Features

• One-year warranty
• Capacity of 7" x 12"; vise will swivel up to 45 degrees
• Powered by a 3/4 horsepower 115-volt motor
• Blade speed can be set manually at 85, 130, 180, 285 feet per minute
• Throat depth is 5 inches

Amazon.com Review

This 16-inch band saw brings the high quality of construction and design found in JET's 18- and 20-inch resawing band saws into the price range of smaller shops and serious home woodworkers. This saw's most prominent benefit is the one-piece, dual tapered column design that offers superior rigidity and strength, minimizes vibration, and keeps cuts clean, smooth, and accurate. The saw has a powerful, totally enclosed, fan-cooled, 1-1/2-horsepower motor with a blade speed of 3,000 sfpm. There's a nice large cast-iron worktable (17 by 17 inches) that tilts 45 degrees to the right and 10 degrees to the left. There's also a T-slot for a miter gauge, and while a rip fence doesn't come standard with this model, JET makes a good one that can be purchased separately and easily installed. We like the smooth precision afforded by the rack-and-pinion upper-blade guide adjustment and the generous 10-1/4-inch-maximum cutting height it can dial up. While we'd prefer the roller bearing guides found on JET's 18- and 20-inch models (that guide set can be purchased separately and added later), the block guides used on this saw do offer plenty of support and low friction, and help fit the saw into shops with a tighter budget. This tool's versatility just keeps on going, accommodating 123-inch blades from 1/8 to 1-1/2 inches wide for equally smooth curve cutting or resawing. For the price, you'd have a hard time fitting more saw than this in your shop without making a serious compromise in quality. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• 17-by17-inch cast-iron table
• One piece dual-tapered column design for greater rigidity and strength
• Powerful 1-1/2-horsepower TEFC 115V motor
• Precision computer balanced wheels
• Rack-and-pinion blade guide height adjustment

Reviews (7)

310 lbs. of sawing heaven
I purchased this saw from my local woodworking store during a no sales tax event. I am fortunate enough to drive a delivery truck with a large liftgate for a living, so I had the luxury and thrill of picking up and delivery this saw to my own garage workshop. What a joy that was!

Assembly, adjustments and fine tuning took my 14 year old son and me approximately 3 hours. This is only my 2nd bandsaw, so we took our time and did everything slowly and carefully. Assembly was problem free and everything lined up and fit perfectly. All hardware was accounted for and the instructions were crystal clear. The finish was flawless and beautiful, without any complaints whatsoever. This is indeed a beautiful piece of machinery.

I've been using this saw in my garage workshop for about 6 months now. The bulk of the work I've used it for is resawing, which it has done very well. The toughest job I have asked it to do is resaw a 7 1/4" wide quartersawn white oak board, which it did with no problem. It has also handled many other hardwoods with equal ease.

I really like everything about this saw. It is easy to set up, tension, de-tension, change blades and operate. Everything about it just looks and feels rock solid and heavy duty. It is smooth, quiet and powerful. The upper and lower blade guides are ball bearing and they work well and are easy to adjust. I even like the large on/off buttons Jet used and I think they are in just the right spot.

This saw is just the right size for woodworkers who want larger than the 14" models but don't have space for, or don't want to pay for the 18" or larger models. Price wise, it is competitive with a 14" saw loaded with all of the accessories, but the Jet 16" has more power than most 14" saws and doesn't require a riser. The Jet will also accept up to a 1 1/2" wide blade for resawing. I don't know of any 14" saw on the market that will accept a blade that wide. It fits nicely into a little nook in the corner of my shop and with the mobile base I set it on, I can move it around the shop quite easily. (Note to anyone worried about finding blades for this saw: woodcraft.com sells Timberwolf blades of all widths in the 123" length.)

Even though the rip fence and rails for this saw are sold separate from the bandsaw as an accessory, I did purchase them and have used the fence a lot. They were easy to install, align and adjust. The fence scale is also accurate, once it has been properly set up and the pointer adjusted. The fence also comes with a resaw attachment which makes guiding your work and keeping the blade from wandering during resawing a breeze. I use the standard blade included with this saw, which is a 3/4", for resawing and it has done well. Even with the added cost of the rip fence and a mobile base, this saw was still $100 cheaper than the 18" Jet model and offers pretty darn close to the same capacity.

In conclusion, I'm completely happy with this saw. It is the pride and joy of my workshop and I love to use it. I have to compliment Jet and thank them for making this wonderful tool. I am certain this saw will be around to hand down to my son.

Good saw for the money
I agree with much of what has already been said. This is a good saw for the bucks. That being said, we also have a LT14se Laguna in our professional shop which resaws 12" and has a 2hp motor and much better guides. The overall quality is the best you can get. It costs $1145 with free shipping. More money - yep, worth it - yep. If you intend to resaw thin veneer, buy the Laguna. If you add the beefier motor and better guides to the Jet, it will wind up costing you about what you will pay for the Laguna. As for the Jet's 123" blades being hard to find, we have Lennox, Timberwolf, and Jesada, all of which we found easily on the net. Local shops in metro areas will cut you any length blade you need. If $800 is your top limit, the Jet is certainly one of the better choices. Don't expect much in the way of support however.

Great Bandsaw for Small Shop & Good Price!
During my search for a bandsaw that was sized for "moderate" resawing, Jet began marketing this 16" model. The price was at the high end of smaller bandsaws and the least expensive of the fully enclosed stand types. I compared Jet, Delta, Powermatic, and other more prominent names. The saw has had plenty of power for 4" posts, red oak, and everything else fed to it. The dust collection works fairly well. It is a sturdy solid unit. I ordered it with Amazons "Super Saver" (Free!) shipping. I was absolutely astounded to have Fedex deliver it after it had been FLOWN to Denver a few days later. The only negative comment to be made is the lower door was damaged (bent) during shipping. Even after five plus months, I've yet to receive a replacement door from Jet! Now I'm searching for "Carter" type aftermarket blade guides and a mobile base. If the door is ever replaced, I'll definitely bump the rating to 5 stars!

Great Saw - good price!
I've used bandsaws of all shapes and sizes for many years, but I'm quite impressed with this one. I decided to get into wood turning and I needed a saw for roughing bowl blanks. I did a lot of research and settled on this Jet model. I'm glad I did. The resaw capacity is great. From box to cutting took all of a half hour. Blade runs true and pretty quiet for the size motor. Fit and finish is excellent. Due to the odd blade length, I suggest you order at least one spare. It comes with a 3/4" for resawing. Order a 3/8" for finer scroll work. I also ordered the fence and it went together easy and seems to work okay(haven't used it much). I haven't found anything about the saw I do not like!

Impressive Saw
The JWBS-16, is an impressive saw. Out of the box, set up and sawing in 2 hours. So far the saw zips right through hardwoods, but we haven't tried resawing. The fit and finish are excellent. Changing blades is a snap, easier than any other bandsaw I have worked on. For the price it would be hard to find another saw with this ones capabilities. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

JET's 14-inch band saw offers woodworkers two big improvementsover other band saws in this class. The blade guide with light springtension inside the mechanism was the first thing we noticed. It staysin place when you loosen it instead of crashing down on the tabletop(or your fingers) as guides from other saws can. This allows fortwo-handed height adjustment, letting you set the guide precisely whereyou want it quickly and easily. The blade guide also offersoil-impregnated plastic parts rather than steel, so the blade stayssharp longer. We were also impressed with the blade tracking device,which locks in place so there's no need for readjustment after the testrun. The saw has a 1-horsepower motor that's fan cooled and fullyenclosed for dust protection, and computer-balanced, die-cast aluminumwheels for smooth operation. The 15-by-15-inch cast-iron table isslightly larger than tables on competing band saws, and it tilts 45degrees to the right and 10 degrees to the left.

Other advantages include a heavy-gauge metal housing and a powdercoating (rather than paint), meaning the saw will hold up to regularusage and still look good. Another user-friendly feature is thequick-connect electrical plug, so you don't have to follow long cordsto their outlets before each blade change. Band saws aren't thedustiest machines around, so the 2-inch dust port for the shop vacseems just right, but a 2- to 4-inch converter can be added for usewith a more serious shop-dust-collection system. This saw is best forshops doing smaller pieces or serious hobbyists who want to do finework. Owners will enjoy quick and easy setup by following a clear setof instructions. --Nancy Gleason ... Read more

Features

• 1 hp, single-phase, 115/230-volt motor moves the blade at 3,000 sfpm
• Features a 6-by-13-1/2-inch cutting capacity
• Graphite-impregnated polymer blade guides deliver a cooler-running blade
• 15-by-15-inch cast-iron tilting table provides extra support for work pieces

Reviews (24)

New to Woodworking
This is my first bandsaw. I purchased it on the basis of the JET name for quality. I also purchased the HTC mobile base. I use my garage for my shop, so a mobile base is a necessity. They all arrived by truck. The trucking company called ahead and scheduled a day to deliver which was very helpful. I definitely would recommend having a second person available to help with the lifting of the saw onto the base and with the tensioning of the drive belt. There are four bolts that hold the motor that must be loosened to move the motor. It is almost impossible to hold the motor tight and tighten the bolts back up once the motor is in the proper position. I was disappointed the saw came without a fence or miter gage and that no accessories are listed as being avaiable in the materials contained with the saw. The adjusting of the saw blade was straight forward, but the guides under the table were not easy to see or adjust without removing the table. It probably took about five hours to set it all up, but I am looking forward to many hours of use wih this essential tool for my shop.

Excellent Performance, Very Happy
I purchased this saw a month ago thru Amazon. Set up was straght forward and took about two hours. The saw arrived with a ding in the upper wheel cover and a bent blade tensioner, both correctable in the shop. This is my first band saw and is living up to expectations and then some. It cuts 4/4 hardwoods accurately and with little saw marks. I have used it on oak, maple and walnut. I do wish it came with a fence and miter as these are almost always going to be added. My first Jet tool (I have Grizzly, Delta and Craftsman), it will not be my last. I am a better than novice woodworker. (This is Deborra's husband Dennis)

Good low-end 14" bandsaw
I consider it 'low-end' of the group because it lacks some of the features of the basic Delta, but also of the new 14" Jet which wasn't available at the time I purchased this one.

The Jet doesn't have cast iron trunnions which holds up the table, it's cast aluminum, so the table will flex under pressure. How much is ok depends on what you're doing and what you think you can tolerate. The Powermatic has cast iron trunnions, so do all of the Deltas, even the cheapest.

The lower adjuster is a little harder to get to than the delta. The knobs on the Delta are out of the way so you can get your fingers on them a little easier. That's perhaps splitting hairs but it also supports the blade lower on the bottom while the lower blade support on the Delta is higher which supports the blade closer to the table.

The Delta has a few extra spokes on its wheels so does the new Jet. Supposed to help cut down vibration. I haven't had trouble with vibration that couldn't be made better by adjustment.

In a nut shell, it works fine. It runs smooth and quite. I did replace the v-belt with a like belt. That quiets it down a bit more and reduces motor vibration. Which I should mention, getting the belt aligned and to reasonable tension is truly an art. I think some form of reengineered mounting/aligning method is well overdue.

At some point I'll get the Carter automatic tensioner. This will essentially make it the new Jet minus the 9 spoke wheels. I might even check the price of the Powermatics Trunion. They're exactly the same as the Jets as far as shape just better material.

Adding up the costs would equal a bit better saw with the payments spread out. A little more money will get you a "5 star" for this size saw.

This Jet performs very good and I'm pleased with the performance. it's just the details I wasn't aware of until I brought it home and putting it together. Then read "The Bandsaw Book".

GREAT SAW
I JUST GOT MY JET BAND SAW, WHAT A GREAT MACHINE. IT WAS A PIECE OF CAKE TO PUT TOGETHER AND I WAS UP AND RUNNING IN AN HOUR.
IT'S GOT PLENTY OF POWER FOR THE AVERAGE WOODWORKER.

CENTERPIECE OF OUR SHOP...
This was the second JET product we purchased (after the vac) and we have been extremely pleased with it. In our shop, it is used on a daily basis and with the exception of POOR DUST CONTROL, it is a delight to use. Changing blades, adding the resaw equipment is as simple as just taking the time to do it without requiring repetive or bizzare adjustments. We have added an after market table top to increase it's size and provide a fence that is more precise... but day after day, we find it the easiest power tool in the shop to use... ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This 18-inch band saw offers high-quality construction and big resawing capacity to serious woodworkers on a tight tool budget. This saw's most prominent benefit is the one-piece, dual tapered column design, which offers superior rigidity and strength, minimizing vibration and keeping cuts clean, smooth, and accurate. Woodworkers in the know will also appreciate the inclusion of roller bearings on both the upper and lower guides, with dual roller bearings on each side of the blade and a single bearing behind the blade for back support. The system greatly reduces the friction inherent in stationary and European guide systems while providing more support. The saw is powered by a totally enclosed, 1-1/2-horsepower, fan-cooled motor with a blade speed of 3,000 sfpm. There's a large cast-iron worktable (19 by 19 inches) that tilts 45 degrees to the right and 10 degrees to the left. This model also comes with a JET rip fence and a good miter gauge. The saw's maximum cutting height is 10-1/4 inches, and the upper blade guide uses a smooth and precise rack-and-pinion adjustment mechanism. This tool's versatility just keeps on going, accommodating 133-inch blades from 1/8 to 1-1/2 inches wide for equally smooth curve cutting or resawing. JET puts the finishing touches on the saw with two locking cabinet doors and the durable powder-coated finish found on all their shop tools. In all, we think serious woodworkers will really appreciate the high quality JET is able to deliver for such a low cost. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• 19-by-19-inch cast-iron table includes rip fence
• One piece dual-tapered column design for greater rigidity and strength
• Powerful 1-1/2 hp 115/230V motor
• Roller bearing blade guides for better support with less friction
• Rack-and-pinion blade guide height adjustment

Reviews (14)

Jet 18 underpowered
I have had this saw for about one yr and now have it for sale. The saw is underpowered and has a hard time resawing anything over 6inches. It bogs down repeatedly unless you go ultra slow. The resaw height on mine was 9 15/16, not 10 1/4 like they advertise. The trunions are wimpy aluminum and the wheels are spoked instead of the more thicker cast iron. On the positive side the guides work very well and the fit and finish is excellent. The table was flat but the fence has no way to adjust for drift. You get what you pay for and this saw is a good saw for regular bandsaw work and ocassional 4-6inch resaw work. I believe you need a minimum of 3hp, 5hp would be better for serious resaw work.

Good Investment
I purchased my Jet JWBS - 18 woodworking bandsaw about 13 months ago and have used it quite a bit. It arrived about 7 days after I ordered it from Amazon.com. It was well crated and suffered no damage in shipping. I took the crate apart carefully and have used the crate wood in several projects. Installed an HTC base as the bandsaw is heavy and difficult to move around without wheels. Seems like Jet could put wheels on the bandsaw in the holes provided in the base and raise the price $...to offset the cost. Never the less, the bandsaw is good in quality for the price. Decided to make lumber out of mesquite logs 4 to 5 feet long an up to 10 inches in diameter. Resawing the super hard mesquite was a chore and the task was tedious as it kept tripping the breaker and the motor was overheating. Read some other reviews and discovered that this bandsaw is underpowered for serious resawing and got some good advice on how to correct the problem with a motor upgrade. I bought a 3 hp American made motor, a new pulley and designed and engineered a heavy duty custom made motor mount to carry the size and weight of the new motor. The conversion works great and the motor does not bog down no matter how fast I try to feed the blade and no more breaker problem....I recommend the Jet JWBS 18 inch bandsaw to anyone. It fit my original needs as a valuable tool in my workshop, my needs just changed after I started using the saw and seeing its full potential.

Good product but needs tweaking
I agree with the comments herein regarding the weak motor. First time I tried resawing a piece of hard dry wild cherry, the motor bogged down and then the lower back blade guide came lose. it's a thumb screw and you can't get good leverage on it. I may consider upgrading the blade guides and possibly installing a larger motor if I do much resawing.

Be prepared for significant adjustments
Our woodshop purchased this tool about six months ago. We were torn between the Laguna 18" and the Jet 18". We chose the Jet due to the significant price difference. The tool arrived in a very flimsy wooden crate. Upon removal of the packaging we could see evidence where the tool may have been dropped during shipment. Our crew can fix and adjust anything so we decided to go with the tool as is. The first thing we decided to do was throw the blade away and buy real bandsaw blades. It is a real knock against Jet/Powermatic to ship a tool with such a pathetic blade. Next, we took off the belt and replaced it with a link belt system to give the motor added "umph".

The saw was so out of alignment on delivery that it was practically unusable. It would have been beyond the ability of the average woodworker to adjust. The cast wheels were seriously out of alignment, which contributed to blade wobble. The blade guides were seriously out of wack. After reading Lonnie Birds book cover to cover we were able to get everything up and running. We have been using the saw now for five months with few complaints. More power would be nice. This saw can resaw 6" material, but anything larger causes the blades to drift and puts a strain on the motor. Over all, a good tool that needs significant TLC to get fine tuned for precision work.

Still love it after 2-1/2 Years
I have owned my machine for about 30 months and have given it a fair amount of use. Yes, I too was aggravated by the lower guide adjustment but practice makes easier, especially after you figure out how to get to the adjustment screws.

Overall I am very happy with the saw. I don't do a lot of resawing (up to 4-5" occasionally) but have never had a problem with power. I bought the 18" machine because I often cut larger pieces of 8/4 hardwood into curves and the large table makes handling the heavier pieces easy.

I purchased the saw as an assembled floor model but ran through the handbook setup procedure anyway, to get acquainted. The handbook is generally good and representative of the machine. The saw is heavy and I recommend a mobile base if you intend to move the saw. I stow the saw against the wall in my shop and can easily pull it out, use it and roll it back when finished.

I do not have an active dust collection system yet but much of the dust is trapped within the lower cabinet and cleanup is simple. Blade changes and tensioning are very easy once you figure out how to adjust the lower guide (see earlier post from an owner that describes the process well). When I bought my machine it had the earlier "European" blade guides. I was predisposed at the time to doing a Carter roller guide or similar upgrade but I am getting along fine with the originals. They are a bit noisy but accurate.

I would recommend this saw to anyone. In fact, my son in law just bought one. ... Read more

Features

• 50" Xacta commercial fence
• 3 HP fan cooled motor
• Rail-mounted, magnetic on/off switch
• Precision ground 27" x 40" cast iron table
• Extra large cabinet measures contains router lift

Reviews (1)

Outstanding Tool
I just finished assembling this saw and making some test cuts and I have to say it's a great piece of machinery! Should provide a lifetime of fun projects. Here are my likes, dislikes and some helpful hints from my experience:

Likes:
Fit & Finish are great. All parts arrived in good condition. All hardware was included and assembly went smoothly. Instructions were good (some pictures), and in logical order. However, since the saw, fence, rails, table, cabinet and lift all come separately (5 boxes), each has it's own instructions - you have to figure out the overall order - pretty intuitive (I'll cover later). Great Power - a little noisy but that's the price of having a real powertool. Alignment was good out of the box. Fence action is smooth and locks solidly. Good adjustability on all parts. Using saw with Forrest WWII and it cuts like glass - see all the Forrest reviews - they're true!

Dislikes:
Plastic legs on cabinet are flimsy but functional. Since I'm using with a ShopFox mobile base, I'll end up making my own legs to fit the base extension anyway.

Watch out - Amazon free shipping ain't so free. Since this thing is 450lbs you will need to make arrangements with shipper - Amazon doesn't. Unless you're Arnold Schwarzenegger, you'll want to arrange for a truck with a liftgate and pallet dolly. While I'd think that after spending this much on a tool Amazon/Toolcrib would cover the *appropriate* shipping, my shipper (ABF Freight) ended up being cool and arranged to do so for free. Thanks to them :)

Assembly Recommendations:
Order of Assembly - 1)Saw/Extension Wings, 2)Fence Rails, 3)Cabinet (so you can set the tabletop on the cabinet to level it), 4)mountExtention Table to fence rails, 5) screw cabinet to tabletop, 6) Fence Guide/Fence/Blade Guard, 6) cabinet door/external shelf, 7) Router Lift

You have to wire the plug (220v - 20A)

WARNING - If installing the table shelf between the cabinet and the saw, double-check the template that is supplied (last page of manual). If I hadn't checked it by assembling the shelf with the mounting brackets and screws and holding it up to the saw, I would have ended up drilling 4 holes in my new table saw that resulted in a crooked/unlevel shelf (by 1/2")

Don't use the screws in the plastic door handle on the cabinet as the instructions suggest - just glue it in. The screws are too close to the surface and split the melamine face on the door

Be careful tightening the screws holding the fence guide to the front fence rail - I stripped one of the 5 even though I wasn't overtightening.

That's it. All in all I'm very pleased. Looked at Jet, Delta, DeWalt. Went with the Jet - felt I got more for the money compared to Delta and a higher performing tool compared to DeWalt, but was a little apprehensive of quality compared to Delta from other reviews. However, now that I have it, I can heartily recommend/endorse JET - any fears appear to be unfounded. Also have the JET air filter and 1100CFM dust collector and they're good too. After years of using an old radial arm saw for all my projects, my shop is off to a good start. ... Read more

Features

• JETE9
• Cast Iron Tables and Wings
• Powder Coat Finish
• Large Handwheels for easy adjustment
• 4" Dust Port

Features

• One-year limited warranty
• 1-1/2 hp, single-phase, 115/230-volt motor
• Quick-release precision JET fence
• 30-inch rip to the right capacity, 12-inch left
• Open-style stand

Reviews (13)

Better saw, better company service. Better get it.
I've had my JWTS-10JF (Gold Series) nearly a year now and still marvel at the saw's capabilities and quality. Rock solid design, accurate and true out-of-the-box with smoothness that I highly doubt can be surpassed by another contractor saw in it's class. So here comes another long-winded review, but hey I really appreciate the reviews from others here on Amazon when I do research so I hope you too enjoy this information.

This saw's price has gone up in the last year. I bought mine at a local Rockler store with a significant store coupon discount (sorry can't state amount-Amazon's policy) but it is still a good chunk of change less then the primary competitor's contractor saw from the number one table saw company (brand "D" with the triangle logo, model# 36-650) with impeccable customer service. I must admit the other brand D was the first saw I looked at as I have a miter saw and combination sander from them but soon realized they may be #1 in sales but this doesn't always indicate the number one in quality/value.

This Jet model draws 18 amps and amperage is generally where you get the power capability. This was confirmed when I called Jet's customer service (to replace a misplaced company logo on the front of the saw, more on that later). The JWTS-10JF actually produces closer to 1-3/4 hp when run single phase but Jet understates its power, acknowledged the company rep. The Jet does have two amps less power than brand D but when comparing 18 vs 20 it's not much of a difference. What is a significant difference is the weight. The actual weight of this saw, if I remember correctly is 276 lbs with a heavier duty stand and obviously more weight elsewhere. Brand D's rival, the more expensive 36-650 weighs 234# (source: 2001 Workshop Machinery catalog, p. 10, they put out) which equals 40+ lbs of extra steel in the Jet. The result of extra weight of course is a more stable and smoother running saw. On initial startup the saw did vibrate a little more than I liked due to its rubber v-belt that had settled in it's box into an oblong shape. I replaced it with a Powertwist belt and voila, nickel test was easily passed!

My saw is the Gold Series version. The difference to be honest I think is just cosmetic. They changed the logo and mine was upside down! Yes it really was inverted as the metal plate holding it only fits onto the saw's stand one way. I was perplexed. Such a fine saw with this glaring eyesore. Jet gladly sent me another free, no questions asked, during a nearly 20 minute conversion with one of their very friendly and helpful service reps. They also gave me tips for using dado blades, what sizes and brands worked best and various other woodworking tips. It was a shame to say goodbye.

I have ripped and crosscut 1/8" to 3/4" plywood, plastic plexiglass sheet and softwoods from pine to dense exotic hardwoods as 3/4" purpleheart. No hesitation and the fence and depth/angle adjustments were dead on accurate from the very beginning. The fence is accurate but has a little "off-hand" feel. The cam handle doesn't feel as if it locks solidly but it does and mine has never failed. It just feels like it will slip. I will probably replace it with a custom Biesemeyer or Jet Xacta fence anyway so I'm not much bothered.

All the time the saw ran smooth due to it's hefty weight of a tad under 300 lbs. Keep in mind this is no light weight saw and if you plan to move it you'd better get a mobile base or a big burly friend. Weight, which is generally a positive quality, is a drawback if you plan to assemble it yourself. I couldn't get it out of my car and had to remove it piece by piece (but then if I had remembered it took three of us to get it into my car I probably would have realized this before I pulled my back out). As far as steel vs. cast iron wings go, I'm glad I chose steel but this is because I get tired of constantly waxing cast iron to avoid rust. This is only personal preference. The assembly time was between 4-5 hours at a leisurely pace. The motor assembly was the most difficult part to accomplish but resting it on a short stepstool helped as a perfect set of second hands.

The Pros:
**Quality/Price ratio
**No nonsense out-of-the-box accuracy
**Smooooth operation (Nickel test-no problem)
**Good selection of after market parts
**Customer service (Five stars so far)

The Cons:
**"Off-hand" feel of cam lock on fence
**Dust collection fair, but remember it's a contractor saw
**Upside down company logo!?? (Insert head scratch here)

Summary: Number one isn't always best. Get the better saw from the second name in woodworking machinery. Jet.

Better saw, better company service. Better get it.
(This is a rewritten review from 11/26/02 as the previous didn't include my Amazon nickname/hyperlink to my other reviews.) I've had my JWTS-10JF (Gold Series) nearly a year now and still marvel at the saw's capabilities and quality. Rock solid design, accurate and true out-of-the-box with smoothness that I highly doubt can be surpassed by another contractor saw in it's class. So here comes another long-winded review, but hey I really appreciate the reviews from others here on Amazon when I do research so I hope you too enjoy this information.

This saw's price has gone up in the last year. I bought mine at a local Rockler store with a significant store coupon discount (sorry can't state amount-Amazon's policy) but it is still a good chunk of change less then the primary competitor's contractor saw from the number one table saw company (brand "D" with the triangle logo, model# 36-650) with impeccable customer service. I must admit the other brand D was the first saw I looked at as I have a miter saw and combination sander from them but soon realized they may be #1 in sales but this doesn't always indicate the number one in quality/value.

This Jet model draws 18 amps and amperage is generally where you get the power capability. This was confirmed when I called Jet's customer service (to replace a misplaced company logo on the front of the saw, more on that later). The JWTS-10JF actually produces closer to 1-3/4 hp when run single phase but Jet understates its power, acknowledged the company rep. The Jet does have two amps less power than brand D but when comparing 18 vs 20 it's not much of a difference. What is a significant difference is the weight. The actual weight of this saw, if I remember correctly is 276 lbs with a heavier duty stand and obviously more weight elsewhere. Brand D's rival, the more expensive 36-650 weighs 234# (source: 2001 Workshop Machinery catalog, p. 10, they put out) which equals 40+ lbs of extra steel in the Jet. The result of extra weight of course is a more stable and smoother running saw. On initial startup the saw did vibrate a little more than I liked due to its rubber v-belt that had settled in it's box into an oblong shape. I replaced it with a Powertwist belt and voila, nickel test was easily passed!

My saw is the Gold Series version. The difference to be honest I think is just cosmetic. They changed the logo and mine was upside down! Yes it really was inverted as the metal plate holding it only fits onto the saw's stand one way. I was perplexed. Such a fine saw with this glaring eyesore. Jet gladly sent me another free, no questions asked, during a nearly 20 minute conversion with one of their very friendly and helpful service reps. They also gave me tips for using dado blades, what sizes and brands worked best and various other woodworking tips. It was a shame to say goodbye.

I have ripped and crosscut 1/8" to 3/4" plywood, plastic plexiglass sheet and softwoods from pine to dense exotic hardwoods as 3/4" purpleheart. No hesitation and the fence and depth/angle adjustments were dead on accurate from the very beginning. The fence is accurate but has a little "off-hand" feel. The cam handle doesn't feel as if it locks solidly but it does and mine has never failed. It just feels like it will slip. I will probably replace it with a custom Biesemeyer or Jet Xacta fence anyway so I'm not much bothered.

All the time the saw ran smooth due to it's hefty weight of a tad under 300 lbs. Keep in mind this is no light weight saw and if you plan to move it you'd better get a mobile base or a big burly friend. Weight, which is generally a positive quality, is a drawback if you plan to assemble it yourself. I couldn't get it out of my car and had to remove it piece by piece (but then if I had remembered it took three of us to get it into my car I probably would have realized this before I pulled my back out). As far as steel vs. cast iron wings go, I'm glad I chose steel but this is because I get tired of constantly waxing cast iron to avoid rust. This is only personal preference. The assembly time was between 4-5 hours at a leisurely pace. The motor assembly was the most difficult part to accomplish but resting it on a short stepstool helped as a perfect set of second hands.

The Pros:
**Quality/Price ratio
**No nonsense out-of-the-box accuracy
**Smooooth operation (Nickel test-no problem)
**Good selection of after market parts
**Customer service (Five stars so far)

The Cons:
**"Off-hand" feel of cam lock on fence
**Dust collection fair, but remember it's a contractor saw
**Upside down company logo!?? (Insert head scratch here)

Summary: Number one isn't always best. Get the better saw from the second name in woodworking machinery. Jet.

Jet Saw Purchase
I recently purchased the Jet JWTS-10JF Table Saw. I spent a full day assembling the saw. I found that the SAW BLADE was not included in the purchase. You have to buy the blade "locally". This was not explained in the description of the "Table Saw"; perhaps they should name it a "JWTS-10JF Table". It is a rowboat without oars, a bicycle without pedals, a car without gas. The old adage, 'batteries not included' should be prominently displayed!

I like the Saw, but . . .
My son bought the saw for me when my old Delta bench top failed. I was pleasantly surprised that it took no longer than it did to get everything assembled. Aside from needing help to get the body of the saw downstairs and on the base, I had little trouble with the assembly. One exception: it must have taken me an hour to get the splitter aligned correctly. Otherwise adequate instructions really failed here.

Alignment seems really good. Cutting scrap pine for test, edges were really smooth. Could barely detect swirls from blade. Runs very smooth and quiet, but when I shut it off, the motor bucks once as it is slowing down. I don't understand this.

Great improvement for me.

Table is really flat, even the stamped steel wings but there is one potentially serious problem: the main table casting has a surface crack about 1.5" long, which appears to extend through to the underside of the top. It doesn't appear that it would affect the saw's operation -- now -- but I don't know about the long term. We'll see how this plays out in the next few days.

The center of it all.
The table saw is the center of any woodworkers or home enthusiast workshop. So make sure you do it right. I LOVE this saw. The Pros: When it is on a dedicated circuit it cuts like a knife through hot butter. Nice fence and rail system, took me a while to trust it but it is solid. Very solid build construction.

The nit-picky Cons: It is an 18 amp saw not a typical 15 AMP like most Craftsman saws. I had it on a 20 AMP circuit with shop lights and it kept blowing the breaker. So I dedicated a 20 AMP homerun for it and it can finally run the way it should. I am going to convert it to 220 eventually and I will be home free. The miter gauge could use a little work. There are flip tabs that you can set to mark any degree you need to work with (90, 45, 38 .......) they flex and just don't feel accurate. Mine sits on my router table now for a glorified push stick. I bought an Accu miter fence which is magic. As with most of my reviews, I would spend the extra money and get cast iron wings, but again that is my fault not the saws. BUY THIS SAW for the money it cant be beat. ... Read more

Features

• Fully Enclosed Cabinet
• 30" XACTA Fence, more accuracy
• Cast Iron Wings add more stability
• 1 3/4 HP Motor
• 4" Dust Port

Features

• Two-year warranty
• 3/4 hp, single-phase, 115/230-volt motor
• Quick-connect motor-to-switch plug for easy setup
• 15-by-15-inch cast-iron table
• Wide stance 16-gauge steel stand

Reviews (2)

Cheaper Reliant
I actually have a cheaper, but very similar, Reliant 14" open-base band saw. It works very well, both for fine work and pretty heavy work (cutting a stack of 4" logs into rustic coffee table legs). I have not tried it as a resaw; its not designed for that. The blade guides must be adjusted upon each use, and whenever anything is moved, and occasionally while it is in use. But this has not proved inconvenient, and is common on much finer band saws. I have had no trouble with blade tracking - the wheels and wheel bearings were good originally, and have held up, and the frame is perfectly rigid. I do not have to realign the wheels. The bottom adjustments are relatively inaccessible, in comparison to the knobs on the Delta, so I don't adjust them as often as I should; I compensate with the upper adjustments when possible. The table has remained even across the blade slot. I think that is the key point when purchasing such a saw: get one where the table is not twisting. I have seen two similar band saws with broken trunnion castings; mine is fine (I don't tilt the table).

The JET wins the value game.
Way-back-when the first really good small band saw came out we bought it and loved it (the R-brand which is now the D-brand). A while later JET came onto the market with a 14" but being reluctant to change something that wasn't broke we kept our R-brand for many more years. One day someone offered us a lot of gold for our whole woodshop and the old enclosed base band saw went with it. Later we started a new shop that produced models and prototypes for other shops. When outfitting the shop and generally being in like with our wallets slightly more than our machines we considered the JET 14" for the first time. After a few trials and a lot of jabber on the jungle telegraph we took the chance. At that time the open base was a new thing. While not as svelte looking as the enclosed base we soon found that it was easier to clean up after and we could store stuff underneath - valuable space for those once-in-awhile jigs. It also seemed to run quieter without those flat sheetmetal walls. About the only thing the D-brand has over the JET is the quality of the motor but that was not enough to convince us to part with the extra money. The JET 14" has very good everything else and is a valued piece of equipment in the shop. Of all the 14" saws it is clearly amongst the best - which is good as it is also one of the least expensive. Hints: Buy the frame extension - it does not weaken the frame measurably and you will enjoy the added working height. If you do not buy it now you will accumulate blades which will not fit if you buy it later. Use a 3" 45 degree PVC elbow modified to a clamshell to fit over the lower guide and blade to provide better dust extraction. Keeps the sawdust off the lower wheel. Wear safety glasses. Pay attention: this is not a machine where you want your attention wandering unless your goal is to receive disability payments. Somewhat enigmatically I still wish we had the closed base. It looks better. ... Read more

Features

• Multi-tilting twin worktable
• 3HP, 3Ph, 230/460V motor (Prewired 230V)
• Two-speed gearbox
• Increased accuracy with an included rip fence
• Variable speeds provide proper adjustments for high efficiency cutting

Features

• Multi-tilting worktable
• 2HP, 3Ph, 230/460V motor (Prewired 230V)
• Two-speed gearbox
• Blade guard adjusts quickly with handwheel and lock
• Variable speeds provide proper adjustments for high efficiency cutting

Features

• 1HP, 1Ph, 115/230V motor (Prewired 115V)
• Variable speeds provide proper adjustments for high efficiency cutting
• Multi-tilting worktable

Features

• Multi-tilting worktable
• 2HP, 3Ph, 230/460V motor (Prewired 230V)
• Two-speed gearbox
• Increased accuracy with an included rip fence
• Variable speeds provide proper adjustments for high efficiency cutting

Features

• 1-1/2 hp motor
• 30" rip to the right and 12" rip to the left
• Under cabinet dust collection hood with a 4" diameter hookup
• Deluxe miter gauge that includes extra long bar for larger crosscutting capacity
• 27-by-16-inch table with router cutout

Reviews (2)

Great Table Saw
I bought this one for my home wood workshop. First of all, this is a heavy piece of equipment. Make sure the delivery guys take it close where you intend to install it.

Assembling this table saw took me about 6 hours, take your time, my package contained all the nuts and bolts needed (and then some), nothing missing.

Overall I am very happy with the tool, I use a Woodworker II blade and it cuts very smoothly. The reasons I am not giving it 5 stars are as follows:
1. The fence locking mechanism is not easy to adjust. It may be that there is something wrong with mine, but I have had to re-adjust it several times
2. The Router lift is not flush with the router table when inserted, home made fix required.

Jet table saw very reliable
This table saw has proven to be a top performer. Despite comments from my Father-in-law and Grandfather about tools from overseas, both were impressed with the quality of this saw (both have much more experience than me). I have used this saw to make several cabinets and small furniture items with great results. I also have used a 8" dado with equal success. The price has gone up since I bought mine - wait for a rebate deal from Jet. Assembly was easy - no missing parts or problems. ... Read more

Features

• 50-inch XACTA commercial fence
• 3 hp fan-cooled motor
• Rail mounted magnetic on/off switch
• Precision ground 27-by-40-inch cast-iron table
• Extra large cabinet measures 27-by-27-inches

Reviews (1)

Almost everything you could want
I've had my 10" XACTA Right Tilt saw for almost a year now. It has the 30" fence due to limited shop space, however other than the fence it is the same saw. The set-up took about two hours, the hard part being getting the table extensions and table insert flat and true. Mounting the fence rails didn't present a challange, and getting the fence itself square turned out to be easy as well. The instructions were clear and I had already downloaded a copy from the Jet web site to study in anticipation of delivery. Moving to the Jet from a Sears Craftsman is like night and day. The old saw had a hard time with 2" softwood, the Jet zips through all the hardwoods I have fed it and only once have I had anything slow it down. That was the one time I tried to rip a 4x4 a little too fast. I looked at the Unisaw prior to buying the Jet, and concluded that having to buy a dust chute as an extra didn't really make sense. I felt that the Delta also didn't attach the aux. table as well as Jet. Is it perfect? No. I have had to calk the sloping floor of the cabinet to help contain sawdust and keep it off the floor, and it was difficult to find a stud to attach the bonding wire for the dust collector. The finish on the Aux. table was rough and gave me a really bad splinter, but all that is minor. The saw and fence have held allignment as close as I am able to measure for a year now, and that includes a couple of kickbacks that would have brought out the tools on the old saw. I have replaced the spreader with the Byssemeyer in the hope that the increased convinence of the Bysse will lead me to use it more than the origional and stop those dangerous kickbacks. For the money, and a saw of this price and quality should be a lifetime investment, I feel this is the best value around. ... Read more

Features

• 50" Xacta commercial fence
• 4 HP fan cooled motor
• Rail-mounted, magnetic on/off switch
• Precision ground 27" x 40" cast iron table
• Extra large cabinet measures contains router lift

Features

• One-year limited warranty
• Right-tilting blade
• Wide stance trunnion design
• 27-by-40-inch table
• 4-inch steel dust chute

Reviews (1)

Great Saw
Purchased this saw 8 months ago and love it. I was delived right to my shop. Set up was easy. I love the router lift I have a route table that I made awhile ago. It now sits in the corner. This is the best table saw I have owned. ... Read more

Features

• Offers the unique combination of smooth action and fingertip control
• Has hairline cursor for easy readability of fence rule
• Glide roller moves fence for fine adjustment
• Fence has T-slots for mounting accessories

Features

• 30" Fence
• Cast Iron Tables and Wings
• Powder Coat Finish
• Large Handwheels for easy adjustment
• 4" Dust Port

Features

• 52" Fence
• Cast Iron Tables and Wings
• Powder Coat Finish
• Large Handwheels for easy adjustment
• 4" Dust Port