get what you pay for. Yet in terms of Grizzly I see no real advantage of an older machines motor compared to a new one.

One can also compare the cnc spindle market in this same light. Certainly there is no comparison to a German or Italian made spindle. Yet we are talking thousands of dollars in difference of price. The Chinese have found ways of making dependable budget spindles that allow for accuracy for the hobbyist. It far outweighs using the old router method while still maintaining similar price point.

In general the older machines were built rugged. Better materials were used in its construction and many claim they could achieve greater accuracy with more ease. This will be subjective for many. Nevertheless if the price point is right on an older machine that is in good shape then I would not hesitate on buying.

Grizzly Compared To Other Brands

Here is where people become lost. The closest competitor to Grizzly is Jet. Many place Jet above Grizzly in terms of quality. I am not so sure about this. The primary difference is that Jet is made in Taiwan.

I personally would say that which brand would come out on top depends on what tool we are talking about. They really are close in many regards and often I would favor Grizzly. I would opt for whoever had the better price point and if Jet happens to be much more expensive then I would consider other options.

The issue is that once you begin to move up in price then you can consider tools like Powermatic. I know I am reaching from one end of the spectrum with Grizzly being the lower to the other being high end. The in between really is not worth settling for after cost.

There are exceptions to this with some tools such as cabinet table saws. In my opinion I believe SawStop is among the best on the market. While corporate headquarters and engineering is done in the USA their tools are manufactured in Taiwan. Still in terms of accuracy, dependability, and quality the only close competitor is Powermatic.

Among these two brands Grizzly cannot touch them and is not in the same league. To step up into SawStop you are also talking about near two to three times the cost in some cases. The difference in price is for good reason.

One should do research into things such as safety features offered by different brands. Here SawStop wins the day with their table saw. Statistics may change your mind to how important these features are to you.

With Grizzly you get the bare bones that works to get the job done. It is efficient and affordable. Determining whether or not you should move up to these better tools depends on your need and budget. I personally own a SawStop and would have it no other way. I do own Grizzly tools but my table saw I would not change.

If at all possible it would be good if you could see the differences in person. Visiting a nearby distributor may be an option if you live close to one. This is the best way to see what your money is buying you before you purchase.

Starting Out In Woodworking

For those who are starting out in woodworking often people begin with the contractor saws from places like Lowes. Stepping up to a Grizzly will feel like walking into a dream with what it can do for you. There is no doubt that they will give you what you need.

I have no issues recommending them especially in this case. Additionally for those on a budget you will do fine getting an older used machine. If your wallet allows look into alternatives on tools such as your table saw and other specialty items such as dust collection. You may find other solutions that better fit your needs.