5 HP Tilting Spindle Shaper From Grizzly

[Solomon]

Well....  I am anxiously awaiting delivery of my new Shaper.
It is Supposed to be delivered today according to the trucking company that called me about it Friday.
I ordered Grizzly's  5 HP  tilting spindle Shaper and 14 sets of cutters, mostly stile and rail cutters for  Entry, Passage and Cabinet doors and T&G V sets for three different thicknesses of matieral as well as a set of flooring cutters and a couple of other cutters.
I hear a lot of mixed reviews about Grizzly products.  Some folks say they had problems with them, others rave about how great they are.
I will be sure and post a full report on my expierence with this machine.
In the intrium,  I would like to hear from all you good folks out there who own or have owned Grizzly Machines.
Please voice your opinions be they Positive , Negative or somewhere in between.  (You're not gonna hurt my feelings) !   
I'm very partial to those who tell the truth objectively.
This Shaper is the first Grizzly machine I have ever purchased or owned and I have a shop full.
Never owned a Shaper so any tips or advise about it will be greatly appreciated.
So chime in folks !! 8) 8)

[scsmith42]

Congratulations on your acquisition! I have that same shaper (mine also has the sliding table feature) and I like it a lot.

[york]

Hi,

Ok,i have the 10 in. table saw-15 in. planer-metal lathe-metal cutting band saw and it is all good stuff..

[Solomon]

Congratulations on your acquisition! I have that same shaper (mine also has the sliding table feature) and I like it a lot.

I don't have the sliding table but I'm sure that is handy when you're cutting the ends of rails for doors and other short cuts especially accross the end grain.
I just now got it home and the top off the crate.   The crate was dammaged but the machine appears to be in perfect condition.
Looks like a few hours to assemble everything.
It seem to be really heavy and well built.
Still need a refresher course on how to pist puctures to this forum.
They do make it hard to do !!!

[ladylake]

  I think Grizzy high end tools are good and their low end not so good, a 5 hp shaper sounds way high end.  Steve

[Kbeitz]

I was a Grizzly tech in the Muncy Pa store.
I liked all the big stiff. Not so much the cheaper stuff.
I think you will like your shaper just fine.

[Glenn1]

I have their 10" table saw, 3HP Cyclone with a Hepa Filter, their 8" jointer with spiral cutter, and 15" planer.  All of their products have worked just fine for me. 

[Tom the Sawyer]

Another thumbs up for Grizzly.  I have a 10" cabinet saw, jointer, 2 hp dust collector, disc/belt sander, 3 hp shaper, 14" bandsaw, variable speed lathe, mini lathe,  3 speed ceiling mount dust filter, and 20" spiral head planer.  All work very well.  Service, rarely needed, has been excellent, too.

[never finished]

What little I know about their tools is good. Not at all a fan of their customer service. Thought I was going to have to fight with a lady to return an extra motor and base for a knife sharpener they sent me. My order was to come in two boxes. I got two boxes just not the right boxes. Called to let them know that I had two of the most expensive parts and would love to trade one of them for the blade slide I didn't get. Had to argue with her and two supervisors for quite a while to convince them to send me the right and much less expensive part and a shipping sticker so I could send them the extra motor and base.   

[Solomon]

As I said, " This is my first purchase from Grizzly"   I have heard a couple of horror stories about their customer service similar to yours but I'm taking a chance with them.
I had three bad expierences with Steel City,  a floor model osilating spindle sander, a 20 inch band saw and a 20 inch planer.
Actually, the planer isn't too bad but the tires and guide bearings on the band saw went to pot within 3 months.   They just kept giving me the run around and would not honer their   " 5 Year , No Questions Asked Warrenty"  end quote.
As for the Spindle Sander,  I got it home and un boxed it,  the sight glass for the oil bath for the worm drive was not glued in properly and gear oil was leaking everywhere.
I called them and the Rep said   " We will send you the Glue, a new sight glass, and a couple quarts of oil and we will throw in a set of sanding sleeves for your trouble"   end quote.
"Sounds Good"  I said.   Well.........   Six weeks later,  I still have a leaking spindle sander and no parts in hand.    I paid $1100.00 for a brand new machine !!   What I got was junk.
So the good folks at Woodcraft sent it back to them and aquired a new machine from General for me .  $50.00 more , and General's customer service is absolutely fantastic !!  I have their 10 inch Jointer w/mortiser also, and love both machines.
I posted a short video to youtube about the new Shaper .  Search " Pete's Wood Shop" it should come right up.  I tried to post a couple more last night but I think Youtube only allows one post per day.   When I try to "Publish"  a window pops up saying  "Youtube not available".   I will try again today.
  Thank You folks for all your feedback,   That's what I love about this forum , 99.999999%  of the folks on here are genuine and that's hard to come by theese days.   The Forestry Forum Rocks !!!!!!   8)