Has anybody had any experience or knows someone who's had experience with this lathe?
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Grizzly G0694 20" x 43" Heavy-Duty Variable Speed Wood Lathe
- Thread starter Finn Posner
- Start date
Sorry can't help with that specific model, but my first lathe was their 16x43. It made a nice paper weight, not much good for anything else. It had so many problems that I got 4 months of use out of it in my first two years, despite replacing half the parts and sending the whole thing back to the manufacturer during which they fixed only half of the problems and damaged the bed. If you are having any problems make sure you send it back well packaged) to them within the first 90 days, after that you are pretty much out of luck.
Suggest looking at other lathes......
Finn:
Having read a significantly large number of "Grizzly comments" and related posts on the Internet over the past 12-15+ years, I suggest you continue to do your homework on comparing other models and manufacturers of wood lathes.
I once visited the massive Grizzly showroom in Muncy, PA, and had a very careful look at most of their lathes available at that time that one might consider a "real" lathe (e.g. not an electric drill mounted onto a couple of pipes, which they also sell as a "lathe"). I slid tailstocks and banjoes, had a look at machining, etc. and I was not impressed (to say the least). Only recently has Grizzly adopted more or less standard spindle threadings (for many years THEIR "standard" spindle threading was a non-standard 1" x 12 tpi). For some of their models, they included a disk sander on the outboard side of the spindle in their "quality" lathes - obviously these lathes were not designed by woodturners!! The on-line responses to inquiries about Grizzly customer service in resolving problems with their lathes have ranged from "excellent" to "terrible", and everything in-between. These service-related posts occur too frequently to make me very uncomfortable about even remotely recommending you buy a Grizzly lathe.
In the real world where you get what you pay for, I would recommend that you consider lathes manufactured by Jet or Powermatic (WMH/Walter Meier), Nova, Delta, General, Oneway, Vicmarc and others, but avoid Grizzly if you can afford to buy other brands. Consider looking for a good used lathe too. Although this list is a bit dated (2009), a comparative table of different lathes can be found HERE (perhaps someone knows of a more updated version of this table?) to get you looking at comparable sizes and features.
Of course, these are my opinions, but in all honesty I can't recommend pursuing Grizzly lathes as an option for a new or even established turners, given their marginal (or below) track record as to quality and service, and what I saw (and didn't see) when I looked closely at their machines in person. There may be others out there who have purchased Grizzly lathes that love them, but in good conscience I would advise you to not go down that path when there are so many other good lathes available with great performance and service records. As already proven by many turners, the Nova and Jet lathes (1642) of about the same size as the Grizzly you are asking about have well established records with relatively few problems. You can't get much better 'bang for the buck' than a Jet 1642 lathe, or quality in a Powermatic 3520B, for example.
YMMV.....
Good luck and turn safely,
Rob Wallace
Finn:
Having read a significantly large number of "Grizzly comments" and related posts on the Internet over the past 12-15+ years, I suggest you continue to do your homework on comparing other models and manufacturers of wood lathes.
I once visited the massive Grizzly showroom in Muncy, PA, and had a very careful look at most of their lathes available at that time that one might consider a "real" lathe (e.g. not an electric drill mounted onto a couple of pipes, which they also sell as a "lathe"). I slid tailstocks and banjoes, had a look at machining, etc. and I was not impressed (to say the least). Only recently has Grizzly adopted more or less standard spindle threadings (for many years THEIR "standard" spindle threading was a non-standard 1" x 12 tpi). For some of their models, they included a disk sander on the outboard side of the spindle in their "quality" lathes - obviously these lathes were not designed by woodturners!! The on-line responses to inquiries about Grizzly customer service in resolving problems with their lathes have ranged from "excellent" to "terrible", and everything in-between. These service-related posts occur too frequently to make me very uncomfortable about even remotely recommending you buy a Grizzly lathe.
In the real world where you get what you pay for, I would recommend that you consider lathes manufactured by Jet or Powermatic (WMH/Walter Meier), Nova, Delta, General, Oneway, Vicmarc and others, but avoid Grizzly if you can afford to buy other brands. Consider looking for a good used lathe too. Although this list is a bit dated (2009), a comparative table of different lathes can be found HERE (perhaps someone knows of a more updated version of this table?) to get you looking at comparable sizes and features.
Of course, these are my opinions, but in all honesty I can't recommend pursuing Grizzly lathes as an option for a new or even established turners, given their marginal (or below) track record as to quality and service, and what I saw (and didn't see) when I looked closely at their machines in person. There may be others out there who have purchased Grizzly lathes that love them, but in good conscience I would advise you to not go down that path when there are so many other good lathes available with great performance and service records. As already proven by many turners, the Nova and Jet lathes (1642) of about the same size as the Grizzly you are asking about have well established records with relatively few problems. You can't get much better 'bang for the buck' than a Jet 1642 lathe, or quality in a Powermatic 3520B, for example.
YMMV.....
Good luck and turn safely,
Rob Wallace
- Joined
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Definitely one of those items you would have to see in person. It's got an attractive price, but my personal experience with Grizzly tools is that the castings are green, the stands are tin, the fit and finish (how to say it?) sub-prime, with all the negatives that word carries today.
Grizzly is very obliging in the replacement of broken parts, but the replacements are often less serviceable than the original, and downtime can mount. Granted, most of my exposure was to machines in a HS IA setting, where the operators were as suspect as the machinery, but I'd go used or to another machine rather than go to this General 260 imitator.
Grizzly is very obliging in the replacement of broken parts, but the replacements are often less serviceable than the original, and downtime can mount. Granted, most of my exposure was to machines in a HS IA setting, where the operators were as suspect as the machinery, but I'd go used or to another machine rather than go to this General 260 imitator.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2004
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- Lakeland, Florida
- Website
- www.hockenberywoodturning.com
My suggestion would be to take a good look at the Jet 1642. It is a bit smaller in capacity but should suit you well for quite a few years.
When you want a bigger machine you can sell the 1642 for about what you paid for it if the new ones keep going up like they have the past few years.
Take the money you save and treat yourself to a quality class.
They skills from a class will add more to your enjoyment from turning than a new lathe.
Most classes will have quality machines. This will give you some experience with their features.
Rob mentioned machines that woodturners use. Companies that produce only lathes tend to be at the high end
ONEWAY and Robust.
Powermatic, jet, and General lathes are a major component of their respective companies bussiness and they put a lot of effort into supporting woodturners and incorporating features for woodturners.
Lathes for companies like grizzly and Laguna are a minor part of their business and have not made inroads in the woodturning community yet.
Have fun,
Al
When you want a bigger machine you can sell the 1642 for about what you paid for it if the new ones keep going up like they have the past few years.
Take the money you save and treat yourself to a quality class.
They skills from a class will add more to your enjoyment from turning than a new lathe.
Most classes will have quality machines. This will give you some experience with their features.
Rob mentioned machines that woodturners use. Companies that produce only lathes tend to be at the high end
ONEWAY and Robust.
Powermatic, jet, and General lathes are a major component of their respective companies bussiness and they put a lot of effort into supporting woodturners and incorporating features for woodturners.
Lathes for companies like grizzly and Laguna are a minor part of their business and have not made inroads in the woodturning community yet.
Have fun,
Al
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Avoid Grizzly lathe. Don't waste your time!
I bought a grizzly 16X42 and had it for a whopping 4 days before I called them and told them I was sending it back. Right out of the box the headstock and tailstock were out of alignment by 3/8". I tried to adjust it and couldn't do anything with it. It had a horrible vibration. It chewed the belt off after 4 days. The banjo, headstock, and tailstock would not lock down and stay in place no matter what I did to try to tighten it up. I do have to admit that when I called the grizzly customer service line in less than a good mood they were very nice, professional, and receptive of my mood and my issues, and immediately offered to take the lathe back, and give me a full refund. Including shipping both ways. I am not griping about all grizzly machines. I have a grizzly planer that is about 14 years old and has had a lot of wood run through it and I've never had an issue out of it besides for routine maintenance (belts, blades). Like I said, their customer service was wonderful, but whoever designs their lathes has never turned a lathe on. I think they must look at a picture of a quality lathe and try to make them look the same or something. I recently purchased a Nova DVR 2024 and I love it. I purchased it for the 20" swing capacity, even though I don't need it that often I still like to make big bowls and platters sometimes.
I bought a grizzly 16X42 and had it for a whopping 4 days before I called them and told them I was sending it back. Right out of the box the headstock and tailstock were out of alignment by 3/8". I tried to adjust it and couldn't do anything with it. It had a horrible vibration. It chewed the belt off after 4 days. The banjo, headstock, and tailstock would not lock down and stay in place no matter what I did to try to tighten it up. I do have to admit that when I called the grizzly customer service line in less than a good mood they were very nice, professional, and receptive of my mood and my issues, and immediately offered to take the lathe back, and give me a full refund. Including shipping both ways. I am not griping about all grizzly machines. I have a grizzly planer that is about 14 years old and has had a lot of wood run through it and I've never had an issue out of it besides for routine maintenance (belts, blades). Like I said, their customer service was wonderful, but whoever designs their lathes has never turned a lathe on. I think they must look at a picture of a quality lathe and try to make them look the same or something. I recently purchased a Nova DVR 2024 and I love it. I purchased it for the 20" swing capacity, even though I don't need it that often I still like to make big bowls and platters sometimes.
Grizzly 0694
I have several grid machines and have had good luck....any problem was handled well.....but I turned on both the 0694 and the one before it with the sanding disk......would have to recommend that you walk away from it and get a name brand it costs more but in the long run not so much.....I ended up getting a Stubby and saved the cost of the [in between lathes] I had an old 7959 griz. and was looking real hard at the0694 but after using it for a while I let the friend keep it and go on up to the Stubby. hell it only took another year to save up the pocket change to get the Stubby...and I love it!!!!
I have several grid machines and have had good luck....any problem was handled well.....but I turned on both the 0694 and the one before it with the sanding disk......would have to recommend that you walk away from it and get a name brand it costs more but in the long run not so much.....I ended up getting a Stubby and saved the cost of the [in between lathes] I had an old 7959 griz. and was looking real hard at the0694 but after using it for a while I let the friend keep it and go on up to the Stubby. hell it only took another year to save up the pocket change to get the Stubby...and I love it!!!!
Grizzly has improved
While not trying to sell you on any lathe, Grizzly or otherwise..........my experience.
I have the G0698 18/47 and have 2.5 years of turning on it. I have turned on the Powermatic 3520b several times......done a demo on one, and have turned on three other units. While the 3520b is a heavier lathe and has better fit and finish........the features on my Grizzly are basically the same, minus the cage, and the 3520b has a better banjo.........mine is like what is on the Jet 1642 evs. The performance on my G0698 is basically the same as what I have experienced on the PM3520b.
The newer version of the Grizzly I have is the G0733 and has the same inverter on it that the PM3520b has and the Jet 1642 evs. In fairly heavy use, I have not had the first issue with my lathe in 2.5 years...........it is basically a larger version of the Jet 1642 evs.
You were asking about the G0694........it is a nice piece of equipment for the money. That being said........if money were not an issue, and I could get anything I wanted.......it would be a Robust American Beauty or maybe a Oneway 24/36 with stainless steel ways.
The bad rap on the Grizzly is because people have had some bad experiences in the past........there are new generations of lathes that they are carrying now, so just be careful and don't go cheap........they have VS lathes with inverters and good quality now........my G0698 has been superb in performance for 2.5 years and going strong!
If the G0694 was in my price range and I liked the features......I would not be afraid to purchase.........just from my experience and Grizzly is famous for their customer support.
While not trying to sell you on any lathe, Grizzly or otherwise..........my experience.
I have the G0698 18/47 and have 2.5 years of turning on it. I have turned on the Powermatic 3520b several times......done a demo on one, and have turned on three other units. While the 3520b is a heavier lathe and has better fit and finish........the features on my Grizzly are basically the same, minus the cage, and the 3520b has a better banjo.........mine is like what is on the Jet 1642 evs. The performance on my G0698 is basically the same as what I have experienced on the PM3520b.
The newer version of the Grizzly I have is the G0733 and has the same inverter on it that the PM3520b has and the Jet 1642 evs. In fairly heavy use, I have not had the first issue with my lathe in 2.5 years...........it is basically a larger version of the Jet 1642 evs.
You were asking about the G0694........it is a nice piece of equipment for the money. That being said........if money were not an issue, and I could get anything I wanted.......it would be a Robust American Beauty or maybe a Oneway 24/36 with stainless steel ways.
The bad rap on the Grizzly is because people have had some bad experiences in the past........there are new generations of lathes that they are carrying now, so just be careful and don't go cheap........they have VS lathes with inverters and good quality now........my G0698 has been superb in performance for 2.5 years and going strong!
If the G0694 was in my price range and I liked the features......I would not be afraid to purchase.........just from my experience and Grizzly is famous for their customer support.