Machine quality is pretty much a function of price rather than brand. There can be some advantages depending on the currency translation from company to company but an $800 machine is generally pretty equivalent to other $800 machine. Same for $8000 machines. One might look nicer of have a feature we all like but no one here knows the quality of the cast iron used, the type of steel, the price of the bearings, or the manufacturing cost or quality of the motor. If a grizzly is as good as a Hammer it will cost about as much. If a Hammer is as good as a Felder, it will cost the same. If a Felder was as good as a Martin- oops, nothing is as good as a Martin. Markups may be somewhat different and manufacturing efficiencies somewhat different, but more often than not something less expensive is less well built. Fact of life. Dave There is a General 8" jointer for sale on
www.owwm.org for $1000.