Grizzly

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

did not know where else to put this question so decided here. Over the years I have received Grizzly catalog. This basically started when I use to go to woodworking shows and must have signed up for it. really do not remember because I do not buy Grizzly tools. But I got this years catalog and it has gotten bigger and heavier each year and this year it looks like the old telephone books if some of you remember what those were. 

Does anyone else get the Grizzly catalog and are you a buyer? grizzly scrollsaws gets talked about here at times. I do not know anything about them. 

[kmmcrafts]

Only thing I bought was the 14" bandsaw with riser block, a resaw fence and shopfox? platform to put it on and then the ceiling air filter thing from Grizzly, they used to send me the catalog and maybe they still do I don't know. Usually just goes into the trash because I have no intentions to buy anything from them and if I did I'd likely hit the website and browse, then also check out a few other stores to compare products and prices..

Their newest scroll saw is very much like the Bauer one from HF except it's got the adjustable motor mount plate to adjust the blade aggression and some other things I can't remember off the top of my head.. maybe dust port? Anyway it looks much like the HF saw as well as the Rikon saw with a few more options.  

[BadBob]

I get the catalog every year. I haven't purchased any of their large power tools but bought many smaller things from them. I have purchased clamps, parts, assorted hand tools, drill chucks, drill chuck arbors, and a rotary tool. I own a Grizzly drill press that I bought, used, and refurbished.

I have found their customer service to be top-notch.

[JimNC]

I purchased a Grizzly lathe and a Grizzly bandsaw and am happy with both. The interesting thing is the lathe is identical to a comparable model Jet lathe except the Grizzly was green and the Jet white. 

[ScrollerGuy]

I bought the Grizzly 21" scroll saw last summer and was surprised to receive their 643-page catalog a few weeks ago. It reminds me of the large catalogs of yesteryear, like Sears and JCPenny used to send out.

By the way, the Grizzly 21" scroll saw is an Excaliber/Pegas clone with a larger table, not a Rikon/Bauer 22" type clone. Not really much difference between the two groups, but they are distinct.

[TAIrving]

I received the catalog and was impressed with the size of it.  I own one of their bandsaws and have been pleased with their customer service.  I visit their website occasionally just to compare products and prices.  

[Scrappile]

I receive it and usually put it in the recycling.  Nothing against Grizzly or their tools, I just find it easier to go online and look.  I have their 14" bandsaw with a riser.  Nice saw, I have no problem with it, except it is a bandsaw, and I hate changing blades on them.   Somehow, I never seem to have the blade I need to be mounted on it when I go to use it.  Maybe someone should invent a giant scroll-type machine to do bandsaw things.  Easier to change blades.

[kmmcrafts]

6 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

I receive it and usually put it in the recycling.  Nothing against Grizzly or their tools, I just find it easier to go online and look.  I have their 14" bandsaw with a riser.  Nice saw, I have no problem with it, except it is a bandsaw, and I hate changing blades on them.   Somehow, I never seem to have the blade I need to be mounted on it when I go to use it.  Maybe someone should invent a giant scroll-type machine to do bandsaw things.  Easier to change blades.

Yeah, I don't use mine much because of this.. one of those tools that I could probably sell but then once gone find a regular use for it.. I hang onto it thinking it is useful for certain things and I'm sure if I sold it I'd regret it, yet it just sets idle most of the time taking up floor space. At least I have it on a roll around platform so it's easily moved from spot to spot. 

[Wichman]

34 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

I receive it and usually put it in the recycling.  Nothing against Grizzly or their tools, I just find it easier to go online and look.  I have their 14" bandsaw with a riser.  Nice saw, I have no problem with it, except it is a bandsaw, and I hate changing blades on them.   Somehow, I never seem to have the blade I need to be mounted on it when I go to use it.  Maybe someone should invent a giant scroll-type machine to do bandsaw things.  Easier to change blades.

It's called a "walking beam saw". Add quick release blade clamps and a quick release tension system, mix in a few million dollars and start cranking them out.

https://forum.canadianwoodworking.com/forum/tools/power-tools/1253447-bandsaw-scroll-saw

 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Bandsaw is such a versatile tool. if you are a woodworker it is a tool that is needed. I have no problem  changing blades. It is all a part of that tool. Just like a tablesaw is when you need a Dado blade and have to change a blade. Or a router when changing bits for each profile. All part of the joy of woodworking. I use my bandsaw alot for both wood and metal cutting. 

Edited February 2 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[BadBob]

18 hours ago, Scrappile said:

I receive it and usually put it in the recycling.  Nothing against Grizzly or their tools, I just find it easier to go online and look.  I have their 14" bandsaw with a riser.  Nice saw, I have no problem with it, except it is a bandsaw, and I hate changing blades on them.   Somehow, I never seem to have the blade I need to be mounted on it when I go to use it.  Maybe someone should invent a giant scroll-type machine to do bandsaw things.  Easier to change blades.

I have two bandsaws, one set up for scroll cuts and the other set up for resawing. I switch bandsaws, not blades. The only time I change a blade is if it breaks (rare) or the blade is dull.

[Phdesigns]

Used to get those catalogs. Looked through them like the old Sears catalog when I was a kid. Lots of wishful thinking. Only Grizzly tool I think I’ve had is a mini metal lathe a few years ago. Came close to buying a bandsaw a while back off market place, but was too late.

[Jim Finn]

On 1/31/2025 at 8:46 PM, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

did not know where else to put this question so decided here. Over the years I have received Grizzly catalog. This basically started when I use to go to woodworking shows and must have signed up for it. really do not remember because I do not buy Grizzly tools. But I got this years catalog and it has gotten bigger and heavier each year and this year it looks like the old telephone books if some of you remember what those were. 

Does anyone else get the Grizzly catalog and are you a buyer? grizzly scroll saws gets talked about here at times. I do not know anything about them. 

I have purchased a  number of  Grizzly products and for the most part  I like their stuff.  Not their 12 " drum sander though.  

Edited March 8 by Jim Finn

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

4 hours ago, Jim Finn said:

I have purchased a  number of  Grizzly products and for the most part  I like their stuff.  Not their 12 " belt sander though.  

I just got out off the hospital Monday and a Grizzly package was waiting for me. It is the heavy duty rolling platform for my bandsaw. The wheels on mine finally gave in and started to tilt too much. Be a few more days before I can put it together. Had to take my bandsaw apart at the riser block because I could not lift it any more. Easy to do though so no biggie. 

[Bill WIlson]

I bought a Grizzly 14" bandsaw many years ago and started getting the catalog regularly.  I've since ordered some smaller things from them, but nothing on any kind of regular basis.  I haven't ordered anything from them in years.

As for the catalogs, they still show up occasionally, even, it seems, if it's been several years since I've placed an order.  Haven't received one lately, but it wouldn't surprise me of one showed up, out of the blue.  

I actually like catalogs like this.  I guess I'm of that generation when catalogs were a big deal.  They are scarcer than hen's teeth these days, so it's kind of a nice, nostalgic trip down memory lane for me if & when I do get one.

[Dan]

I bought a drum sander from Grizzly a few years ago. Never got a catalog. I like catalogs as an inspiration. They all end up in the trash after a while anyway.

[BadBob]

I have a Grizzly drill press. I purchased it used and refurbished it with Grizzly parts. I don't have a clue how old it is, but they don't sell that model number anymore. Two days ago, the quill return spring broke. I had a new spring ordered for Grizzly in just a few minutes. The most difficult part was getting the model number off the drill press. I would not have any problem purchasing a new or used Grizzly tool. I have experience with Grizzly customer service, and it was excellent.

[Jim Finn]

1 hour ago, BadBob said:

I have a Grizzly drill press. I purchased it used and refurbished it with Grizzly parts. I don't have a clue how old it is, but they don't sell that model number anymore. Two days ago, the quill return spring broke. I had a new spring ordered for Grizzly in just a few minutes. The most difficult part was getting the model number off the drill press. I would not have any problem purchasing a new or used Grizzly tool. I have experience with Grizzly customer service, and it was excellent.

I had the same experience with my grizzly G7943 drill press spring. I bought it new in 2007.  I use it a lot. Tricky to install that return spring but it works well now.

[BadBob]

3 minutes ago, Jim Finn said:

Tricky to install that return spring but it works well now.

I expected that. It's not my first time installing that type of spring.

[Scrappile]

Well, a lot of drill presses must have purchased their springs from the same garbage shop.   My 17" Jet spring broke the first year I purchased the drill press.  I got a new spring from somewhere.  Replaced the broken one, and the replacement spring has been working fine for many years.  I made this high-tech jig to help me get the new spring and housing in place and tensioned.  Put the spring unit inside with the end of the spring in the notch.  I could tension the spring by turning the jig. Use a socket wrench sticking through the jig to tighten it in place.  Worked like a champ.

 

[Scrappile]

On 3/6/2025 at 4:48 AM, Bill WIlson said:

I bought a Grizzly 14" bandsaw many years ago and started getting the catalog regularly.  I've since ordered some smaller things from them, but nothing on any kind of regular basis.  I haven't ordered anything from them in years.

As for the catalogs, they still show up occasionally, even, it seems, if it's been several years since I've placed an order.  Haven't received one lately, but it wouldn't surprise me of one showed up, out of the blue.  

I actually like catalogs like this.  I guess I'm of that generation when catalogs were a big deal.  They are scarcer than hen's teeth these days, so it's kind of a nice, nostalgic trip down memory lane for me if & when I do get one.

Yes, today's youngsters do not get to go through the latest Sears or Montgomery Wards catalog and mark all the toys they want for Christmas.  That was as much of the Christmas Season in my youth as Christmas Trees and Santa Claus.  Kept us busy and out of our poor mom's hair for hours.

[rjweb]

Yeah I miss those catalogs, RJ

[Wichman]

The drill press spring issue, wow, just wow. I got my drill press, a Duracraft, 45 years ago, used, (probably due to the chuck falling out with any side pressure, fixed with a light coat of purple loctite) no major issues in all that time. 

[BadBob]

15 hours ago, Wichman said:

The drill press spring issue, wow, just wow. I got my drill press, a Duracraft, 45 years ago, used, (probably due to the chuck falling out with any side pressure, fixed with a light coat of purple loctite) no major issues in all that time. 

Mine was purchased from a furniture maker, used, and refurbished by me. There is no telling how many times that spring was cycled before it broke. How long they last depends on how many times they get cycled. How old it is probably doesn't matter much.

I have a pistol that breaks a spring every so often, but when I tell people about it, they always say mine never broke a spring. When I ask them how many rounds they have fired, it's never anywhere near what I was shooting. I was buying ammo for the pistol, 5,000 rounds at a time.

[Scrappile]

If you are a scroller and like to cut fretwork, you probably cycle the spring far more than the average drill press gets.  That is why when mine broke, I purchased two of the springs.  So far, I have not had to use the second one.