Amazon.com Review

DeWalt's high-torque framing saw is a good option for people who prefer the torque of a traditional worm drive saw but don't have time (or memory) for the regular oiling worm drives require. It has a 15 amp motor that provides 2,000 watts of output power. The bevel and depth-of-cut gauges cannot be recalibrated, so after taking a few hard jolts users may want to rely on a tape and secondary bevel gauge for accuracy. That said, although the base is narrow, it's one of the toughest bases we've seen and it isn't likely to warp easily. While its design is similar to that of a worm drive saw, the gearing is situated at an angle to the base, keeping the handle closer to the blade and making for better balance and control than what most worm drives offer. The shaft lock button is on the opposite side of the saw from the blade, so blade changes require some awkward hand positioning to use the wrench while holding the button--not an ideal situation, but not a huge inconvenience either. We appreciate the easy external brush access on this tool, which can eliminate a trip to the repair shop as the saw ages. We also like the built-in rafter hook, a bonus feature not found on other circular saws. This DeWalt has only been on the market for three years, so while the hypoid gearing lets it provide the same level of torque as a worm drive saw, it remains to be seen whether it has the long life span we've come to expect from our old worm drives. We think it's a great saw for people looking for a burly circular saw at a reasonable price. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• Left blade for good cur visibility
• Lightweight 13 lbs. design
• Powerful 15 Amp motor with high torque gearing
• Lower guard improves performance when making bevel cuts and cutting shims
• Built in saw hook for hanging from rafters

Reviews (22)

So far so good!
I purchased the DeWalt framing saw for a christmas gift for myself. I was a little skeptical, after reading a few of the reviews here on amazon, and decided to look into wheather or not the saw would live up to the challenge of the jobsite. Having worked with the M77's for my entire carpentry career I knew that they would be hard to beat. We currently have 3 M77 and my DW387g on the jobsite. Slowly over the past 6 months it has begun to see most of the action. It has plenty of power, and my fellow co-workers have come to enjoy the smooth action, good balance and light weight. The only real problem that I have found with the saw is that when making cuts on 5/8" or 1/2" plywood the saw is so light weight and the saw slides so smoothly that it is hard to make straight cuts, but who's going to see that on a roof anyway. Overall the saw is very powerful, light, and easy to handle. The drawbacks are almost to light-weight, and I'm still worried about the gears stripping out someday. Not a bad tool to add to the jobsite.

Great Light Saw
I bought my DeWalt warm drive right after it came out, and my friends at the job were making fun of it because it was so light and felt fragile. So I've build a few houses, many remodels and thousands of cuts and dozens of blades later the saw stills performs like it did over three years ago. Yes it did quit on me once because it was drenched with water and snow one day over here in the mountains or was it frozen because of the negative temperatures? I let it warm up a little, cleaned the bushings and bam! it was working again. The cord is a little ripped and I will have to clean (for the second time) the guard spring compartment from all the fine dust the prevents it from snaping back easily. I first chose this saw because my arm couldn't take the weight of the Mags anymore. Seriously I was not expecting it to last as much as it did when I bought it. This saw has made me so much money I am surprised it is still going strong.

Great Saw
I am a journeyman carpenter and use a lot of different saws on site, but this is the only saw I feel meets my high expectations. I bought one for myself when they first introduced it and immediatley was impressed. The speed that it can cut a microlam beam is impressive. Any other saw would just bog down. I've owned it for about 7 years and I wouldn't think of trading it for anything else.

Real power house
Had the 378 for a few weeks and I'm very impressed with it. The power to weight ratio is about that of an Indy car. The saw actually wants to twist on start up. I'm right handed so the left hand blade gives a great view of where your cutting but safety glasses are a must as it throws a lot of material at your face. It seemed cheaply constructed at first but after much abuse nothing's broken. The only suggestion I'd make is allow the blade wrench to be stored on the saw somewhere and an electric brake would be nice. Overall Great saw. DeWalt hasn't let me down yet.

the best
Dont buy anything but this saw. for balance to weight ratio-nothing better. I'm a framer and use this saw every day for thousands of cuts- The balance is so good I'll cut plywood on a ladder 20' in the air.I've cut through the cord three times, changed the bearings etc. the saw just keeps on going-not bad for a dewalt. Nothing else even compares. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The first thing we look for in a table saw--portable or otherwise--is an accurate, smooth-working fence, and the telescoping fence on DeWalt's 10-inch portable table saw impressed us immediately. Fully extended, the fence delivers a 24-1/2-inch rip capacity, letting you cut to the center of a 4-by-8-foot sheet, while the rack-and-pinion design lets you make microadjustments fast and accurately. We also liked how the fence rides on both the front and back rails so that it's parallel to the blade at all times. The telescoping rails retract, too--when the job's done, the saw is easy and safe to transport.

Like most 10-inch portable saws, DeWalt's has a 3-1/8-inch depth capacity at 90 degrees and a 2-1/4-inch capacity at 45. The 15 amp motor cranks plenty of torque and doesn't lag when cutting hardwood or pressure-treated stock. Performance aside, DeWalt clearly also kept safety in mind when designing this saw. Its oversize on/off switch is positioned so you can easily bump it off with your knee if you get into trouble making a cut. The arbor on Dewalt's saw also has the capacity for a full dado stack. Add to that the saw's dust-collection hookup and sturdy steel stand, and you've got a portable table saw that can hold its own in the shop. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• Large 26-1/2-by-19-1/4-inch table top provides ample material support
• 3-1/8-inch depth of cut at 90 degrees and 2-1/4-inch depth of cut at 45 degrees
• Features a 15 amp high-torque motor provides the power to cut pressure-treated lumber and hardwoods
• Telescoping fence delivers 24-1/2 inch rip capacity to handle 8-foot sheet material
• Rack-and-pinion design makes fence adjustment fast, smooth, and accurate

Reviews (56)

A plus for accuracy
I bought my Dewalt 10" portable saw two years ago and have been largely pleased with it since. It replaced an antique 8" Sears table saw that was a bear to set up accurately. The Dewalt was straight from the time I took it out of the box, requiring no additional set-up or alterations. The fence is a dream and is 100% true at all times due to the rack and pinion mechanism. Initially I used it to cut precision parts for a wooden airplane I am building. For the last year however it has been for cabinet and furniture projects that I have used it most. The dust collection is very good for an open bottom table saw, but even that could be improved. My only real complaint is the coated aluminum top. Some of the finish began flaking off (looks like heavy gray teflon) shortly after I got it. No effect on performance, just a cosmetic nuisance. I also got the folding stand with it and it too works very well. I just wish it had wheels. I did a lot of comparing and I would recommend it over any of the other saws in its size and price range.

Worth Every Penny
I bought this saw 8 monthes ago and have not been disappointed. I use it almost everyday and it has not let me down. Great, accurate fence. Light enough to move around but built tough like Dewalt advertises. There are lots of extra features and the simplicity of adjusting cannot be explained. Everything can be adjusted in seconds, literally for a variety of cuts (blade height, angle, and mitred cuts). I anticipated spending a few hours setting it up, but I was ripping in 10 minutes. The only thing I remember needing to adjust was the gauge to account for the kerf, and that is explained fully and is done with two phillips screws. One caution (on any table saw) is binding the blade! I have had a few pieces of wood thrown 50 feet behind me (shows you the power of this thing), luckily I was not directly behind it. Make sure you use the sliding mechanism when at all possible---assures accuracy and will keep work at the appropriate angle. I have not installed the cutting guard yet but have not had any close calls and still have all my digits. I have cut plywood, pine, spruce, mahogony, and mostly western red cedar and this saw will save you time and frustration with accurate cuts every time. The last thing I will caution against is crosscutting pieces over 6 feet or so. This binds the blade easily if you are not careful. Also, the fence is a snap to put on and take off, no tools required and there is no chance of misaligning it with the rack and pinion system. So much better than a Delta I used before where you had to line up each end of the fence. All in all, you will get your money's worth with the Dewalt.

one carpenters opinion
Im a carpenter with 15 years experience - speaking of portable table saws - Ive used the Bosch 4000, a few Delta's, the Ryobi's, the Makita 8 and 10" table saws, over the years.... I gave this product a poor review overall because of its poorly designed rack and pinion system which is easily compromised in the course of ordinary use.

The good:
1. solid table top
2. not too heavy for the average man to lift
3. stand is also not to heavy or bulky to load
4. Easy to eject debris from the chute if you happen to have any

The Weird:
a. no built in cord storage or wraparound. If you need to make a coupla quick cuts and dont need to bother setting up the stand, you will find no way to sit the saw on the floor without it crimping the AC power cord. Ugh !
b. if you need to carry the saw around much you may easily find the miter tool falling straight out of it's 'holder' (eg a slot in the plastic housing of the unit).

The Ugly:
I. The saw's rack and pinion system absolutely is a mess. In the course of ordinary cuts by multiple ordinary carpenters on one job, our saw's fence was consistently needing to be readjusted. Some carpenters figured out the flaw and were able to overcome it - but some were not. The secret lies in the way the rack and pinion gears are layed out - the rack gear moves back and forth, from left to right, as you would expect, but the pinion gear (which you would think would remain stationary) -can move up and down, enough to allow the two gears to become unbinded. UGH! Once this unbinding occurs, the fence *will* be out of parallel to the saw blade. Then you are left hoping to 'rebind' the gears after guessing which teeth need to 'mate'. Oh joy !

We found thru use that even moving the saw from room to room, or from truck to jobsite, was enough to cause the gears to unbind.

Eventually, you discover that the Bosch 4000 is the saw to buy if you've got a $500 budget and need portability.

The perfect saw to grow out of!
Pros: Dust collection, decent blade included, dead-on accurate out of the box, incredible fence, decent power.

Cons: short distance between from of saw and blade, should have used T-Slots to compensate.

But, you've heard all that. If you want to know whether this saw is a good choice for the cramped space, first saw buyer I can say decisively that it is because that is the situation I am in and I actually own the saw. Buy it. If you upgrade later to a cabinet or contractors saw you will still have a great portable saw for taking to the in-laws. Or, a second saw to keep the dado stack in.

Dewalt DW744s
I purchased this saw Jan 03 and I have run it through the paces. It is faily light weight yet extremely stable when mounted on the folding stand. At first I had my doubts as to whether the stand would be adequate, but after the first use I was sold. The table top is slick and allows stock to glide with ease but is faily small. If you cut plywood, you will want to get the table extentions that mount onto the unit and slide out of site when not in use. Make sure you keep the extentions lubricated with a silicone type lubricant (something that doesn't attract dirt) or they will drive you insane. The saw works very well for heavy and light tasks and a dado blade can be used with the optional dado insert. The fence is easily adjustable and locks positively in place. Should you knock it out of allignment, it can be adjusted to it's original position without too much effort. The main thing I don't like (Ok, Hate) about the saw is the blade guard. It is VERY time consuming to put on and take off due to the weird design. Whoever designed the guard must have done so on a Friday afternoon or a Monday morning. Over all, a very good saw that will get the job done with ease and accuracy and takes up very little space. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Imagine the feel of 470 inch-pounds of torque in your hand. That's what this awesome drill/driver delivers in the lock-up position, powered by a 19.2-volt battery. Because of the two-speed gearbox, you've got drill speed ranges of 0 to 500 rpm and 0 to 1,500 rpm. Its 1/2-inch chuck is keyless, and the 20-position clutch takes care of drilling into all kinds of material. Porter-Cable's drills are among the best on the market; you'll never regret a PC purchase. But here's one more reason to go with this model if you're in the market for a cordless drill/driver: the interchangeable Grip-to-Fit handle inserts. Having grappled with tool handles that were too big to control, we think this system is a great idea. There are manly sized grips included, of course, but for the woman woodworker or cabinetmaker, welcome to a delight--small grips! This package also gets you two batteries, a charger, a bit, side handles, and a case. You just can't go wrong. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Includes drill, 2 batteries, charger, bit, side handles and case
• 19.2 Volt, 2.4 Amp-hour batteries provide outstanding run time
• Grip-to-Fit Adjustable Soft Grip System with three removable grip inserts
• Keyless 1/2" Ratcheting-locking steel chuck for maximum bit-gripping strength
• Two speed-range gearbox (0-500 rpm and 0-1500 rpm)

Reviews (3)

Great Professional tool
Great tool for the pro, not for a hobbyist or casual user. Tool is heavy and has a great deal of torque. It could easily get away from an unsuspecting user.
For the professional, this is a really good and reliable tool that has all the power that would want. The batteries are rapid charging and are generally available from recharge before you wear out the previous battery.

Great Drill!!
I have two of these drills, one is a hammerdrill also. the older of the two is about 2 1/2 years old(not a GTF model) and is used every day. I'm still on the original batteries. Just the other day the chuck assembly pulled out of the drill while trying to drill a 1/2" hole with a long auger bit threw 2 6x6's. when i pulled up on the drill. the chuck and bit stayed in the 6x6's. this is the first time that's ever happened in 2 1/2 years. I took the drill apart and fixed it. seems a C clip came off inside which holds the chuck in the drill. I wouldn't recommend taking these drills apart, because it took like 3 hours to get back together. and now the drill only has low speed. but still works fine. i'm shopping for a new drill incase this one breaks again. the hammerdrill/driver PC drill is about a year old and still works fine. the batteries last a while and have been charged many many times. not a day goes by on my jobs where both of these drills aren't out working. always two batteries on charge. I'm a builder in NJ, not a DIY home owner, so these drills definitely get plenty of use.
I'm not sure if I'll replace the one that broke with the same exact drill. I'm willing to try another drill to see if they are any better. 2 1/2 years for a drill that gets used every single day, isn't bad at all. and I never had to replace the batteries! like I said, it still works, just no high gear(that was because I didn't reassemble the tool correctly) fixing it myself was still better than buying a new drill right away.

Good tool -- Bad Battery
This is a great tool; smooth, not heavy, rugged case, good power. This does have plastic drive gears which eventually wear out but is fine the casual worker or light work. I spent 3 weekends driving 3/8 lags screws and stripped the gears. No problem getting a new drill. I have 2 other similar models but the batteries last about 2 hours with medium work load and may take 4 or more hours to cool off and take 2 hours to charge. My old model PC drill last 4 hours and charges in about 1 1/2 hours ... Read more

Product Description

Powerful 15 amp, 120V motor for superior stock removal. Two-knife, quick change, solid steel cutterhead mounted on ball bearings assures smooth operation and long life. High-speed steel, double-edge/reversible knives included for twice the cutting life.Patented cutterhead elevation on four precision-ground columns for superior cut stability.Poly-V belt cutterhead drive with rugged gearbox/chain & sprocket feed roller drive for maximum power transmission.Convenient wood return roller.Adjustable infeed/outfeed tables.Easy to read English/Metric scale ... Read more

Features

• Poly V-belt cutterhead drive with rugged gearbox/chain and sprocket feed roller drive for maximumpower transmission
• Powerful 15 amp, 120V motor for superior stock removal
• Two-knife, quick change, solid steel cutterhead mounted on ball bearings assures smooth operation and long life
• High speed steel, double edge reversible knives included for twice the cutting life
• Patented cutterhead elevation on four precision-ground columns for superior cut stability

Reviews (4)

Cheap, easy, lowCPI, snipe, uTables, uLife Blades
I was looking cheap, just to clean up some rough-hewn boards.The bottom-end Lowes had was the TP-305 (12.5" vs TP-300 12.0", otherwise EXACTLY the same) for $199, so I got that.

Into and Basics
First off, the TP-305 is single speed.Fine for my purposes.As someone else said, if you're doing "fine woodworking", you'll sand with high-grit before calling it done.

Everything is metal, and the handle on top doubles as a foam covered transfer roller.It's very solid and stable, you know, for a "portable".

The belt drive is about 3/4", versus about 2" for the Hitachi and DeWalt.Conversely, the belt on the Delta is fiber reinforced black rubber, like a fan belt, rather than being clear, plain rubber.

There is supposedly a chain-drive for gear reduction, but I haven't dismantled it yet to lubricate them.

Setup
Second, it was a snap to prepare.I pulled it out of the box.It's maybe 75 or 80 pounds.OK if you lift right, or 2-person lift otherwise.It included the planer assembly, a dust chute with 2 fasteners, a hex wrench which fits in a slot on top, a magnetic blade tool, and a crank handle with hex-head fastener.

I put it on top of a table.No LRF support, and there was a little flashing on the bottom, so don't unpack this onto a nice table.Something like this should be bolted down.The deck holes are 1/4", one on each corner.I used some washers and deck screws and that was more than enough to keep it stable.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
You NEED earplugs.Yes, it is "quiet" compared to some shopplaners/jointers, it's still loud.Earmuffs should be OK, but I opted for spongy/expanding 33db earplugs.No problem there, but I was definitely deaf to the world.

Also, goggles are a must.These two things are silly and simple, but just in case you didn't know.This might not be so important if they ever get immunology and organ cloning down, but since you're limited to one set of eyes right now, best protect them from flying debris.

If you want to reach, adjust, oil, or perform ANY maintenance, unplug your machine."I thought I was safe but something fell and flipped the switch" wouldn't quite cut it with your friends.

ALWAYS operate with the dust chute in place.The motor blows air into it and it sends the chips out the back.Without it, A) You'll be covered in vertically launched curls, and more importantly B) The top of the cutter head will be exposed, which is very not safe.

Keep distractions and horseplay away from this machine.This is not a toy, it's an 8000 RPM spinning blade of doom.No playing.Period.OK?JUNIOR!?!?!Are you LISTENING TO ME!NO PLAYING.Ok.Good.Serious machine.

SNIPER, NO SNIPING!
As a portable planer goes, the fold-out tables are fairly small.I tried using Skill brand roller stands on each side to help hold the workpiece, but this planer loves to snipe on ingress.

Tilt your board down into the planer about 5 degrees, and don't cut deep and you'll limit it.Even so, every board has a 2-3" spot that's maybe 1/32" thinner than the rest of the length.

Egress snipe is alleviated by lifting ever so slightly on the workpiece for the final stretch.If you don't get it, you'll hear the motor change speed as it chews into the end.It's really just the design of the rollers.I think you'd probably get snipe even if you made your own full-length table flush with the input.

With 12" boards, snipe was not very noticeable, whereas with 4" boards, it was always very noticeable.

Blade Lifespan
The blades that came with it do well, but it's only 2 blades. It goes through them fairly quickly.Newer wood is fine.I made several passes on both sides of rough hewn cedar.All was well. I sent through some 12" rough cedar with 25 year crusty paint, and it wasn't really happy with that.

It's 2mm per turn and on 12" stock with fresh blades you can do that.When you get to 1/3 turn and it still drops the RPMs significantly, you're past the life of the blades.

I got to this point after removing 3/16ths from each side of 40 feet of 4" wide cedar, and about 1/8th from each side of a 6' long 12" piece of paint encrusted cedar.It seems that the wider board heats the blades more, especially the old, rubbery paint, and once they heat up, the edge fades MUCH more rapidly.

Signs your planer blades are dull
The machine emits dust and not curls.
The machine leaves roller rubber on the workpiece.
The wood peels along the grain in very thin strip.
The motor slows down, but there is no output.
The rollers stop feeding.
The workpiece becomes polished, even glassy.
The workpiece is noticeably warm to the touch.
Running the workpiece through a second time at the same setting till slows the motor.

Blade Replacements
I'm thinking I'll see if I can design the same at http://www.emachineshop.com out of something harder under heat, but you know, since I don't REALLY have the skill for that, I picked up a couple sets of spare blades when I got the planer.The spares were $26/set and made of "High Speed Steel".I don't know the specific grade, but truly, they went south REALLY quickly on the wider, painted boards.

Blade Swap procedures
The swap is fairly easy, though they are initially installed with an impact wrench.Breaking the screws the first time gave off sparks on three.Freaky.Anyway, you access the six screws by:
A) Unplug the machine.Yes, UNPLUG IT.Switches have been known to fail in this universe.Don't risk it.
B) remove the two thumbscrews on the top.
C) Remove the dust chute
D) Turn the head with "the tool" such that you an access one side of the head. Adjust the machine height, or rotate the head such that the tool clears the handle/rollerbar.
E) Loosten the screws such that the black plate ALMOST comes loose.Test one screw for proper sizing.I think this is about a 16th of an inch.
F) Use the little split magnet tool to scoop under the blade, lift up off of the retaining pins, and pull out.
WARNING The blade may be hot if it's recently been used, especially if it's really dull.
G) spin the blade.
WARNING The sharp side of the blade is SHARP!I know this seems like an idiot thing to say, but if you aren't careful, I will mock you for your bloodletting experience.Yes, I'm secretly watching you.
H) Slid in, align such that it drops down properly (ie, the retaining pins are in the holes).
I) Tighten the screws, starting with the ends and working your way in.In generaly, thumb-tighten all of them, then torque them down afterward to make sure alignment is good.
J) Repeat for the other side of the head. (ie. always swap/replace BOTH blades at the same time).

Miscellaneous
Check your belt shroud, a burgundy curve of plastic on the top right of the machine.Mine had too much flashing in the channels and didn't seat properly.I didn't notice until it had been carved/sanded away severely.

The deck plate is polished steel.You can see the cutter head and rollers clearly in it.It's really cool, and might come in handy should something jam or clog.REMEMBER NOT TO TOUCH THE HEAD WITH YOUR FINGERS UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE CUT.

Yes, I used first and second person in a review.

Despite the warning that this is not a toy, etc., it's VERY fun, or at least satisfying, to see what a machine like this can do.

SUMMARY
This is cheap. Snipe will happen.Rollers, an assistant, or a full-sized and aligned table are greatly helpful.Blades dull quickly on older wood with old rubbery paint.

Incredible for the price
I was not expecting a lot from this planer. My expectation were; it would dimension lumber, but I would have to do the final clean up with a sanding disk and, it would probably stall midway through cuts requiring me to push or pull the wood through manually. I was wrong on both counts.

First day I used it I did a couple of hundred feet of old seasoned lumber. No problems. Yes, it's a sniper, but I have used planers costing thousands more that have also sniped (if not as deep and long), so I expected that and can easily live with it as I always dimension to length after planing.

The bad.
Noisy - to be expected
Does not include a dust extraction hood.

The dust hood (DeltaNo. 50-359) is an essential accessory (with a dust collection system). Without it you would not be able to see the machine after a couple of cuts, and the feed mechanisms would get jammed. The $25 hood is almost identical to the 'deflector' that comes in the box, so it can't cost more than a few pennies more to make. Why not include it in the box instead of the deflector ?

I paid $175 ($25 off coupon) and free shipping. An absolutely incredible deal.

Pleasant Surprises at a Low Cost
This is also my first planer but not new to using them. This planer was a pleasant surprise. From the softest to the hardest of woods it has worked flawlessly. The finished piece is smooth as a babies bottom.
Yes, this machine does produce about 3 inches of snipe but still I am well pleased. Very much worth the money.

Good planer, but it is a sniper
This is a nice 12.5 inch planer for less $$$ than the 12 inch models.It is my first planer so keep that in mind.

I have run a 12" X 20" X 2" maple cutting board with excellent results.It seems to have more snip with narrower stock.1"x4" ash, red oak, and pine seem to have excess, easily visible snipe for about 3" on each end.It is best to run long boards, then cut them to size and discard the ends.

I like the carry handle, but this unit is heavy and awkward to carry.Minor assembly needed upon receipt was a breeze.With $25 off coupon and free shipping, it is easily the best deal on the net.BTW: the free shipping was FedEx 3 day!!!!!! ... Read more

Features

• Side extensions and vertical work clamp provide support and stability for an accurate cut
• Powerful 15 amp, 3500 rpm motor for maximum cutting power
• Large horizontal handle is positioned to reduce operator fatigue and provide better control
• Tall sliding fence and extensions for extra support
• Extra large chute and bag provide superior dust collection

Reviews (2)

Totally Satisfied
I bought this saw after being totally confused from viewing so many models at Home Depot and other retail outlets. But could I really buy a heavy woodworking machine over the internet?! Would I do that?!

Well, I did.

I am totally a happy camper as a result. It didn't even have to be calibrated -- it was right on the money at 90 degrees right out of the box.

The posting by the other reviewer really influenced my decision. Thanks to you (who ever you are).

Great saw, awesome price!
I had read many reviews on miter saws on the web and got a pretty good idea on what to look for I took a strait edge, square and indicator to the store with me and carefully inspected all the saws I was interested in. I was surprised to learn that the table on most of the saws moved a good bit out of alignment when the miter setting is changed to 45 degrees and set knob is tightened. All of the saws moved to some extent, but the Dewalt 705s I originally was going to purchase proved to be the least stable, the Dewalt 706 was nearly as bad. The Dewalt 10", Dewalt 12" sliding saw and the Delta 10" were the most stabile of all I checked. Neither of the two 10" saw tables moved when tightened. The Delta MS450 was the most stabile of the non-sliding 12" saws I inspected.
I decided to buy the MS450 based on my findings. I took it home and checked the settings, no adjustments were needed. I decided to put the saw threw its paces and was very pleased. The saw cuts without effort and sliced threw a pine 4x4 like it was air. The motor is both quiet and powerful at 15 amps. I made some 45 degree miter cuts on 3" oak and the resulting 90 degree angle of the assembled pieces was a precise as my square could reveal . The saw itself seems to be well made and the base of cast aluminum seems very rugged. The included extensions are a bit thinner then the Dewalt extensions, but they are solid and more then ample. The included "piece stop" works fine and is adequate for its use. The included clamp is Ok, it will move wood away from the fence when initially clamped if you don't keep an eye on it. Most likely I will become used to it and grow to like it after becoming familiar with its idiosyncrasies. The only negative thing I can think of is common to most of the saws I saw. Most have a 40 tooth blade which is a bit too coarse for making fine cuts. I bought a 100 tooth blade for fine cuts, the 40 tooth blade will be fine for most purposes and I intend to use it more then the 100 tooth.

I am an above average woodworker but hardly an expert. I am an electronics technician and mechanic by trade with my main skills being in industrial electronics, computers and precise metal work. My main reason for purchasing this saw was to be able to make cuts accurate enough to build attractive cabinet frames, doors, to be able to make single cuts on 6" trim and be able to cut 4x4 posts at home. I have never done crown molding, but have decided to give it a try so I need some precision. My tendencies in tool purchases are a balance between quality, usability and cost.

My understanding is that the MS450 was designed to compete directly with the Dewalt 705. If I were using a saw daily to cut heavy lumber without regard to precision, I would buy the Dewalt 705 as I believe it is built somewhat more rugged and would take the daily abuse of a jobsite slightly better.
For making more precise cuts with some occasional heavy cutting by a hobby woodworker the Delta saw is much more then an average user will ever need and it will give great service for many years.

This saw was bought at Lowes. Initial asking price was $250, to my surprise the cashier gave me a $50 rebate slip at the register. Total cost of the saw after tax and rebate will be $217. 87. This is an amazing value for an accurate well built 12" compound miter saw! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

So you've found an entire block of condemned Victorian houses, and the mayor has given you exclusive rights to the flooring in exchange for--oh, let's just say--a bit of support in his re-election campaign. With that still two years off, the only problem facing you now is removing the random pits, warps, and other blemishes of this salvage-lumber gold mine. For professional tasks that mock portable planers' capabilities, Jet's 15-inch enclosed-stand model gives you smooth surfaces as long as you keep it fed. Powered by a completely enclosed, 3-horsepower induction motor, it efficiently converts 230 volts into 13,500 cuts per minute at 4,500 rpm. The positive gear drive system adjusts depth quickly, and, with its smooth-cranking hand wheel, you can slice up to 1/8 of an inch off boards as large as 15 inches wide and 6 inches thick. Infeed and outfeed tables use three industrial steel rollers each to ensure smooth transfer from the planer's nonslip serrated intake all the way through the knives. You'll appreciate features like the smaller return rollers on top for handling large planks and the magnetic safety switch that prevents the machine from automatically turning on after power outages. Set on four heavy-duty, cam-lock casters, it easily rolls into position and stays where you place it. Go on and take the offer to gut those houses this year. --Justin Paul ... Read more

Features

• Two steel work return rollers on top of the machine to make transferring your work back easier
• Powerful 3 HP totally enclosed fan cooled motor, 3 v-belt delivers full power with magnetic switch
• Steel feed rollers, serrated infeed and smoother outfeed, allow for 1/8" depth of cut
• Cutterhead features jackscrews with springs to make knife adjustments easy and accurate
• Exclusive 4" dust port angled to the side designed for efficient chip removal and to keep the dust hose out of the way of your work

Reviews (5)

Only game in town
It is probably known to many woodworkers that virtually all the Taiwanese 15" planers are made in one factory, Chiu Ting. This is really a critique of the generic Chiu Ting planer design, which dominates its price niche. I have a JWP-15HO, purchased in the mid-90s, and I have rebuilt a Grizzly 20" Chiu Ting damaged in a shop fire. During the rebuild, the quality of the castings and machining impressed me greatly. Chiu Ting is a conscientious manufacturer.

The Jet gives a very good finish, virtually no snipe, the power of the 3HP motor is entirely adequate, the knife-setting gauge works well, and the owner's manual is good. Jet has a reputation for having a slightly better cutterhead design than some of its competitors, and that was the main reason I chose this particular brand. The knives are forced down against spring pressure by the setting jig, and then bottom out against elevating screws. We have all had the experience of knives squirming when we tighten the gib screws, and the Jet knives will do that, but at least only in one direction, up. It's not a perfect system, but better than most. The planer arrived in perfect condition, and set up at the factory so closely to specifications that I didn't have to change a thing.

The generic faults are these: one rotation of the elevating handle raises the table 5/64, which is nonintuitive for American woodworkers used to some even-numbered multiple of 1/8. Chip exhaust has to be quite powerful---I use a dedicated 700 CFM dust collector---and even then sometimes chips will fall ahead of the outfeed roller and dent the finished surface. Big chips easily wedge behind the bed rollers and will score the stock. The switch location interferes with hand access to one table lock, tho I have obtained good results not using the table locks at all. When the dust collector hood is attached, in order to access the cutterhead expeditiously, the outfeed return roller really has to be removed permanently.

Were I to purchase a Chiu Ting again, I would choose a brand with a polyurethane outfeed roller, and I would be watching for further improvements in the cutterhead ergonomics. Long-term, I am curious how these Taiwanese motors stand up, in particular the starter switches. I gave four stars because this machine needs attentiveness and resourcefulness to do the job. It's simply not in the same realm as an old Powermatic or Delta wedge-bed.

For serious amateurs
All of the previous reviews here are accurate. I love mine and really appreciate having the extra set of blades. Manual is confusing in advising the use of 50 wt. gear oil after 25 hours of use. What they mean is transmission oil used in 4 wheelers or 4 wheel Drives. Blades are easy to set. Thickness gauge is useless. Get calipers, dust collector, and hearing protection.
Have two or three friends to help unload the 500 lb. crate. Once on the ground and in place they can go home so you can be alone with your new friend. JET help line is very helpful and will bend over backwards to advise and make it right. Take the time to set it up correctly so you learn what all the adjustments can do.

Easy Setup
I reviewed both the Delta and the Jet. The main reason for deciding on Jet was how easy it was to access the blades. The blades are easily gotten to with "no motor in the way". Blades can easily be remove and replaced within 15 minutes, including setup.

Excellent!
I've had this tool for about 5 years. It has been flawless. The construction is rock-solid. The tool came shipped on a pallet enclosed in a wood crate. It was perfect right from the box and required only minor assembly.

It has plenty of power even when planing 15" wide hardwood boards. Unlike the portable planers I've used, this one planes boards smooth without snipe. The built-in wheels inside the enclosed base make it easy to move around and the brake makes it stay put when you want it to.

Buy this tool with confidence. I am very fussy and I love this tool.

Good, Powerful, Reliable
As a furniture builder, a clean board is essential. I rely on this machine more than I imagined I would. It is a stable in my shop, and gets many hours of rough use. I have never had a problem with it. Here are the issues: You will need to wire in a 220V circuit. I put in a 30A breaker and a 12 guage wire, to USA wiring code. If you buy one, plan on having it delivered with a pallet jack, because it comes in a large 500+ lb box. Don't plan on turning it on immediately, you'll have to calibrate it. Buy a micrometer, you'll need it to adjust the intake feed roller, blades and eject roller. The instruction book shows how to make a calibration block, but it is just not accurate enough to eliminate feed roller marks in softwood. Get yourself a good steel straight edge to adjust the table feed rollers, they'll put a dent in your cut if not adjusted correctly. It took me about an hour to setup, but it is worth it. Calibration is easy, just takes a while. It makes consistent cuts, but the height guage is worthless. You better plan on measuring height some other way, I use calipers. Estimate how far to turn the table height? Try VooDoo or a fortune-teller. The blades dull quickly (not Jet's fault) and when they do, you'll chip instead of cut. It is a good planer, very stable, three belts keep the blades cutting through even the toughest hardwoods. You MUST have a dust collector (I have the Jet DC-1100 - works great, plenty of debris storage), without one, the machine will clog. BTW: The Powermatic is the same saw, just a finer buffed steel table...save your money and get the Jet. ... Read more

Features

• 1-year warranty
• Drum sander powered by 5 HP motor
• Heavy steel cabinet provides years of vibration free sanding
• Dual steel drums with hard Durometer Rubber coating assures a flat, mar free finish
• 1/4HP Feed motor is coupled to a 2 speed forward/reverse gearbox

Features

• Heavy-duty aluminum construction
• Patented cam lock saw installation
• Roller fence
• 500 pound capacity

Reviews (2)

UPDATE to prior review
Since I posted my initial review, Amazon has lowered its price on the Hitachi Work Station from $239.99 to $199.99. For someone like me, (who can get by without the extension stop and wheels that come with the TracRac T3) the Hitachi stand is now the hands-down best value of ALL the available stands!! I should also note that although you do not get the 3 foot extension stop with the Hitachi stand there is a flip-away work stop included on the work support arm. Amazon has agreed to credit me the difference in cost. I continue to be impressed with my dealings with this company.

TracRac T3 ¿ A BETTER VALUE??
After purchasing the Hitachi C10FSB Miter Saw, I began shopping for a stand worthy of the saw. When I checked back at Amazon, I was glad to discover that Hitachi now has its very own stand. After purchasing other so-called UNIVERSAL products, only to be disappointed - I decided to play it safe and buy the OFFICIAL HITACHI AUTHORIZED version. After reading other customer reviews of the TracRac T3, it became evident that TracRac was manufacturing this product for Hitachi - Great! I thought - especially since the Hitachi version is ten dollars less. (note: Amazon had not yet posted a picture of the Hitachi stand when I made my purchase). Even after reading the very positive reviews for the TracRac T3, I was blown away by the quality of the components I pulled from the box. This is a very well designed and manufactured product. Hitachi/TracRac must have been listening to James S. McCulley from Albany (who has a review under TracRac called "Great Product - small flaw" about the Hitachi Universal Workstation in which he mentions a problem with the brittle plastic end caps) because included with a note about product improvement are four little rubber shock absorbing pads which you are instructed to insert before applying the end caps - it also looks as though they changed the end cap material to a softer more flexible type of plastic.

THE THING IS - even though the Hitachi Universal Workstation is $10 less than the TracRac T3 and it does have Hitachi green decals!! - you do not get the extension stop nor the wheel kit. What you see in the picture is what you get. You can add them as options for $70 bucks if want. So it looks like the TracRac T3 is the better value. Now, I am just a weekend hack so I don't plan on sending the Hitachi stand back (especially since it arrived in perfect condition) - but if I were a professional carpenter that extension stop and wheel kit would definitely be worth the extra 10 clams. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Raised panels, here you come. And you'll never have to buy another piece ofmolding again. The Shopmaster SH100's powerful 9 amp ball bearing induction motorwill run 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch bits at 12,500 rpm through any stock you feed it. It comeswith a two-piece fence, and the halves are independently adjustable, so you'll get precisedepth of cut and ample support post-cut. The clear blade guard does double duty, keepingchips and dust away from your face and helping the dust chute pull out the waste. Weparticularly like the spindle control knob and its height indicator scale, which makeadjustments easier. The lock knob securely holds your settings, and the 3-3/4-inch insertopening will take even the beefiest bit. The 18-by-20-inch die-cast aluminum table offersgreat work support and has a slot opening for accessory holding devices. Finally, thepower switch has a removable lockout key, so little fingers won't be able to turn on theshaper when you're not there. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• 2-year limited warranty on machines, parts, and accessories
• 9-amp induction-type ball bearing motor for long lasting trouble free operation
• All purpose 12,500 rpm spindle speed handles any routing or shaping job including horizontal panel raising
• Die-cast aluminum 18- by 20-inch table provides ample work support; integral slot facilitates use of accessories
• Removable on-off switch prevents unauthorized use of machine

Reviews (9)

Delta SH100 Shopmaster Bench Top Router/Shaper
ASSEMBLY: Assembly was straightforwoard and took less than 30 minutes.

SETUP: Table alignment was acceptable out of the box.

PROs and CONs: I purchased this tool for use as a router table rather than a shaper, and it seems satisfactory for this purpose. However, the overhead blade guard did not fit in the hole provided in the table, nor did the replacement Delta sent me. The usable vertical spindle movement is only about 1-1/4 inches, limiting the use of longer bits. Finally, the small size of the adjustment knob makes adjusting the bit height more of a task than it need be.

You'll be sorry you spent the money
I used (not much) one of these for about a year in my home workshop. There is NOTHING good that I can say about it, except that the motor did actually run.

Notes:
- Lack of power, single speed, bogs down under load
- BAD BAD BAD Fence adjustment. You just can't get it set accurately. Can you say snipe?
- Poor height adjustment, but it can be done.
- Table top is sharp and rough, which makes feeding your material difficult and unsafe.
- No place for featherboards on the fence
- Single speed too fast for big bits, too slow for small ones
- The use of this machine will lead to a near terminal case of frustration.

For a hundred dollars more you can buy a Rousseau router plate, Bosch 1715EVS router, build your own table, Incra Ultra Lite jig (use as router fence - it's great with a slight modification - see review on amazon). I've used this setup without any trouble at all at least twice a week. Please, please, please don't waste your money on Delta's worthless router/shaper.

Know what you're getting into
I bought this device with a very specific single purpose in mind, and was able to make it work with a LOT of effort. I wanted to do tongue-and-groove on some long cedar boards for paneling, and after a lot of futzing was able to make acceptable joints on all my boards. It was cheaper than a good router and table would have been.
That having been said, this is neither a router table NOR a shaper, and combines the WORST of both. The fence adjustment stinks, ditto the height adjustment (see other reviews). The hole in the top won't accept wide bits, so I had to use a spacer board to get my planks to the right cutting height, which is why I had no problems with the sharp edges on the tabletop snagging my workpiece. The extension table accesory requires the removal of the fence and dust collection port. The single speed is too slow for small bits and too fast for big ones. This is not a very adaptable or flexible machine. Buy a router and table.

Minor faults
I bought this after I discovered a cheaply made table and add on router cost more. I've heard all kinds of complaints for adjusting the combo set-ups. I did not want to hassel with that. The Delta works real well. Table top is good. Fences are good quality but a little hard to adjust. I have only used 1/4" cutters (My local hardware does not have 1/2") and have trouble removing them. I'll order the 1/2" cutters. My main complaint is the depth adjustment. I had expected it to be more accurate. I'll have to work with it more and get used to it. Overall a very good machine for the money.

I do not know what the problem is?
I have been pleased overall with this shaper for the price. My major complaints are the fence has no t-track or fine adjustment as is,and why can't the manuf. give you a real wrench instead of the poor quality stamped wrenches. I already have cracked one, which Delta replaced. I use a real wrench now and want to change the fense some day.For now I add another face to it.
The height adj. will not be accurate if you lower it to final height but the manual says to raise it to final height and then is no problem with the lock down. Sometimes it pays to read it.
As far as height length of the bit,my unit will allow the spindle to extend beyond the top?
If you wax the top you will not have any marking, or spray a coat of clear poly on it. Woodworkers are in the habit of waxing and polishing metal tops all the time.
The collets self release, but 99% of the time I use 1/2" shanks. Do you want to use a 1/4' shank on a shaper unless you have no choice? I have no problem with the 1/4' sticking on the rare occasion that I have to use it. I avoid 1/4 shanks if at all possible. As with all self releasing collets, you have to continue to turn the nut to get to the self release feature. Over insertion on any collet can cause problems too. That is a universal problem. Also as mentioned, quality router bit can also make a huge difference.
I have no run out, the inserts line up, and there is good dust collection and I am not sucking dust into my router as most will when upside down. I can use it at job site too even though it is heavy, but that is a plus for stability and lack of vibration.
It is not a $1000 shaper, maybe others thought it would perform like one. If you want that type of performance spend the money.
I have milled almost a thousand feet with this unit and would buy it again. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Bosch 1276DVS offers solid, reliable performance plus a few nifty extras, making it an easy-to-use sander that's serious about removing material. Bosch designers listened to customer feedback and developed a front handle that adjusts. Deep detents mean the handle snaps securely into place, giving it a burly feel and stability in any of the six positions. That, combined with nice balance and weight, minimizes user fatigue. Like many of the sanders in this class, the motor is aligned with the belt edge to make flush sanding possible; however, as with other Bosch belt sanders, visibility is somewhat limited once the sander gets into corners.

The belt-changing system works well--we didn't suffer any spring pinches--and the belt tracking adjustment tracks the new belt quickly and keeps it in place. The 1276 gets its "dustless" name from the adjustable shoot that accommodates nonwoven belts up to 8 mm thick. Belt sanders are all about removing stock in a hurry, and the larger the area of sandpaper in contact with material, the faster material is removed. To achieve a perfect finish, it's important that the sander sand flat. The platen on the 1276 is the cork-and-steel type, not as efficient as cast aluminum, but a good, solid performance setup. Plus, the 1276 offers an optional graphite platen--a great high-performance extra. There are a few other accessories available and we liked the sanding stand, which holds the tool in an inverted position for fine finish applications, and the machined-aluminum sanding frame that keeps the sander up off material, reducing pressure on the belt and making smooth finishes easier. By offering these accessories, Bosch makes this already fine tool versatile to boot. --Mark McDonald ... Read more

Features

• Exclusive adjustable belt tensioning allows use of non-woven belts up to 8mm thick
• 10.5 Amps, 1,150-1,550 SFPM power for professional applications
• Rugged design specifically built for production sanding jobs
• Magnesium transmission housing reduces overall tool weight
• Adjustable front handle folds away for close work

Reviews (14)

best in it's class
My Bosch 4" DVS belt sander is smooth, powerful and has a low center of gravity for easy handling. It is adjustable for grip and speed and does a good job on anything I've used it for. It's a little heavy for overhead or in-place work but my 3x21 Bosch fills in that gap. This is THE belt sander for the professional woodworker.

Another GREAT product from Bosch!
This is my favorite tool! I have abused this sander for the past 3 years and it keeps on humm'in. It is so smooth, powerful, lightweight, and easy to handle.

If your a professional woodworker like me or woodworking is your hobby this is the ONLY belt sander to have. It's the quietest belt sander I've ever used.

I always recomend Bosch tools when some one wants to purchase a very powerful and high quality professional power tool. Bosch tools have never let me down. Keep up the good work Bosch!!

A Monster in Your Hands
If you are planning to own one, be sure to check your physical strength. You'll need strong arms and a good rest to handle this baby, in fact, it's a monster. It weighs a ton, and has power that can hurt your arms for the rest of the day. What I like about this machine is it's power with variable speeds, the ease of the belt change and adjusting. Also the adjustable left-front handle makes it more comfortable. The weight of the machine keeps stabilizing the operation, but the down side is you can't really use it for over your head job. If I need to do that, I would grab a lighter one. One real draw back of the design is the dust bag location. It is placed on the wrong side! and it might get in your way if you are doing a critical sanding. My conclusion, It'a a nice, powerful horse at a reasonable price. It would be even nicer if the carrying case is provided. Thank You Bosch.

The Best!
Cant say enough good things about this sander--I LOVE it.

Bosch tools have never let me down. Keep up the good work Bosch!!

Worked great for a bit!
I bought this unit to replace a Black and Decker Sand Cat that had destroyed the front belt roller bearing. The unit has tremendous power. The bad part is that it will not sand flush to a wall. Then after using it about 4 times, it just plain quit. I'm lucky enough to have the service center within 5 miles of my house and the power switch was replaced under warranty. Otherwise the sander will take on anything and the belt rollers have decent bearings. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Quite simply one of the best framing models available, Bostitch's high-powered stick nailer is basically the sleek sports car of framing stick nailers. Yet, with its magnesium housing, extruded aluminum magazine, and antislide rubber exterior molding, it's also a very tough piece of equipment, designed to hold up to the inevitable falls and bangs and bumps that tools take on a job site. The nailer's aggressive teeth easily grip lumber for toe-nailing. You just push a button for depth control. There's also a 360-degree exhaust deflector, so you can point the discharge away from the face. Overall, we were impressed with how comfortable the unit was to hold. It definitely has the burliness of an industrial tool; it's also very well balanced and, at 7.8 pounds, relatively light. The nailer packs plenty of power (1,000 inch-pounds) and drives 3-1/2-inch nails into the toughest lumber without breaking a sweat. This model shoots 2- to 3-1/2-inch, 28-degree, wire-weld-collated, clipped-head nails, and holds up to 75. This nailer is available in contact or sequential trip. --Jonathon Tudor ... Read more

Features

• Dual-load magazine with bypass pusher simplifies loading
• Drives 2 to 3-1/2 inch fasteners with 1000 in./lbs. of driving power
• Magnesium housing is lightweight--weighs only 7.8 lbs
• Highest power-to-weight ratio of any nailer in its class
• Exclusive push-button depth-control for quick flush nailing adjustments

Reviews (13)

Another amazing Bostitch product
I am a general contractor who builds high end homes in the Boston area. In the summer I purchased two new Bostitch N62 finish nailers on the advice of my local tool shop. My trim crew has never been happier. The tool is incredibly light, yet has more power and less recoil than the Senco and Porter Cable tools we were using. Anyway, I didn't think they would be able to top the N62 until we picked up our new N88 High Powered framing nailers last month! We use a lot of LVL and TimberStrand products. Our Hitachi and Senco framing nailers always left us pulling out our hammers to finish off the nails in the rim joists. The N88 simply buries them in any material...every time! The push-button depth control is the slickest thing we've seen in a long time, almost as equally impressive as the N62's releasable magazine! The magazine even loads from the top or rear! Again, despite being so powerful, there is virtually no recoil and it is by far the lightest framing nailer we have every used! Sweet! Bostitch really has their act together with their new tools. Anyone want to buy some used Senco or Hitachi tools? Oh yeah, almost forgot I'm waitng for my free palm nailers...these things sell for $149 on this site! That's one sweet deal.

Accept No Substitutes!
This nailer, even on my 5HP air compressor with a cranky regulator that frequently cuts the air out at 95 PSI, still never fails to drive even 16-Penny nails well into the wood. It is lightweight, easy to work with, and always dependable. This gun has serious power, and the recoil issue some have complained about is easily remedied by disabling the contact trip mechanism with the included kit. Even in tough manufactured lumber or engineered trusses of thick Southern Yellow Pine, this gun countersinks every time. In fact, on a few occasions I've neglected to set the countersink correctly when nailing through OSB or plywood sheathing, and after placing 20 or 30 nails in a panel, watched in confusion as it fell out or slid away, then realizing that with the gun set to full countersink, it had fired the fasteners completely through the sheathing and into the framing below. Definitely a tool to last for years and one for the pro's. At $..., especially with the often included free palm nailer, it is an excellent value. I've seen nothing else that comes close to its performance, especially at under 8 lbs!

Palm Nailer included " truth or Lie"
From other reviews on this site, it seems that sometimes you get the bonus Palm nailer, sometimes you dont. I also did not get mine and also could have gotten the same deal from Lowes locally but now have missed this opportunity. Amazon.com is going to lose my business 4-ever if this is not corrected.

Bad deal but good nailer
The technical specifications said a palm nailer was included, I confirmed that with Amazon customer service and have an email that says it was included. Guess what? I got the package and no palm nailer. The damn box even has a cutout for the palm nailer

I missed the same offer at a Seattle home improvement store to save $10 and a trip on the ferry. Stanley says it is the problem of Amazon, Amazon says it is Stanley's problem.

Amazon says "send it back!", thanks a lot. I already missed the other offer and I'd have to wait for a credit and still make the trip into town to buy the same damn framing nailer without the palm nailer (because the other offer has now expired!).

I told Amazon to stand behind what they sell and send me a palm nailer, any palm nailer. The Senco, Porter Cable, Tradesman or Bostitich will do just fine. We will see, I'll edit if they back their product up. This is a huge deal! This item costs around $80 - $90 if purchased separately. My hopes are not very high though.

You know whose problem this really is? Mine. So far no ownership from Amazon.

OK here is an update. Amazon sort of stood behind it. They will not let me say how (edited out my comments on the last update).

It works very well, I have the first floor of my addition done in a very short time. Hasn't jammed once. Also it is very light and easy to handle.

An issue though. A 28 degree clipped head, wire collated nail is not the most common in the world. They are a little hard to come by. There are also applications that a clipped headed nail cannot be used (some siding applications). If I had it to do over again I would have gone with the round headed 22 degree. The Bostich though. My friend, who is in the trades, thought the body of it was plastic, it was so light. It is magnesium.

Good, but there are better
Gun is fine most of the time, but it has some glitches that drive me crazy. Fist off, a new feature is that this gun takes 4 slides of nails, 1 more than previously. This feature combined with the top load feature on this gun cause the nail heads to stick up in the top load area and not feed properly, which causes the gun the jam. The gun also double fires way too much, especially when the compressor kicks on. At 120 psi, this gun still does not set ring shank nails into 3/4 OSB. The older bostitch guns are much better, as are all Paslode and Max framers. Spend a few more $$$ on Paslode or Max, or a few $$$ les on the older models by Bostitch. ... Read more

Features

• Ruggedly constructed of 9-ply Finland birch and high-impact laminates that are hand fitted to solid steel tubing and angle iron mounting rail for years of use
• Easy gliding fence body to handle quick, repetitive cut-off work, precision ripping and squaring cuts
• Three-point locking system and hairline pointer with built--in steel tape to assure fence is parallel to blade and accurate to within 1/64 of an inch
• Ripping capacity both to the right and left of blade
• Universal mounting for attaching to almost any table

Amazon.com Review

JET's stated goal for this tool was to design the best spindlesander on the market, and point by point the company has succeededthrough better innovation rather than cost cutting. First, thisbenchtop model is double the weight of others on the market and has a1/2-horsepower motor versus the 1/4-horsepower motors found elsewhere.This means larger pieces won't bog down and the machine will runsmoother. Two excellent design improvements are the relocated andsealed on/off switch (to prevent dust infiltration) and shelves whereyou can insert and store your five complete spindles. All JET motorsare totally enclosed and fan-cooled to prevent overheating and dustinfiltration. This translates to longer motor life and less risk of afire hazard than open motor housing--very important in such a dustyoperation. This sander also has a sealed grease box around theoscillation mechanism for dust protection and longer life. Theprecision-ground table tilts to 45 degrees and accepts a modifiedinsert for angles. Other inserts have air holes to improve dustcollection through the 2-inch dust port. While JET shop tools are oftensold as price leaders, this one leads with quality instead, and whilethe price may be higher than other spindle sanders, you get more tool.Sometimes bells and whistles really are worth the money. --NancyGleason ... Read more

Features

• Non-skid rubber feet prevents the unit from slipping
• Table that tilts to 45 degrees for sanding angled materials
• 1/2-horsepower motor accommodate even the heaviest sanding project
• 1-inch spindle delivers scratch-free finish
• Oscillating action prolongs the sleeve life

Reviews (17)

Good Sander For The Money
I just received my Jet benchtop sander along with my Jet 16 1/2 drill press last week from Tool Crib. Overall, I think Jet's 1/2 hp sander is pretty good. Set-up was easy and the overall fit and finish was good.

My table top seemed to be mounted on a little crooked. There's no way to adjust for that I guess. I didn't have a problem getting the table square with the spidle though...the most important thing of all. I wish the table was a little bigger, too.

Overall, it's a nice package if you don't want to spend twice as much and don't wan't the heavier floor model. I was going to but the $X BOSS spindle sander, but it's only 1/4 HP and can bog down pretty quickly. The Jet is definitely worth the extra $X.

Great Sander!
I got my sander about 3 weeks ago, and I've used it a lot. It's very heavy and doesn't move around like I had feared. It does an excellent job. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that it required complete disassembly and had to have the table shimmed on one side so that the spindle would be square to the table in the x plane of the table. You can adjust the angle and the zero stop from front to back, but there's no adjustment from side-to-side. You might think this is not important, but if you're sanding a tall piece (like a bandsawn box, for instance), you'll find that you're sanding more at the bottom than at the top, or vice versa. Once I took the thing apart and put the paper shims under the left side, it was dead on, and has remained so.

The other "adjustment" I had to make was to beat the cast top flat with a soft mallet. It was bowed in the middle. It didn't take a lot of "whacks" to straighten it out, and now it's flat, but again, this is one reason I didn't give this sander 5 stars. Not many people would ever check a sander meant to sand curves for flatness of the top, but when sanding tall pieces, it's important.

Once shimmed and properly beaten with a mallet, this is a fine tool! ;-)

It's not clearly stated anywhere, but the motor is an induction motor, and is very quiet. I was afraid I'd end up with a universal motor (e.g., a router motor) and have a noisy machine, but such is not the case.

If you're sanding small, flat pieces, the adjustment I spoke of will not be an issue with you.

Overall, I really like this machine. It's powerful, heavy, and quiet. I'm glad I opted to buy this machine rather than spend ...additional [money] on its big brother, the floor model.

I compared this sander to the Delta Boss, a comparable model from Bridgewood, and Ridgid. I liked this one as well as any.

Off Center
I received this sander and all went well until I put a spindel on it. It was touching on the right side,as some other reviews reported. A quick call to Jet and they told me there were some of the castings bent in shipping and upon checking what they told me to I found on the right side it was out of shape. They are shipping me both sides of the bracket that holds the table on. It look more to me like a casting problem than a bent in shipping one. I give it a three stars for this reason. If the castings solve the problem I think it will be a very reliable product. I have squared it front to back and tried a small spindel. Very quiet and seems to have plenty of power. I would have rated it higher had it not been for the bent casting. Maybe higher later,after seeing how Jet service performs.
6/03/2004 After sending the first model back,I have received a second one that was square right from the box. I still give a 4 star because of being off square on the first one. However I have to compliment the service from Amazon on getting a second one here in good time,and very good service on the return!

Who knows?
This might be a great sander, but it's hard to tell. I read all of the reviews, did my due diligence and decided on this sander despite it's relatively high price. The reason I can't tell has to do with a product defect. When I removed the sander from the box and installed the largest spindle, I noticed that the spindle wasn't centered in the table insert. It was just touching the edge on one side. When I turned the sander on, it rubbed against the insert, ruining the sanding sleeve. There is no way to adjust the table and center the spindle- other than completely removing the table and attempting to bend the support legs. I tried to shim the table, but it threw the spindle out of square with the table. I guess I could return it to Amazon- their reputation is good, but why should I have to do that for a "high-end" product. Repacking the sander, hauling it off to UPS, and waiting for the replacement is too much to think about. For $50 more I could have purchased the new Grizzly 1hp floor model with built in disc sander. My only other experience with Grizzly (A 6" jointer) was positive. I remember also another reviewer here mentioning a table problem.
Caveat Emptor- Let the buyer beware!!

It's a Sweetheart Deal
This sander kicks. I got the first one, and for some reason, the motor was off center, so it was much closer to the edge of one of the rings. It must have been an assembly problem. It's brand new, so rather than fuss with it, I called Amazon, and they promptly sent a replacement. That is why I deal with Amazon. On to the new sander.
This is a heavy, approx 80 pound, cast iron top, benchtop sander. The cast iron top is rock solid, smooth, straight, and even all the way across it's ground polished surface. I'm a critical nut, use a dial caliper to measure things, use the Incra table saw fence, which is accurate to within .002" inch. So when I talk about this Jet sander, keep that in mind.
Right out of the box, I used the Bosch digital protractor (another highly recommended item) which measures angles in tenths of a degree. (Equal to 3600 dots in a circle), and the spindle was accurate to within 7/10ths of one degree at the most extreme angle, and within 1 or 2/10ths of a degree at the others. So you could say right out of the box it was not off by even one degree. The best you can expect to get for measuring an upright metal shaft, with an expandable thick rubber tube, designed to squash out to hold a circular sleeve of sandpaper. For all intents and purposes, that it dead on. :-)
This does not pertain to the built in rule, you use to set the top to 90 degree, 45 degrees, or whatever tilting angle you may choose. After you perfectly set the top with any 90 degree square, it is advisable to loosen the setting screw, and fine adjust the pointer. See mention of this farther into the review.
It would be a lot easier to simply say, this Jet Benchtop Oscillating Spindle Sander is perfectly dead on, but then again, perfect is a relative term. I hope your having as much fun reading this review, as I am writing it. :=)
So what about the rest of the machine. I wouldn't bother buying anything more powerful. The 1/2HP induction motor found in the base, is a direct drive, with more than enough power to sand rock wood. I mated it on top of a Sears, very inexpensive, two shelf, red, metal, roll around cart. Lots of room for the sander, at a nice height. Also plenty of room, or extras, like the 3" optional drum and insert ring, the wrenches, and whatever amount of sanding tubes, you may need storage for. The lower shelf has even more storage. At the risk of sounding vain, the creme white Jet, with black and red accents, looks great on the matching red color stand. With the roll around wheels, it makes a lot of use for a little bit of dollars. It is Sears least expensive.
Back to the sander. You will want to take out a square, and set the table top to exactly 90 degrees to the spindle, then loosen the holding screw to the pointer, and precisely point it to the 90 degree mark on the built in rule. In doing so, and moving it to the 45 degree mark on the rule, by tilting the table, it was a dead on 45 when measuring. So the rule is accurate, once set.
The nitty gritty is that this sander is quiet, smooth, plenty of power for sanding edges, even on stacked hardwoods. It has multiple spindle sizes included. The little ones are not meant to lean on, (they go that fine) so if you are trying to remove stock quickly, choose the larger shaft sizes. I do recommend getting the optional 3" spindle, and insert ring, to maximize the smoothness and evenness of sanding larger surfaces.
I look at this as a lifetime tool. No need to buy a much more expensive floor standing model.
One note on cleaning the top. The manufacturer advises you to clean the cosmolene off of the top with kerosene, and a paper towel. Cast iron rusts just by looking at it, so they protect it for shipping. Anything like a solvent with totally eliminate any surface protection at all. In that condition, even the humidity in the air with start microscopic rusting. Not only does Jet advise you to clean it off with kerosene (which is an oil based product), they then advise you to wax the top.
If I had to be critical of the unit, I would say the one disadvantage of a benchtop unit, is that you have to limit the table top size, to prevent tipping over when using larger stock. The Jet JBOS-5 has sufficient top surface to meet my needs, but ever since I installed a large side, and outfeed table on the table saw, I am sensitive to the advantages of larger outfeed tables. One could be built and added onto the benchtop model, and give you more surface than the floor models.
All in all, with this kind of solid construction and performance, and price, this is the sweetheart deal. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Features

• One-year limited warranty
• 2 hp, 115-volt motor
• Permanently lubricated dual-sealed heavy-duty blade shaft bearings
• 3-3/4-inch depth of cut, and 20-inch rip, 14-inch diagonal length of cut
• Includes a FREE Cutting Kit & Stand an $174.00 Value

Reviews (6)

Great Saw for professionals
first of all. this saw cuts very accurately and the slide works very smooth. no need to get Japan involved in making this saw, like some other reviewer posted. and also, if you need an owner's manual on how to work this saw, then maybe you shouldn't be laying tile. I have used this model many times and have never had a problem with it. Full of power and precision. MK has done a great job.

Good and Bad
I need to tell you about my MK 101 Saw. Recently the saw stopped working and I contacted your sales office. They were very helpful and overnighted a new switch to me. Since my saw was dead there is a quick fix to get a person by until a new switch can be obtained. The switch is a 20A DPDT. The second set of contacts are not used and if the first set of contacts is the problem simply swapping to the other set will get it working. They will not be worn or burnt from the constant on off cycling.

I bought the saw from a local distributor. They charged my $1085.00 for the MK 101. Since that time I have found that $799.00 is the average price. I will not do business with that distributor again.

Third and last is both good and bad:
The saw cuts very well however it has more vibration in the bade shaft than when it was new. At this wear rate by next year it will have to have new bearings/sleeves.

My biggest complaint is the quality of the sliding table and attachments. The set screw rip guide is difficult and time consuming to make small adjustments. The tiny finger bolt to tighten the guide loosens with saw vibration unless tightened with pliers. MY fingers wont do it on such a tiny surface without pain. Use of pliers is making the back of the sliding table rough because it is soft material. Eventually this surface will be ruined and fine adjustments impossible. Why not put a sliding cam-lock fence like you find on quality table saws. Time putzing around with the existing one is costing me money.

It is also common for me to lay tile on a diagonal or cut tile to fit on a tapered wall. The fence should have a quality protractor and pivot. Or, it should be a quality piece that can be added to the fence or used separately.

The scale on the sliding table is worthless. Why put one on there if your not going to spend the time to make it useful?

The dimple surface on the table helps but I still wash it down with a sponge often. On either side of the cut line should be a solid rib and the kerf should be no more than twice the thickness of the blade. Better yet these two flats should be independently adjustable. They could then be closed for cutting mosaics and glass tile.

The saw is too heavy. I could cut 30% off by using better materials and doing some engineering. I have mine strapped to a dolly. You could just mount your saw to a designed for the purpose dolly. Put a seat on the handle end. That's what I did with mine.

The tub did not fit the frame when I got it. I had to grind and smooth the frame opening so I could get the tub in and out without damaging it. The vacuum formed tub scared me when I first saw it. It has held up ( I am very Careful) but a rotationally molded PE or PEX tub would be better. The little added fence holder welded on is worthless. The fence does not fit and sticking out like that is a hazard. Put a latch on the far end (under the motor) of the sliding table so when you push it forward you can make it stay when moving the saw. I have gotten some pretty painful knuckle/finger slams when the table slides out of control when I am trying to lift this beast into my truck.

So there you have it. As a result I am in the market for a better saw. From what I have seen though your saws are not designed to make the tilers life easier so I am shopping around.

Rugged and built for the long haul
I researched tile saws for a long time before I bought this one. I had a small Plasplugs unit that served me (and several of my buddies) quite well for many small jobs. The last job I did was Saltillo Tile which I had to cut with a hand grinder and a dry blade - effective but what a mess. The MK-101 is built like a tank and easy to use. No, it's not for beginners but, unlike some of the previous reviewers, I found the manual detailed and thorough. It cuts smoothly, largely in part to it's 10" blade but also the excellent track and cutting table. It may never be as accurate as a table saw but, it is the best tile saw out there that I have seen. When cutting 12"x 12" floor tiles there's no chipping of the finish glazing - it cuts almost too smooth and there are sharp edges left - be careful. All in all a major investment but worth it in my opinion. Go to a pawn shop and you'll find them 10 years old, beat up, for [cheap]. With the free stand and cutting kit I chose it over he MK-100 for the extra power - my Dad always told me: "get the biggest and most powerful motor on any tool and you'll never be sorry". He's been right so far.

Has the power but not the engineering
I wish the Japanese could help these guys with engineering their saw. It has the potential to be a great tool but lacks some engineering. It reminds me too much of American made tools. Oh, that's right, it is American made.

The table is very sticky. Never seems to get much better even with lubrication. It is hard to line up your work. I found I can line up the beginning of the cut but there is no real way to line up the complete cut without raising the head and doing trial runs. The instructions that came with it are poorly written and incomplete. I went to MK's website and found a better version, but they seem to assume the purchaser already knows about their saw. The instructions on saw head placement are useless. I still don't know where to put the saw head for a given application. The water bin stopper should have a string attached to it and the saw to keep from losing it. It is just a matter of time before I lose that thing.

The ATS stand, with wheels, is a necessary option because of the saws weight at 110 pounds. Otherwise you must have two people or disasemble the saw each time you move it. The instructions to assemble the ATS wheeled stand are the worst I have seen in twenty years.It is obvious MK needs new minds in their saw engineering and in their instructional editing.

The motor is powerful at 2hp. The blade that comes with the MK-101Pro makes ceramic tile and marble feel like butter. The saw frame and body are heavy duty and should last longer than your back. When I ordered the saw from a vendor I also ordered an additional blade. Both were to be drop-shipped from MK. The truck line failed to give me the saw blade when they delivered the saw. I notified MK and they promptly shipped me another. The first blade showed up several days later from the trucking company, the same day as the second blade they shipped on UPS. I promptly returned one of the blades. It was nice to be trusted.

CERAMIC TILE - DO IT YOURSELF THE PROFESSIONAL WAY
The average person can lay tile professionally with the use of the MK-101 PROK 10" 2HP tile saw. We own a number of apt. complexes that are having the main traffic areas laid with 12" ceramic tiles. To hire the job done it costs $4.50 per 12" block to have it laid, cut, and grouted - which doesn't include the cost of the tile. By owning the MK101 PROK 10" 2HP tile saw, we can quickly cut tile any size, shape or form and do the work ourselves. Renting a saw this style runs $60-$70 per day. The saw is a life saver for us in keeping our tile laying costs down. The saw is extremely easy to use and does a great job cutting. If you want to get a saw worth the price and one that will do a good job - try the MK101 PROK saw - we love ours. It was an excellent investment. ... Read more

Features

• No load speed of 0-2,400 RPM
• Built in LED Light illuminates the workpiece for superior visibility
• Compact design and lightweight for tight quarters work
• Variable paddle switch with dial stopper for pre-setting desired speed
• Side grip handle can be installed for better leverage

Reviews (7)

The Compact Performer
This angle drill was bought to put cabinets in & where needed. I looked at the other brands but chose this one. It has an adjustable turn dial on the paddle, an LED light to help see in enclosed places, a reverse,( unlike the Dewalt), and comes with an extra handle. The power on this drill is more than enough for me. The dial turn knob on the paddle gives you the advantage of choosing the speed & power you desire for the job. It fits in tight places with a compact head & a regular key type chuck. If I need to change bits quickly, I can use the Craftsman SpeedLock system. Sometimes I have had the keyless chucks to work loose. I ordered my Makita & got a free pair of Makita M-Force gloves & a $25.00 discount through Tool Crib on a special deal. I wish I would have had an angle drill like this along time ago. I have a Makita 7 1/2" circular saw with great results also. I chose the electric over the cordless models since you never need to worry about buying new batteries or recharging alot if used to drill through framing studs & the adjustable dial made alot of sense; for me it is almost like a clutch on a cordless drill. So far, I have never had any problems with any Makita power tool. My next cordless drill might very well be the new Makita M-Force 14.4 volt kit with the flashlight.

Quality personified
I looked hard at these drills before I picked this one. The head height and variable speed is what sold me on this one. None of the others had this minimum clearance.

One cautionary note, the paddle switch is large, which makes it easy to run the drill, but also easy to accidentially switch it on. So when changing out drill bits UNPLUG IT! Also you need to be a little careful when you put it down, as you could put it down so that the switch kicks on. It's not easy to do, but more possible than with your more regular style drill.

That said, I love it. It does the job I bought it for. Tight space holes. And I use it as a second drill so I don't have to switch bits as often when I need to drill a pilot hole and then the full sized one.

It's even sweeter when you get your hands on it !
I just reported on this drill based on specifications, compared to some of the forerunners in the competition. In addition to that review, I have to say, I just received the drill, and it is truly a well built machine.
It addresses all of the other concerns reviewers were stating with the competition. The paddle on-off switch is conveniently located. The variable speed is so exact, that you can set it for off, and up a little from that, it takes 32 seconds for the chuck to turn one revolution. Not that you need that kind of crawl, but it let's you know that you can go from anywhere from a dead stop to full speed, and anywhere in between. Important when driving screw heads in delicate furniture, or cabinet making situations.
The forward-reverse switch is conveniently buried in the handle, at the tip of your fingers, but recessed enough that you will not accidentally trip it.
The 2 1/2" (approx) drill head height, is the same for the entire body of the drill. We are talking maximum clearance for those cramped quarter jobs.
The sound of the drill while it is running, smacks quality. It has that fine bearing sound.
The included removable side handle is large enough, that you might want to consider buying a buffing attachment, and using it for fine polising panels.
I'm crazy about tools that make you feel good when you use them. Nothing is worse than fighting an ill engineered tool. Quality tools equal quality work, and this tool will make you shine. Highly recommended.

This is the sweet combination
I looked at a lot of right angle drills before choosing this one. My needs are to be able to drill holes for wiring etc, in floor joists, and also being able to access cramped quarters in building cabinetry. Additionally, I needed to have a drill that would not be too powerful for mounting screws. Well this drill uniquely fills that bill exactly. Not only does it have a larger amperage motor than the competition, in medium duty, moderately priced drills, but also it has an adjustable setting for the level of power, so it achieves a certain level of resistance. No stripping or overinserting screw heads. So combining the variable speed feature, with an adjustable default setting, makes it unique in the industry for a medium duty right angle drill. All this while maintaining enough torque according to the owner's manual, to drill a one inch hole in wood. I don't need to drill holes larger than that, if I did, and on a regular basis, I would look into the Hole Hawg.
Personally, I am relieved to not be using an overtorqued drill for working in cramped quarters, using spade bits. I have the Milwaukee 110 volt hammer drill, and am always concerned about breaking a wrist when it catches a bit. The Hole Hawg is even more of a concern in that regard. Of course the ultimate is to have both. Back to the Makita: This drill reverses, unlike the Dewalt for a little less money, which also has a lower amperage motor, and other anomalies as reported in the reviews. The Makita having a work light built into it, that they claim will never burn out for the life of the drill, is a nice feature, for those cramped, less than well lit locations. I feel confident with the Makita name.
I also looked at the Porter Cable air driven right angle drill, for less than half the price, but I know that air tools do not have the torque of a 110-volt ac model, unless you are buying a monster impact wrench, but it does reverse.
I also opted for a corded 110-volt angle drill, since I would be using that for drilling holes in floor joists, and I know that can drain a cordless drill battery fast.
One more item is that I like the keyed chuck. My cordless drills have the keyless chuck, and that is convenient for the cordless type applications. Keyed chucks are shorter in distance, than the keyless, which gives you even less head length for extra clearance, and they give you a one-time insertion step. Many times my keyless, needs to be retorqued, because it can come loose. If I need to have the quick speed change of the keyless, I can use one of the popular quick-change bit sets.
Their are some very nice heavy-duty right angle drills. Porter Cable makes a heavy duty one, that is larger, and they make the air driven model I mentioned eariler. Milwaukee makes right angle drills with lots of torque, large motors and weight. In a day-to-day heavy-duty construction situation, I would be opting for one of them. But for my needs this Makita can't be beat. It costs a little more but I don't want to have to live without all of the different features it has.
So there you have it, this drill is the ultimate niche for my needs. Hope this information is pertinent to yours as well.

JUST AWESOME!!!
This is the #1 right angle drill you could ever buy for small to medium drilling job. The variable speed control is absolutely great...you can actually set the max desired speed so you can not over speed on some material. The LED light is fantastic for undersink work where thing might be dark and hard to see. The drill can rip up to max RPM very fast...and still feel very solid in your hand. No doubt...! First rate top notch equipment. PERIOD!!!

PS: Would be a lot better if it comes with a impact resistance case...but that is not as important as the tool itself. ... Read more

Features

• Built-in dust collection port and convenient access to the inside of the saw cabinet
• 5 hp, 1-phase, 230 volt motor
• Heaviest cast iron trunnion of any 10 inch saw on the market; reduces vibration for smoother cuts
• Easy gliding, precision fence with a full 50" right hand and 12" left hand cutting capacity
• Left tilting blade prevents the binding of stock between the blade and fence, reducing kickback

Reviews (4)

amazon.com-5 points
dont order this product from amazon been waiting for three going on four weeks amazon says it will be two to three more weeks if they dont change it again ......can they really get this saw?????? steve

Fabulous Saw and Ok Router
When I ordered the saw, I was disappointed to learn they were backordered and I had to wait 2 weeks before it would be available. Since I was having the saw delivered to my house, we made sure to order a lift gate (an extra [$$$]). The heaviest carton is just under 500 lbs. When the saw finally arrived by Roadway Express, the driver backed up to within 20 feet of my shop and it looked like receiving it would be a piece of cake. As it turned out, the lift gate didn't work. Closer inspection revealed the electric box housing the on/off switches had been smashed and the crank used to raise and lower the blade had been hit so hard, the shaft it is mounted on was bent. I accepted the saw anyway as I was certain I could get parts quicker than another saw. Four of us got the saw off the truck and in several hours, I had it together. Except for the damaged items, the fit and finish is outstanding. One phone call to Powermatic got me the parts I needed in under 24 hours - their customer service is GREAT. The saw works beautifully. Of course I checked all critical adjustments, but everything was good right out of the box. There are 2 small problems. The arbor wrench supplied was punched out slightly too small and it wont fit most of what it is designed to fit. Secondly, the fence on the router table is of limited use. It cant be adjusted back from the bit far enough to do anymore than edge-forming work. An aftermarket fence will be necessary. Otherwise, this saw is everything it's touted to be. Just as important, Powermatic's customer service is fabulous.

powermatic 5hp table saw
Saw arrived in 4 working days. I had Fed Ex deliver it inside my shop. The driver even helped uncrate it and put it on tne mobile base. Assembly hard work because every piece of the saw is heavy weight, however all holes lined up fit and finish excellent. Unlike my last saw this one is quiet and almost vibration free. I put off buying this saw because of pssible shipping problems, and having to return it. Every thing smooth as silk. Thanks Powermatic, Fed Ex, and Amazon.

One Baaad Saw
I firmly believe this to be the finest 10" tablesaw on the market today. Not to say that it just hit the market today. I can remember using one just like it (with the exception of a 3hp motor instead of a 5hp) 29 years ago in my eighth grade industrial arts class.You can push 8/4 maple or hickory or oak or any other notoriously hard lumber through this saw just as fast as you want. You will not bog this saw down! When used with a sliding table such as the Excalibur EXSL T60, this machine is a dream come true. Repeatable accuracy to 1/64" and absolutely square cuts time after time. You will never regret buying this saw! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Bosch invented the jig saw, and, with their Progressor top-handle model, they're getting close to perfecting it. The Progressor has a nicely shaped handle, tapered where other saws are not, and a nice rubber grip that lets users (of all hand sizes) steer the tool firmly in hand. (Some toolmakers ignore ergonomics, but not Bosch--and we appreciate it.) The safety mechanism works well with the trigger, and the cut is super smooth. We like the variable-speed dial, the light weight, and the foot plate's plastic cover, which ensures that surfaces won't get scratched as they can by saws with metal plates. The blade-change system--if a little tricky at first--works great. No question about it, this jig saw keeps up Bosch's reputation as one of the prime movers in the power tool industry. --Michael Shilling ... Read more

Features

• 4-Stage orbital action adjusts blade motion - To match workpiece and cutting task
• Powerful 5 Amp motor, 500-3100 SPM
• Tool-free blade change system - For fast and easy blade changes
• Exclusive multi-directional blade clamp mechanism - For superior blade hold
• Low-vibration design - Ensures extremely smooth operation

Reviews (79)

A bigger difference than expected
I'll start by saying I'm a semi-novice woodworker that has made some shelves, bookcases, done some carpentry, but certainly not yet making fine furniture. I've always had a cheap jigsaw, from my fathers to the skil I bought a few years ago. The skil had been annoying me more and more with the blade popping out when bogged down a bit, the blades were thin and it was very hard to keep them from bending on a turn. The base snapped into place and felt very cheap.

In aggrevation I finally decided to get a real jigsaw, and this was one of the top contenders, had a great price, came with 9 blades, and two nice wolfcraft clamps. While waiting for my order (a consequence of using the free shipping), I kept second guessing the purchase.. I mean, how much better could this jigsaw be, and surely I could make do with the one I had. I finally received the jigsaw, tried it out, and am now a believer!

Bosch makes a very sturdy product, it feels solid in every sense. I did have a little bit of trouble putting in a blade the first time, but that was because when they said to lift the blade changing knob on top, I gave it a little pull and quit as soon as I felt some resistance, afraid to hurt something. Afterward I realized they meant for you to pull it out with a good tug, and things worked fine after that. Now that I understand, I'll enjoy this blad change system as there is little doubt the blade will stay in place.

The blades (I have the progressor kit, which came with 9 blades) are very solid, nice blades, and if this is what I can expect from Bosch blades, I'm sold. They cut very smooth and stable, feel very solid, and are very sharp, as my thumb can tell you, trying to force the blade in without the blade changing mechanism engaged.

The jigsaw has a very nice heft to it, and runs _extremely_ smooth. No vibration at all, which is a major difference from my other jigsaw. It really shocked me the first time I pulled the trigger and didn't feel the slightest jump.

Let me just say I'm very pleased with this jigsaw, and Bosch has risen very high on my list of preferred brands. I own a lot of colored tools (yellow, grey, black, etc) and this is one of the finest made.. though its not too fair to compare a jigsaw to a circular saw or sander.

I'll end by saying if you're in the market for a jigsaw, skip the "bargain" brands that will do for now, and buy the only one you'll need for the rest of your life. You won't regret it.

Simply the Best
I have owned a couple of jigsaws over the years. Neither worked well and therefor I never had much opinion of the jigsaw as tool per se. Frequently, I would reach for my old keyhole saw and work by hand rather than deal with what I thought was an inferior tool. The problem was I just did not have the right jigsaw.

The Bosch 1587AVSP "Progressor" may quite simply be one of the best tools ever to come off a production line. With the wide assortment of blades included in this kit I have cut through a variety of materials (wood, aluminum, and steel) with the greatest of ease. It has wonderful power and the variable speed allows control in any situation. I will now be reaching for it rather than my circular saw or handsaws.

A few people have commented that the "clic" blade changing system is tricky. It is true that it is not very intuitive. Nevertheless, after the first three times, the old adage "practice makes perfect" was true again and, it is second nature to me now.

I read somewhere that, after a good cordless drill, a jigsaw should be the homeowner's second power tool purchase. The price of this saw might seem expensive to someone who plans to use it only occasionally. However, it will pay for itself by increasing productivity and lowering the frustration that will be encountered using lesser saws. If you can fit in your budget, you will not be disappointed in your purchase.

Excellent Jigsaw!
Two months ago, I bought a Dewalt 318. I was really dissapointed at it. My cuts were unacceptably way off. At first I thought it was the blades(Dewalt)that came with, so I bout u shank Bosch blades but there were no changes in the results. I tried my friends Bosch 1587AVS, and I discovered a big difference in the feel and power. I noticed that the blade changing mechanism were a little cumbersome but I got used to it. Eventually I bought the 1587AVSP, I've used it in many projects in the last 5 months and ever since have been very satisfied. Most people tell me about the superior quality of Bosch all the time and after this tool I was convinced.

My advice would be to carefully choose your blades. The accuracy of cuts depend a lot on the type of blades used for specific applications.

Blade Change Problem Solved
While I was aware of others who had experienced blade changing problems, I was ready to admit defeat at getting my first blade installed. Opening the blade lock the 3 turns as the manual directed would not allow the blade/shaft to rotate at all.
The trick was to open the lock 5 turns and then the blade/shaft rotated easily and then Click-locked as expected. After the first blade exchange, blades could be inserted and locked with only 3 turns. Now the quick release works first time-every time. I gave the Bosch 4 stars due to the flimsy locking lever.

Bosch-Known for Quality
It's a known fact that Bosch is #1 especially when it comes to Jig Saws and this saw is no exception. This is one great product!! Buy it ... Read more

Features

• Includes one year limited warranty on parts and accessories.
• Powerful 2-1/4 HP, soft start motor, 12 amps
• Variable speed 10-23,000 rpm, Electronic feedback, Table top heght adjustment, handle switch access and spindle lock
• Premium 1/4" and 1/2" self releasing collet system for easy bit removal
• Multi functional carrying case with bit and accessory storage

Reviews (6)

Great design for under table mounting; build quality so-so
This is a very nice design for mounting under a table because it's possible to make small height adjustments from above, without groping under the table. To do that you drill a hole in the router table that lines up with a hole in the router base, and to adjust the height you use a special wrench. (Devise your own using a hex wrench bit or buy the outrageously priced tool offered by Porter Cable. Porter-Cable ought to thrown in the adjusting wrench as part of the price.)

Three problems: (1) The printed manual doesn't say a word about mounting and adjusting it in this way, even though that's the main benefit of the 890 series design vs the cheaper, better-built workshorse 690 series. You have to figure it out for youself. (2) It uses a plastic rack-and-pinion gear to adjust the depth of cut, which feels less solid than rotating pin alignment of the 690 series. (3) When you release the lever that locks the depth of cut setting, the router wobbles a little, so you have to re-check the height carefully after the router is locked in place. We're used to rock-solid tools from P-C, not plastic gears and wobbly housings.

Plus side: It's quieter; the RPMs can be adjusted; it's safer, faster and much easier to change bits -- no more skinned knuckles! It comes with a CD that shows more about how to use it. Not really four stars, but better than 3.

Close but no Cigar
I have several Porter Cable routers along with an ELU. When this router is mounted under a table, it is wonderful that it will lift to a height where changing bits is a breeze. Also, the router has plenty of power when using large raised panel bits. Now for the bad. Porter Cable used a plastic gear system on the side of the router for the raising and lowering mechanism. When using the height adjusting feature, the gears are too course which doesn't allow for accurate fine adjustment. Also the adjustment is sloppy at best, the router tilts in its base, especially when a little sawdust falls into the adjusting mechanism. I actually have to reach under the table and pull the router vertical to insure accurate height adjustment. While the router motor is fine, there are better systems for mounting a router beneath the table. This router makes me thankful for Ebay.

On first use it broke down
The router itself is an ingenius piece of work and sets up very nicely. The first time I used it however, the rack and the attaching screws sheared in pieces. Finding parts has been difficult and even to this point I need to wait a day to see if I can obtain them. Porter Cable needs to make parts more accessable.

Powerful, quiet, a snap to set up
I have never been more impressed with a power tool. I can make bit adjustments or changes in seconds accurately with the adjustment knob through the base.There i splenty of power in this baby too. I cut 2 3/8" molding in a single pass. Perhaps the best feature is the heavy insulation around the motor. This router is quieter than a blender. If you own a table and are looking for a replacement router or a better router, I can't begin to tell you how satisfied you will be with this product.

outstanding in & out of the table
This is the "perfect fit" for router table use. I can't comment on hand-held use because it immediately went into the router table. This machine is smooth cutting, powerful and quiet. The features for the table mount are perfect. PC put a lot of thought into this one! You can adjust the bit height using the 75301 height adjustment knob, lock/unlock the motor from the mount and lock the spindle all from above. The spindle/collet raises enough that you don't have to reach down inside the mount to get to the collet nut. My only gripe was that the height adjustment knob is an accessory costing an extra twenty to thirty bucks depending on where you find it. Amazon doesn't carry it yet but a web search will turn up a bunch of sites that do. I thought I'd save a few bucks and just use a 1/4 drive 3/16" socket and extension bar but none of the sockets I have found will fit through the hole in the base. The knob from PC has a second, located lower, plastic guide that helps to align the knob shaft with the height adjuster mounted on the base. I guess the best bet is to spend a few more bucks and get the PC version.
This unit comes with an interactive cd that is very well done. Even has plans and a short movie from the router workshop on building a table. Very well done I might add.
All in all I would give it six stars if I could. ... Read more

Features

• Fast easy 50 screw strips to speed up production.
• Cordless 18 volt battery power for the demanding needs of professional remodelers and contractors.
• Drives 1 to 3"screws ,even in hard woods.
• Easy depth of drive adjustment regulates the precise amount of countersink
• Trigger lock with reverse for continuous work

Reviews (1)

Power, speed and accuracy
So, your tired of putting in screws one at a time and having to have someone to help hold drywall. Your prayers have been answered. This thing rocks! No cords. Incredible speed. 30 round clips. What more could you ask for. The batteries charge fast and you get 2 of them. I may be heavy for some but if you are man enough to handle it, the power is worth the weight. If you wish something lighter go with the 14 volt. It still has decent power but the 18 volt can power through decking as well as drywall. Happy hanging. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Walnut glides like butter under the three-knife cutterhead of this superb portable planer. And say good-bye to end snipe, that enemy of thrifty woodworkers. Stock comes out with a near-flawless finish because the three knives make an impressive 96 cuts per inch. You won't need to trim off the damaged ends anymore either, because the four-column carriage lock stifles the movement that causes snipe. Replacing the knives isn't complicated, another plus. The dust hood is even included, and we say bravo to that, because planers make a mess. The depth of cut and thickness gauges are well-placed and easy to read; the handles make toting this 80-plus-pounder a little easier. We think the weight's a plus, though, as it adds to the tool's stability. Home woodworkers, do-it-yourselfers, and contractors will love this planer.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• M2 laminated knives are disposable and reversible
• Three knife cutter-head for superior surface finish
• 96 cuts per inch for a smooth finish
• Extra-large folding tables and a four column carriage lock minimize the movement that causes snipe
• One tool knife change system allows the user to easily seat new knives

Reviews (7)

Great Planner
I have used this machine with two projects now. I planed Walnut and Kentucky Coffee. The machine runs great. I have planned about 100 bd ft. I have noticed a small nick in the blades allready, but that could be from the hard wood I am running. There has been debate about what type of dust collector to use. I HIGHLY recommend not using a wet/dry vacum. It will be full in about two passes. I use an barrel type two stage dust collector and have filled it twice while using the DW734. All in all I am very happy with this planner, packaging was great, setup was easy.

Nice Planer
Does a very nice job. Easy to set up, easy to use. Would give 5 stars except for one annoying little thing....... You cannot fold up the outfeed tray with the dust collection hood attached. This makes it a little challenging to store when you are short on space.

Excellent tool
I bought this planer a month ago from a local home center. I was disappointed to see it made in Taiwan, but little can be done since most are anyway. It took almost no time to set up, and I was planing some Zebrawood right away. Zebrawood is a notoriously difficult wood to plane, but this machine did a superb job. No snipe or problems in 11 BF of lumber. I've planed 2 BF of Purpleheart, 17 BF of Black Walnut, 7 BF of White Oak, and some small amounts of other hard and soft woods. The knives are still sharp and doing a fine job. The depth adjustment is very easy to use, and accurate. The turret stop can be set for 3/4", 1/2", 1/4", 1/8" settings for repetitive thickness planing in different boards. This is a very nice feature. The dust collection works well, but don't expect 100% of the chips to be collected as some do find their way out. I have it hooked up to a ShopVac and the system works well for me. Changing the knives is easy, and the overall fit and finish of the machine is quite good. The important thing to remember is to never take more than 1/32" off at a time. Shallow passes take more time, but they don't load the motor or knives as much and the finish quality is better. Also, allow the tool (and knives) to rest/cool after several minutes of use. This planer isn't designed for cabinet shops and shouldn't be left on for long periods of time. Use rollers to support long pieces of lumber as this will make it less likely for the board or machine to be damaged. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. I have used this machine heavily in the past month and will continue to put it to use. I am confident it will hold up as I've had good experience with DeWalt. I highly recommend this tool.

great portable planer
I just completed a custom trim job in which I planed just over 6000 feet of rough sawn cedar. The planer performed exceptionally well, and I only had to purchase one additional set of knives. (The double sided knives are a great money/time saving feature. I would HIGHLY recommend this tool.

Kudos to Dewalt
Hats off to Dewalt on this one. I purchased this planer about mid Dec. (3 weeks ago) I have use it several times, mostly on 3/4" maple with a few other matrls. thrown in. It has performed wonderfully. The dust collection shute is a big plus and works fairly well with my heavy duty shop vac. I suspect it will work even better with a good dust collector of 500 or more cfm.(My next purchase)
The three blade system leaves a VERY smooth surface (mimimum sanding with fine sand paper for a stainable finish) Most of the wood I have ran is not more than 7" wide and at 1/16 depth of cut. The unit is capable of more buy why heat the blades.
Snipe has been virtually none. A very small amount of snipe occured when I went for a deeper cut on a 7" wide maple board.
The depth of cut gauge on the infeed side is about the best idea ever, (other manufacturers take note) and the preset finish cut depth can be somewhat handy as well.
The two handles on the top outside of the planer make it very easy to move around my garage, into the pickup, or on to the elevated bench where I keep it out of the way when not in use.
If i had any complaint it would be this...If the dust shute had a quick disconnect or latch type attatchment, it would be handy so that the outfeed table could fold up for storage without having to break out any tools. A minor inconvenience that has no effect at all on performance.
If your'e looking for a portable garage/jobsite planer, this one is up to the task. You will be pleased with the results.
P.S. I haven't had to change the blades yet, however, I did open up the unit and did a "mock" blade change to become familiar with it...very easy to do requiring no special knowledge or tools..Good job Dewalt. ... Read more