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Grizzly G1035 1-1/2 HP Shaper
Studio : Grizzly
by Grizzly
Brand : Grizzly
Publisher : Grizzly
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN : 0690550010354
UPC : 690550010354
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 6 reviews)
Our Price : $525.00
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2 interchangeable spindles: 1/2" and 3/4"
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3" spindle travel
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Heavy-duty 1-1/2 H.P., 110V/220V motor
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Reversing switch
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Two spindle speeds: 7,000 and 10,000 R.P.M.
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Product Description |
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Built with plenty of muscle to take on most shaping challenges, our mid-sized, 1 1/2HP Model G1035 Shaper offers the perfect low-priced alternative for the serious hobbyist or small-shop owner. The G1035 offers precision wheel adjustment, two spindle speeds, a finely-milled cast iron table, interchangeable spindles and sealed ball bearing movement all for less than the price of a router and router table! Shown with optional G1706 extension wing. |
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Poor quality control |
First, let me say that I like the basic design of this shaper. If properly manufactured and assembled, it would pack a lot of capability in a small footprint.
That said, the unit I received had numerous quality defects -- one of which merits a safety recall and two others that make the unit unfit for use. I've spent a couple sessions with Grizzly to fix the problems, but most of the problems still remain.
There were three main defects upon opening and assembling the unit. First, the spindle bearing unit had excessive end and side play. I could literally move the spindle back and forth and up and down. There's no adjustment for the bearings, according to Grizzly, so the entire bearing assembly was defective.
Second, the unit came set up for 110 volts (it's a dual voltage motor), but both the power and switch to motor cords were only the metric equivalent of about 18 gauge. This would be adequate for 220 volt operation, but undersized for the higher (2x) current draw at 110 volts. This defect could lead to a fire in your shop, especially if the shaper is used for long periods of time and the cord heats up and breaks down.
Third, one of the fence adjusting screws had a "drunken" thread. The thread was completely bunged up in the middle (probably a broken cutting tool during manufacture in China) and the fence could not be adjusted.
There were other minor defects. For example, I had to rework the spindle mounting clamp in order to get it to clamp without a wobble.
I called Grizzly to outline the three main problems. To their credit, they had me return the old spindle and then sent a new spindle. However, with the tighter bearings of replacement spindle the shaper vibrates excessively and walks a bit on the floor. It vibrates more and is noisier than any of dozens of other power tools I own, some many decades old. I suspect that Grizzly is using very cheap bearings, based on the bit of play in one spot on the new spindle and also the vibration. As a direct comparison, I have a much older Grizzly shaper that's far better with respect to vibration.
Grizzly sent a properly sized line cord, but the wrong cord to go between the switch and motor. In order to allow reversing, this should be a five conductor cord. What they sent was a three conductor cord. Quite simply the wrong part and yet another quality of service issue. They tried again, but just sent another undersized cord.
When a proper fence adjusting screw did not arrive, I called again to hear what was going on. It turned out the fence they sent me was an old style (2005 vintage) with a 1/2-13 screw. The new ones, according to Grizzly, use a 3/8" adjusting screw. So, my made-in-2007 shaper had both a defective and an obsolete (supposed-to-be-for 2005) adjusting screw. Apparently Grizzly either doesn't know its own bill of materials or its supplier isn't building to it.
So, despite several calls, some effort on the part of Grizzly, and lots of wasted time on my part I have a machine that vibrates excessively, whose fence cannot be easily adjusted, with a cord that could burn up in prolonged use.
At about the same time as buying this shaper, I also bought a HVLP spray gun and a jointer blade system from Grizzly. Both were improperly described in the catalog. The dimensions on the planer blades were wrong. The HVLP spray gun was described in both the Grizzly catalog and in the enclosed manual as having both fine and regular spray heads. It only had the regular head -- and Grizzly basically said too bad, we're not going to stand behind our description. They actually told me to try my luck with Campbell Hausfeld, their supplier. If this trend continues, will Grizzly have their customers calling China to get missing parts?
Sadly, you can't trust the catalog or Web site to be accurate, and judging from my shaper experience a call may not get you accurate information either.
Grizzly was one of the better importers of tools in the past. But in my recent experience it appears the company isn't paying much attention to quality control either from its Chinese suppliers, in its own State-side assembly, in parts service, manual descriptions, or even catalog descriptions. You may get a good machine as others have, but also be aware that your chances of getting a "lemon" from Grizzly may be fairly high.
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V Eagan |
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The instructions are not very good, they told me to loosen and drop the moter so that I could put the wiring and switch over the moter, I did this and it would not work, after I droped the moter again and moved the switch and wiring back to were it was and reinstalling the moter, the switch and wiring slid under the moter and was able to be intalled with out any fuss. I wasted at least an hour following the directions. It would have taken maybe 15 minits to intall the wiring and switch if you just slid under the moter. I have bought 5 large pices of eq. from Grizzly and I love there products for what I paid, but have had problems with the directions on every one of them. It seems that as time has went one the design may have changed, but the directions have not. |
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Let's review the machine, not the shipping. |
There is nothing to complain about. This shaper does a very nice job, no bogging down on panels. The extra wing is a must. Easily reverse directions with flip of a switch. Chip removal shoot can be used with a shopvac - that's all I have and little to no clean-up afterwards. The fence should have the quick adjustment levers, if it doesn't already.
Bottom line, if you don't like the shipping rate, try to find a comparable product for the same price $$$ or make a trip down to MO or WA. |
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A Good Machine for the Small Shop |
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I recently purchased a G1035 shaper to primarily edge profile and it does a great job of this with the 3/4" bore shaper cutters I use. Both the fence and table insert adjust well. The 1 1/2 HP motor is strong enough although larger raised panel cutters will require an extra pass or two. I installed the optional 3" dust collection port and it works well. I have the machine wired for 110V and use 20 Amp service. |
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Best durn tool I've bought! |
I think it is unfair to rate a tool poorly because one didn't understand the shipping policies. I agree that buying large tools via the Internet is a hassle, but that is the buyer's choice.
Now for the shaper. I love it! I don't use my router much at all since getting this shaper. I bought the router bit spindle adapter and switch back and forth easily between router bits and cutters. I recently bought a full set of cutters for raised panel doors and this tool makes life easy! One pass and you are done--nice smooth cuts.
I'm very happy. |
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