8" jointers, PM, JET, Grizzly?

[Jim Riseborough]

Grizzly has sales right now on Byrd Heads, for 250 i bought a 6" for my Ridgid, gonna make that last till next xmas and go for something bigger. I was bidding on a PM 8" with a helix head on Ebay, went for 1130 and change. I was 1105. Wonder if the winner is on here?

[Matt Day]

Sorry for the error on the cutterhead price, i did it quickly and picked the first 8" head. i still think that's the way to go, or find a used one in the $400-$500 range and upgrade the cutterhead.

[Dominic Carpenter]

Thanks to everyone. I'm going to look at CL and strongly consider the Byrd head with the Grizzly.

[Keith Avery]

Grizzly has sales right now on Byrd Heads, for 250 i bought a 6" for my Ridgid, gonna make that last till next xmas and go for something bigger. I was bidding on a PM 8" with a helix head on Ebay, went for 1130 and change. I was 1105. Wonder if the winner is on here?

Thanks for only bidding 1105!! I am going to get it on Tuesday. I have bought a ton of stuff from those guys at a fraction of retail. I really didn't think I would win as I think my max bid was $1135. I decided I would buy Grizzly for anymore than that.

[Will Rowland]

I looked for a year on Craigslist for an 8" jointer, and was able to score an Invicta-era DJ20 for $200 (gloat!). As the blades were shot, I purchased the Byrd head from Grizzly during their last sale for $325. So, the deals are out there. I just missed two DJ-20s prior, each went for around $700, but they were in excellent condition.

There were a couple broken parts on my DJ20 - the rabbeting shelf and the lock handles, and there wasn't a dust collection fitting. I ordered those parts from Grizzly (for the G4090 - 25% of the cost of the same parts from Delta) and, guess what - they all fit perfectly! Knowing that, and as long as the tables are reasonably flat, I really think the G4090 with the Byrd head is the best option for a new jointer.

I do business with several Chinese manufacturers, and given what I've seen, I would not be one bit surprised if the current DJ20 and G4090 are made side-by-side in the same plant. It is after all a jointer - not a milling machine - and after the tables what is most important is the cutter head.

[Jim Riseborough]

Thanks for only bidding 1105!! I am going to get it on Tuesday. I have bought a ton of stuff from those guys at a fraction of retail. I really didn't think I would win as I think my max bid was $1135. I decided I would buy Grizzly for anymore than that.

You suck! I was going to go higher, but with tax, and 600 mile round trip it was getting out of my budget, but for 30$ I could have made it happen. Let us know the particulars, I had asked them about the cutting head, but no more info given. Hope it's in perfect working order!

[Jim Stewart]

I have had a G0490 for 8 years now. I was worried about the China motor when I bought it but it is still doing fine. I changed the pulleys and the belt to the newer link belt system and this was a huge improvement in noise. Before I changed that it sounded like an old maytag washer. I also bought a Byrd head to replace the steel blades. This is now a quiet and extremely smooth cutting machine.

[Carl Beckett]

Thanks to everyone. I'm going to look at CL and strongly consider the Byrd head with the Grizzly.

Hi Dominic,

This is a useful search tool: www . searchtempest . com

[Dominic Carpenter]

Hi Dominic,

This is a useful search tool: www . searchtempest . com

Thanks, Carol. That is a nice search tool. I'll keep looking for a few weeks, nothing within 400 miles of South Bend right now. I'm starting to consider a jointer planner combo based on my space (sharing a 2 car garage with my wife's car.

[Curt Harms]

Thanks, Carol. That is a nice search tool. I'll keep looking for a few weeks, nothing within 400 miles of South Bend right now. I'm starting to consider a jointer planner combo based on my space (sharing a 2 car garage with my wife's car.

Certainly something to consider if you're space limited. I have a Jet JJP-12, it fits in a 2' X 5' space. I got mine from this guy:

http://www.equipmentsalesandsurplus...._p/708-475.htm Free shipping including liftgate. Mine drop shipped from Tennessee.

[Jim Andrew]

The Grizzly sale runs out in December. But who knows what will show up in January. There is not much available used in Kansas, so I just buy from Grizzly. Have had my G0609 for several years, no problems. I ordered the Byrd head, only downside with the Byrd is you cut down your capacity by 1/4" and you can't do rabbits on your jointer.