Grizzly G9860ZX 12-Inch Z Series Jointer with Spiral CutterheadProfessional

Grizzly's Taiwan-built Z Series, and the machine owners point to when they argue Grizzly can build to a high standard. It takes a 5/16 inch cut, which is deeper than anything else here, and it's quiet for a 12-inch machine. You're paying for build quality rather than horsepower.

• Built in Taiwan rather than China, and owners consistently rate the fit and finish above Grizzly's other machines, with one comparing the table machining to an old Powermatic
• Twin V-belt drive and a cast-iron cabinet with noise damping make it notably quiet for a 12-inch
• A 5/16 inch max depth of cut is far deeper than the 1/8 inch typical of this class
• Stress-relieved tables and cam adjustments on the infeed table hold alignment over time

• At 1200 pounds it must go to a loading dock or come off with a forklift, and Grizzly states plainly that liftgate service isn't available
• Only 3 horsepower driving a 12-inch head, which is less than the 5 HP G0834 that costs less
• It ships with no plug attached, so you supply and wire a 220V connection yourself

Take note that the inserts are 14mm, which are not the 15mm H9893 inserts the G0834, G0856 and G0858 use, so don't order by habit. Grizzly's spec sheet also lists it as not NRTL-certified, which can matter for a commercial or insured shop.