Can I cut metal or other non-wood materials with your jointers? Although our jointers can physically cut many different types of materials, they are designed only to cut natural wood or wood-based materials (plywood, MDF, OSB, etc.). Cutting materials not intended for a woodworking jointer can lead to serious injury for the operator or bystanders, shorten the machine's lifespan, and void the warranty.
Can I still use my jointer without connecting it to a dust collector? Yes, but we don't recommend it. Without using a dust collector, dust will quickly accumulate inside and around your machine, requiring more cleaning later. Besides being messy, fine dust can be harmful to your respiratory system. A better option is to connect your table saw to a properly designed dust collection system that at least provides the recommended minimum CFM for your machine's dust port.
How do I know which size motor I'll need for my jointer? The answer primarily depends on three factors: (1) your average stock width, (2) your typical wood type or variety, and (3) your anticipated cutting frequency or overall demands placed on the jointer. It's important to note that with a slow enough feed rate, any of our jointers can cut a piece of hardwood up to its maximum cutting width. However, using too slow a feed rate can result in ripples and chipping in your workpiece, and using a feed rate so aggressive that it causes the motor to bog down will quickly raise the motor's internal temperature to a point of thermal breakdown. Once a motor reaches this state, continued operation without sufficient cool-down time between cuts will cause the motor to overheat, leading to winding insulation failure and motor failure. A larger motor, however, could easily perform the same work without reaching thermal breakdown. Therefore, your goal should be to select a motor size that can handle the majority of your regular cutting tasks without bogging down. In practical terms, a 1.5 HP motor used with an aggressive feed rate can repeatedly cut 6" wide hardwoods without bogging down. A 3 HP motor, on the other hand, can repeatedly cut the same stock at the same feed rate at approximately twice that width without bogging down.
I see that this machine is rated for 220V or 440V. Does that mean that I can just connect it to one or the other and it will automatically work? No. Although the machine is rated for both voltages, it will be factory pre-wired for a 220V power supply. To operate on 440V, it must be rewired, and some of the electrical components must be replaced. If you require 440V operation, Grizzly must convert your machine at the time of purchase to maintain the machine's warranty. To facilitate the 440V conversion, a $250 fee will be added to your order, and extra shipping time will be required to make the conversion. Additionally, Grizzly can supply a 440V conversion kit for customers who have an "as-is" or "second-hand" machine they purchased at a tent sale or on the secondary market. IMPORTANT: To maintain the machine's warranty and reduce the risk of electrocution, severe burns, or death, the 440V conversion procedure must ONLY be performed by an electrician or other qualified service personnel.
If this machine is converted to 440V, will it be able to operate on 480V? Yes, this machine should have no problem running at plus or minus 10% of its voltage rating. In other words, from as little as 396V to as high as 484V. Keep in mind, however, that running the machine at the low end of this voltage range will increase the overall operating temperature of the motor and all its components.
What is the difference between the G9953ZX 12" 5 HP Extreme Series Jointer with Spiral Cutterhead and the G9953ZXF 12" 5 HP Extreme Series Jointer with Spiral Cutterhead, 3-Phase? The G9953ZX is prewired for a 220V, single-phase power supply, and the G9953ZXF is prewired for a 220V, 3-phase power supply. The G9953ZXF can also be converted to operate on a 440V, 3-phase power supply. To operate on 440V, it must be rewired, and some of the electrical components must be replaced. If you require 440V operation, Grizzly must convert your machine at the time of purchase to maintain the machine's warranty. A $250 fee will be added to your order, and extra shipping time will be required for the conversion. Additionally, Grizzly can supply a 440V conversion kit for customers who have an "as-is" or "second-hand" machine they purchased at a tent sale or on the secondary market. IMPORTANT: To maintain the machine's warranty and reduce the risk of electrocution, severe burns, or death, the 440V conversion procedure must ONLY be performed by an electrician or other qualified service personnel.
What are the benefits of a spiral cutterhead? Spiral cutterheads offer several advantages over straight-knife cutterheads, including longer edge life, easier cutter changes, superior finish on workpieces, and reduced machine noise. The biggest benefit of using a spiral cutterhead with carbide inserts is that carbide steel holds an edge approximately ten times longer than the traditional HSS (high-speed steel) found in most straight-knife cutterheads. Every spiral cutterhead has many individual carbide inserts, each with four separate cutting edges. The inserts are indexable, meaning each insert can be rotated three times to reveal a new cutting edge (a reference mark on the inserts indicates the number of times the insert has been rotated). Sharpening and setting knives in traditional cutterheads is a time-consuming and potentially expensive process, whereas cutter changes are quick and easy with spiral cutterheads. Another advantage of spiral cutterheads is that a cutting edge is always in contact with your workpiece. This significantly helps to reduce ripples and chipping, especially when using an aggressive feed rate. The finish produced by a spiral cutterhead is also superior to that of a straight-knife cutterhead, reducing the time needed for sanding. Lastly, spiral cutterheads are quieter than straight-knife cutterheads, which reduces machine noise in your shop.