Grizzly G0634XP Spiral-Polar Bear Series Planer/Jointer, 12-Inch

This machine, on the whole, is outstanding, especially when you consider that the closest competitor is $3300 (this model sells for $2500 shipped at the grizzly website). but it has it's share of problems.THE POSITIVESThe motor is great. My first job with it was milling 16 long boards, so, while planing, I didn't take the time to line them all up and plane them down in order of thickness---which meant a couple were significantly thicker than the setting. But that puppy hogged out probably 3/16" a couple of times and didn't even bog down.The helical cutterhead is awesome. Quiet and leaves a very smooth face. There's still the expected tearout when grain changes, but it performs streets ahead of traditional jointer knives.The tuning system is pretty good. It took me a while to get everything tuned, but it's not too complicated, and it's clearly been designed with tuning in mind. Also, we had to take all the beds off to get it into our basement, and they come off and reattach easily---and the planer bed stayed perfect throughout. I haven't had to change the teeth yet but that also looks straightforward.I've heard some doubts about the end-mounted aluminum fence--I like it. It's not perfect, it does have flex. But it saves a full 14" of space in the shop and joints edge perfectly 90 degrees.The changeover system is pretty easy, and the jointer beds come back to level/parallel well.Essentially, all the core features are excellent. You will not regret owning this machine.THE NEGATIVESThe limit switch can be finicky. My second day using the machine (a Saturday), the machine just didn't turn on and I had to wait until Monday for a fix. But once I knew the problem, it was an easy fix.The planer max capacity is 11 7/8" and a board that wide must have straight edges. The planer can't handle 12" because the edges of the planer bed will cut into the edge of the board. I'd say the max finished board you could count on with this machine is 11 1/2" wide, though you might be able to squeeze 11 5/8" or maaaybe 11 3/4" if you press your luck.My biggest complaint by far is the blade guard. It's a bad design and too hard to install. There should be a stop on it to make installation easier, especially for a combo machine where you have to reinstall it every changeover. It's way too easy to install the guard too close to the table, in which case it can easily HIT THE CUTTERHEAD while the machine is in motion. Additionally, the guard is shaped in such a way that, when it's in the proper position, it hangs nearly 3/4" above the outfeed table, which means that your workpiece can go under the guard. It's so high that I assume it was intentional, but I hate it. It makes it harder to put pressure on the piece on the outfeed table.SUMMARYAll in all, it's a great machine and I'd highly recommend it. If the blade guard was better, I think it would be perfect.

I didn't buy this through Amazon, I purchased directly from Grizzly. Wow am I dissappointed. I am still hoping that model G0634XP Jointer/Planer will be simple to do the roller replacement. But you should know, the reply received from Grizzly seems to be their reply to EVERYONE shelling out their hard earned cash for the upgrade for these spiral and Helical Grizzly planers, only to find a much poorer quality finish because of their horrible metal outfeed rollers! After being very happy with my G0513ANV, I wanted to get a jointer. I read these reviews on the model I was looking at, but read on the Grizzly website that it had a rubber outfeed roller. I called in. Spent almost 6 hours on the phone with the sales rep and two service techs, and they all assured me that the model now had rubber outfeed rollers. So I ordered mine...waited three months. It arrives. I set it all up, and notice it has a metal outfeed roller. So I call in, and they assured me that it was correct. I went back out, made some sawdust, and EVERY stick of wood, hardwood or soft, was ridiculously marred by the grid patter of the metal ourfeed roller. No matter how I reduced the tension for it. I called back. After several hours they replied "so what?" and the Tech ended the call. I tried calling several more times and either couldn't get through or got the same careless response. So I mass emailed everyone I could in the company with the photos, and that I specifically spent 6 hours before shelling out almost $4,000 for the thing, to be sure I would not have this problem. Finally I receive an automated order confirmation for the correct rubber outfeed roller as listed in the parts catalogue in the back of the manual and in the description of it on their website. Nothing else. I called in again. They promised a supervisor would call me back. Nothing. Then another automated email saying the item is back ordered and it will take several weeks. I call in again. Nothing. Then I finally recieve the outfeed roller, in a delapidated box, a couple of measely air pockets inside, but nothing actually protecting the roller, and both ends were poking out of the box, on either side and already show signs of corrosion. No instructions on how to replace it, and no response via email or phone. The only instructions in the manual is for adjusting the tension, or the parts blow-up. So...hopefully I will be able to replace it and actually make this $4,000 750lb anchor in my shop work after 8 months! I am glad yours worked out. Any tips, I would greatly appreciate, as I have now been putting off tackling this for fear of making it worse. Never grizzly again! EVER

Anyone who has looked at pricing on planers and jointers knows that Grizzly costs significantly less than their competitors. "A helical cutter head, at this price? Great!" The jointer performs flawlessly and is 12" wide; again, fantastic value. The problems (and maybe the reason for the lower price?) are associated with the planer. The manual warns users to only engage the planer rollers when planing, otherwise you can cause wear and failure in the drive assembly. Fairly warned, I followed the directions, and... the drive assembly still slips approximately 1/2 the time I use it (I've only had it for four months). To access the assembly, you have to unscrew six bolts on the cover, and then mess with the tensioner to get the chain back on. Today I heard the familiar sound of a slipping chain, and when I opened the cover, the chain was broken. I've requested a new chain and a new sprocket (see pictures) from grizzly and hope to hear back soon. I'll update the review pending results. The problem is poor design, and I sincerely hope they redesign the model to fix it for future users.Edit: Eight days in and no response from customer service. Not too happy about the situation.