Anyone using the Grizzly “hybrid” saw?
davidmeiland
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
This saw was listed as “best value” in a Tools of the Trade review a year or so back. It’s around $650 and I can actually buy it almost locally. Main use would be as a jobsite saw and I want a large step up from the Dewalt 744 that is now on the job, in terms of weight, power, etc. I realize this is not a cast iron saw. Anyone actually have one?
Replies
Correction, the table is cast iron
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0478
We have one, purchased about 8 months ago. Bought the saw, the 7' fence rails, and the table that sits between the rails, which isn't listed in the Grizzly book, or wasn't last year. Total cost was about 1300, so it's a decent value.
Overall I'm satisfied. Assembly was a PITA, the blade wrench they shipped it with was a joke, some stamped thin sheet metal thing.
IT performs well and the fence isn't bad either. Plenty of power, I've ripped 2 1/4" Oak with it and it didn't flinch. Dado's well. From what I've read about Grizzly it's a #### shoot, you either get a good machine or you don't. Mostly problems with the castings.
Down-sides of the machine, the cabinet is a pain to clean out, it holds a good amount of the dust and the clean out is to high up for easy cleaning, Hooked up to a dust collector it would be great. The wrench like I said, and it ships with a magnetic switch for 110V only, I wanted to set it up at 220, but the switch was another 2 week order and another 70 bucks.
As a job-site saw, I'd not want to use it, too heavy to move around much, unless you're at one job for months. Have you looked at the Delta contractors saw? I saw one at a Lowes a while back, pretty good price for a decent size saw for not a lot of money.
My Plan B, which might move up to Plan A, is to buy a Unisaw w/Biesemeyer fence and use that on the job when warranted. Right now we're building a house and I need a good, heavy, powerful saw downstairs with an outfeed table, the Dewalt upstairs... chopsaws up and down too. I never have liked the contractors saw much, but they might work.
Delta makes a Hybrid as well, might be worth a look. I wanted to buy a Unisaw orginially myself, for the money and our shop's use a less expensive alternative was a better fit. The Grizzly is a good saw and a great value IMO, it has it's draw backs like everything else though.
Have you tried Craigslist in your area? Might be able to find a decent deal on a used Unisaw or similiar. I searched it myself before buying new, never could get to a decent deal in time and frankly the tools seem to hold their value better then a Toyota so the savings wasn't great.
We didn't buy the outfeed rollers for the saw, yet... I see them coming in the future.
My company's got two of those Delta Hybrid saws. Look like Unisaws, but not good for much besides a paperweight. Bog down under the slightest load, and I've tried adjusting tension, new belts, etc. I wish I could convince my boss to sell both of them and buy one good saw.
Real Unisaws are great though, and I've got a Delta contractor's saw with a Biesmeyer that is a pretty good saw.
Bog down under the slightest load
What are you cutting? My Grizzly table saw will melt the blade (i've seen it warp) before it bogs down.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
3/4" hardwood plywood, 3/4" and 1" African mahogany, spruce 2x4's, 3/4" poplar. It handled 1/2" hardwood plywood ok, but on the solid stock my Bosch jobsite saw hangs in there better.
Our company bought two of them, and both have the same problem. Stay away from the Delta "Hybrid" saw.
sorry....I misread your post to say you had problem with grizzly saw.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
CAGIV
If you read Fine Woodworking you'll find near universal appreciation of their products.. to be fair occasionally someone does come on and vent but usually if you read carefully it's the trucker damaged the product not that the product was inferior..
I own 6 major pieces of Grizzly stuff (including a 5 hp 12 inch table saw).. all have been near flawless. and In Six years working thru 50,000 bd.ft of hardwood building my home I have had a failure of just one fan belt which my local NAPA sore had in stock and it took maybe 5 minutes to replace.. Nothing else has needed maintinance or replacement (other than blades) adjustment or anything else.
50,000 bd. ft. of white oak, black walnut, maple, and other hardwoods..
20inch planer, 3 hp shaper, 8 inch jointer, shaving collector, dust collector, and the 5 hp 12 inch table saw..
Prior to that I had a Delta table saw and in less than a year I gave it away .. that's right! gave it away simply to get rid of it.. I tried to sell it but even at a deeply discounted price I couldn't find a buyer willing to deal with the problems..
Same happened with my Delta planners! absolute junk! I sold one for $100.00 and wound up giving away the other..
Can't comment on the hybrid, but I will say I've had a griz 3hp cabinet saw for 6 years now and I think it's a great value, no regrets.
If you're that close to one of their stores, look for their annual "tent sale". Scratch 'n dent sort of stuff, and you can ge a real good deal.
I have the Grizzly 5hp table saw, 18" bandsaw, 3 horse dust collector and 6" jointer....no regrets.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv