Grizzly Industrial G0452Z - 6" x 46" Jointer w/Spiral Cutterhead

I will never buy any thing from Grizzly ever ?? The first jointer came in one week it was the base only waited a week for cutter head never came emailed Amazon said send it back then three weeks later a new base came UPS then a week later came the cutter head It came CVES the cutter head was on a pallet no box just a pill of parts no manuals I should have sent It back but after all the waiting I took it as is !!! a trip to hardware store to get missing bolts had to file nick off cutting deck It has two broken knobs that I will replace when I get parts manuals got it working and works good my wife think I got it used ??

Part I: 2 SEP 2013: This is my first power jointer and so far it's gotten off to a very rocky start. I'm still putting this thing together so I'll update my review later. The reason I'm writing this early segment is because the shipping was so bad the tool arrived missing parts and with damage to the cast iron table.The packaging was completely inadequate for a something that was 150 plus pounds and the cardboard box arrived taped up, torn, styrofoam broken and leaking out of holes all over the package not to mention more than a few missing parts (bolts, nuts, etc...). To top it all off, UPS won't deliver the table to your house (the big box weighs 170 pounds-20 pounds above their weight limit), you'll have to go get it and the small box, the base, will be delivered by the truck.The damage to the table may, or may not be fatal to the product. There was a rather large part of the corner of the table (about 1 1/2") crescent broken off either from being dropped or the other parts banging into it. Since this damage is below the table, even though unsightly and maybe it'll reduce the strength of the top, I think this may not be such big deal. The worse part is the table itself.For a jointer to be of any use the table must be flat and stable. The pieces chipped out of the top are all along the edges but so far I'm not sure if that will interfere with flattening stock. Once I get it all together I'll update this and let folks know but as of right now I'd buy this some place local and go pick it up since that is what's going to happen anyway. I would ship this back but I have no idea how to send it back. The original packaging is destroyed and even if I wanted to ship it UPS they won't pick it up so I'd have to haul everything to a shipper who'll accept it.Once I get the missing parts and finish putting this thing together I'll run some stock through it and see what happens. I'm guessing the edge joining should be okay (no real damage where the wood will pass). Flattening the face of the stock is a whole different matter. The edges are chewed and actually poke up above the table. That already tells me that anything six inches wide has a really good chance of getting gouged rendering that operation moot on this table. I may be crying wolf but before anyone else plunks down this much cash for such a machine and expects to have it shipped to their home, free of damage, you may wanna think twice. This for me, is the last time I order a major shop tool via Amazon.Amazon wouldn't allow me to put a shipping and packaging review on this item so I'll say here and now that apparently this wasn't shipped by Amazon and none of this is apparently their fault even though it says the item is shipped and sold by Amazon. Whom ever did such a poor packing and shipping job it really is to bad. The part of the tool I have put together so far seems very sturdy and it looks like it should do a wonderful job. I guess I'll see.

The quality of the jointer is excellent. Unfortunately the packaging has a lot to be desired. The first unit was obviously dropped many times by UPS. The cast iron bed was scratched and multiple parts were broken. Called Amazon the same day and they issued a return pickup slip and sent a second unit. The second unit was broken by the good folks from FedEx. They dropped the base unit, and the motor / pully literally punched a hole through the sheetmetal of the base. Fortunately, the unit comes in two separate boxes, the base with motor, and the table with cutterhead.Between the two shipments I was able to assemble one complete perfectly functioning jointer.

I love Grizzly tools because the manufacturer focuses on important things, and does not spend money on aesthetics. The table and fence surfaces are beautifully machined and finished, the bearings and mountings are high quality, but the rest of the surfaces are as-cast and kind of crude. The best feature of this machine is the spiral cutter head. It comes with the machine, already installed and set up, and is a truly wonderful upgrade. It is quieter, less likely to cause tear-out in cross grain situations, and easier to maintain. There are better machines out there, for a lot more money, and even in Grizzly's inventory there are better machines for not too much more, but this one was the perfect price point and functionality for me.

Save yourself frustration and DO NOT buy Grizzly tools if they have to be freighted to you! If you insist, make sure they are not being delivered by Saia! I bought the G0452 Jointer directly from Grizzly. The first one arrived with the box for the jointer table COMPLETELY destroyed and everything shrink wrapped together on a pallet. I wouldn't have accepted it, but my wife did. I went to put it together and, sure enough, I was missing roughly 90% of the hardware. I called them and worked out what I needed. They shipped it out and I tried to finish assembly. I got about half way through and then discovered that the iron bracket that the threaded table adjustment rod goes through was snapped in half. I called them and demanded a new one. Once they received confirmation the first one had been picked up, they sent a new unit. It arrived with the jointer table box open at top, but it initially appeared everything was there. It turns out it wasn't. I was missing a little under half of the hardware this time. When I opened the second box that contains the stand with the motor, I discovered they hadn't even mounted the motor this time. It was just loose in the stand with the nuts and bolts also laying loose in the box. The motor had been bounced around in there so much during transport, it had dented the stand. This time I requested a pick up and refund. Three weeks later, I am still waiting for Saia to come and get it! They were supposed to come today, but cancelled and then left me in phone transfer limbo as I was trying to speak to someone to reschedule. Meanwhile, Grizzly will not refund my money until they have proof it has been picked up!

We have not had enough time to really get a feel for this machine yet. The first unit was ruined in shipping but Amazon handled the problem instantly and painlessly. Hooray for superior service. Grizzly would not have responded this way. need more time to reach a conclusion on