Customer Reviews

JET 708301K JWTS-10JF 10-Inch Right Tilt 1-1/2 Horsepower Contractor Saw with 30-inch Micro Glide Fence and 2 Steel Extension Wings, 115/230-Volt 1 Phase

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I went back and forth between the Jet and the comparable Delta contractor tablesaw before finally settling on the Jet. Overall, I'm very satisfied not only with this saw, but the other Jet stationary tools I've purchased. In order to really exploit the full potential of this saw, rewire it for 230V operation as there is an appreciable difference in power. I do a lot work with 3/4" to 1" oak, and wired for 230V operation, this saw can handle it.

While the fence works well, I do wish it were just a little taller to make it easier to clamp featherboards and auxilary fences to it. It is easy to recalibrate if it gets knocked out of square, though.

This is the most inexpensive, versatile, expandable saw I have ever seen. It is very stable and mine was set up pretty close to true right out of the box. It has an electric brake so you don't have to wait an hour for the blade to stop. The fence is true, but my measuring tape is off 1/4", I adjust. The saw is worth every cent. There are alot of accessories available for this saw, just check around.

First of all, I must tell you that I am very glad to finally have a table saw. I have been shopping for over two years and was not really sure I wanted the Jet until the Christmas tool sale at Lowe's. Had it not been for that I can't say that I would have committed to this saw had it still been at full price.

Actually, the Jet was my first pick but I had since developed some doubts about them. The bargain price lured me in (much better than here,) but if you're like me you want to know what I like and dislike about it.

First the bad, in order of personal annoyance:

1. The steel extension tables. My first and biggest recommendation is to upgrade to the "CW2" version. These are hard to get right and you will have to expect to "bend" them in order to do it. Spend $100 more, get the next model up with the cast extensions and save the time for some other projects. Doing it later, as I did, WILL COST YOU. I hate the steel extensions and was concerned about them even as I was forking over the money.

2. The fence and miter gauge. They are both just OK, but to get real accuracy you will need to spend at least another $400-$500 to replace both... the cheapest (...) Or for a total of $950-1000.00+/- (saw included) for good controllable, stable set ups. (edit: I am an old cuss and not wanting this fence to get the better of me, I have come to terms with it after much playing around... I'd still replace the miter gauge, but it is usable as long as you check it carefully after EVERY adjustment. Don't rely on the scale or the "flip-stop" to do it for you. It won't!) I think a tool made in China (cheap labor and material. Remember all those American jobs lost to China?) and distributed by an American company could do better... even in a base model saw. The Xacta fence should be standard, trash the "JetFence."

3. The dust collection "hood" stinks! I will replace this too. (Edit: I made my own. See my review of the Jet hood #JW1005 and I'll tell you how.)

4. The safety splitter and anti-kickback paws are nearly useless. They are difficult to install and uninstall when necessary, real knuckle busters. OK, we all know that most people who actually USE their table saws remove these items most of the time, but I would use them more often if it weren't for the time and effort it takes to uninstall them when I need a dado blade, or am running 4" tall material through the blade. You can replace these with aftermarket quick release/quick setup items for around $430.00. What a bargain. }:-( That's nearly as much as the saw originally cost.

5. The drive belt: Before I made any important cuts with this tool I immediately replaced the drive belt with a PowerTwist Plus A20-60. My cheap Jet now runs smoother than my neighbors' more expensive Delta. (Please see my review of this product for complete details.) It's WELL worth the $30.00 investment.

6. Mostly the manual was enough for setup. As others here have said, I set mine up in about four hours except a few areas where I found it lacking: It was a little vague in the area of converting the saw/motor to 230 volt operation, like what current (amps) it would draw at 230? Should I install a 20 amp plug, receptacle and breaker, or a 30 amp? (Answer: Install the 20 amp if you convert); Also a few more suggestions about lining up and leveling the side extensions would've been nice, like how to bend them more accurately; and finally, not all of the various hardware bags were clearly marked and I found myself guessing... correctly as it turns out, at what hardware the manual was referring to.

Note: For those who have read other customer reviews here, mine did come with it's own blade. It's a 40T, carbide tipped, and it ain't bad either! It does leave a little to be desired in the cross-cutting department. I do get some tear-out with it, but it's OK. I will replace it with a better one eventually, but it is quite good for a "get acquainted" type blade. (I did! See Freud TK406, 60T. For $35.00 you can't beat it with a Forrest.)

The good:

1. The motor is strong and starts, and pulls evenly to full speed... and can be converted to 230v operation.

2. The arbor assembly is strong and smooth (gear, not belt) operating.

3. The blade (see above comments.)

4. For the most part the saw was easy to setup.

Suggestion: No matter how much room you have or don't have, get a mobile base. Jets' own works well and is easy to set up but is a little clumsy in actual use. The Jet base has four individual wheels (back)/casters (front) to lock and unlock which is not so convenient when you have 30" fence rails to get around, and it doesn't allow for easy side-to-side movement either but it is reasonably priced to buy. (edit: less so after a $10.00 increase) My neighbor set up a Ridged Herc-C-Lift on his Delta recently. Four casters that come up all the way when not in use and a one foot pedal operation. I am not a fan of the "Big Orange" but I should have done this.

My recommendation: If you are set on getting the Jet, get the model with the cast iron wings (suffix:"CW2" Usually about $100 more, and it will cost you a LOT more ($250.00+ freight) later to do it) and if the funds allow, the Xacta fence though the new Micro-Adjust fence from Jet is an improvement.
If you are cutting a lot of sheet material plan on building or buying a side table extension and an outfeed table. They're easy to build yourself and make a nice first project. (See Rockler for hardware kits.)

I hope this helps you decide and Good Luck with your own dreams!

I purchased this saw from Amazon in January 2002. Since then, I've spent a few quid more and gotten the bells and whistles to turn the Jet, in my humble opinion, into all of the saw I will ever need. Its really just a great saw.

The table and wings are still dead-on flat. I've probably run the saw about 40-50 hours since purchase with no adjustment needed since set up (I do check). As for the negative comments on the splitter in another review - I have not experienced such a problem. I agree with just about all of the other comments.

Delivery was by lift gate service. The box was pretty chewed up, suggesting it probably had a rough trip. However, everything was well packed, so there was no damage.

I seem to recall it taking the better part of a day to set up and tune (at a leisurely pace). You can save a good amount of time and frustration with a flex attachment for your portable drill to more easily rachet the many bolts. Also, the table and wings are well oiled/greased - so be prepared for the mess. If you plan to move this thing - ever - I strongly reccommend the HT mobile base with the purchase.

The miter guage that comes with the saw is not great. If you are happy with it, that's fine. I upgraded to an accu-miter and am very happy now. I always thought I was going to upgrade the fence - but I've never really needed to. I am happy with it. I've put in an extension for my router and have had no flex in the rails. Heed the power considerations. This thing needs more than a 15 amp circuit - learned the hard way. Once fixed, no problems. Highly recommend the jet tenoning jig, which I purchased about a year later. Good upgrade. Hope this was helpful.

January 21, 2004
I upgraded to this saw from a universal motor powered Ryobi about 6 months ago. The difference was immeasurable. The fit and finish on this machine are great, and the motor has plenty of power for rips, crosscuts, and dadoes. I have yet to bog the motor down using a Freud 40T for most cutting. The cuts are smooth and accurate. The fence locks securely and is adequate, but it has more deflection than I care for. This will be one of the first upgrades to this saw right after swapping the belt for a power twist. One other problem I had with the saw was with the bolts that secure the rear trunnion. I was tweaking the saw one day and snapped one of the bolt heads off while I was tightening the trunnion. It broke off surprisingly easily which makes me wonder if the bolt was defective from the beginning. I was able to extract the rest of the bolt and purchased hardened steel bolts from the Orange Box to replace the originals. The only other complaint I have is with the height and angle wheel locks. Even after cranking the wheel locks as tight as I could get them, I could still turn the wheels, albeit with a little effort. Still, I have not noticed that this has effected the performance where depth adjustment is critical, like making dadoes. Overall, I really dig this saw and I am glad I selected this over Delta or Grizzly. Most of my tools are Delta, but the solid performance of this saw makes me a believer in Jet products. I'd purchase it again if I had the opportunity and would only pass it up for a cabinet saw.

Feb 2005 update:
I finally got a new Vega fence and this has made all the difference. Greater accuracy and much more cutting capacity. Also - I've learned that this saw, because of its horsepower rating - operates better with thin-kerf blades.

I actually picked one of these saws up at an auction as my first table saw and didn't realize the quality of the saw until I went shopping for a new band saw. While at the local Grizzly outlet, I stopped to take a look at their table saws and quickly came to realize some definite advantages in the Jet.

The fence on this saw is considerably better than any of the other factory fences I have seen, and it seems to be quite durable. (Mine was purchased by the original owner in 1992!) The saw is basically built like a tank, so make sure you have help if you want to move it much!!!

I'm now within another week of getting my new bandsaw and if the table saw is any indication, I can't wait to see what the Jet bandsaw is like!

I waivered on whether to get this saw, a delta, or a grizzly. Noticed the grizzly you would still have a hefty shipping fee and it almost evened out the price and Jet has a better reputation. The Delta that was comparable was discontinued/out of stock when I was ready to order (probably to force everyone to their more $$$ X5 line), so I ordered the Jet without hesitation.

It came shipped freight(on a big truck instead of UPS) to my neighborhood and the fellow unloaded the two boxes for me, and good thing.. altogether this thing weighs around 250 lbs. The fence is in one box and the saw in the other. Putting it together will take a long time! It took me at least 3 or 4 hours. Be sure you have metric wrenches/sockets. The instructions were pretty clear and easy to follow with a few minor snags. One is the splitter/guard. The 'adjustment' for it was fairly non-existent, and it was fairly obvious this was a cheap addition to satisfy safety laws/concerns. I actually never got it lined up to the blade to my satisfaction, and it would have caused more trouble than it prevented by forcing the wood into the blade, being unaligned. I took it off and hope to someday replace it with the beisemeyer splitter. I do not recommend not using a splitter when at all possible! This is, sadly, a very common problem with almost all saws, so I didn't subtract from it for that, though I wish manufacturers would make at least a usable splitter to come with the saw. The other setup issue I have is that it merely tells you to line up the fence with the miter slot. I instead highly recommend the purchase of a dial indicator when you buy the saw (not very expensive), and use that to verify the blade is parallel to the miter slot, and then to align the fence. Having these aligned will make your saw a lot safer, and its fairly easy to do with the dial. One other issue... The fence installation instructions were minimal.. almost nonexistant, but there really isn't too much to the fence, just felt there should be a few more details on how to adjust some things.

As for how the saw works, I installed a Freud combination blade, and was very impressed when I first turned it on, and heard how quiet it was! I am used to radial arm saws and circular saws. This one is tremendously quieter and much smoother running. All the cuts I've made have been smooth and easy to make. The fence, while at first feeling a little flimsier than I'd like, seems to be doing a very good job, and holding true nicely. After lining up the plastic viewer to the tape measure, it makes very repeatable cuts. Once I had it throw the breaker cutting some 1x6 softwood, but to be fair I have a freezer hooked up to the same electrical branch and it could have been running too. I'll probably run a 220v outlet soon to avoid this.

Overall the saw itself seems rock solid. Top quality on fit and finish, and everything was aligned very well. The fence left a little to be desired, and perhaps someday I'll put a beisemeyer or incra on it, but I'm in no rush as this one seems to do well. The splitter/guard is horrible, and I will probably make it the first upgrade when I can, but again this is probably the same for nearly all tablesaws. I highly recommend the Jet.

I recently purchased the Jet JWTS-10JF and am pleased with the purchase. The saw has excellent power and precision. Amazon's shipping was impressive as well - saw was sent immediately and arrived within a week. Back to the saw... Despite complaints from others that the instructions were inadequate or difficult to understand, I found them clear and had no trouble assembling the saw in approximately four hours. I was impressed that the newer Jet Micro Glide fence was included in the purchase. I find it far superior to the older Jet Fence that previously came with this model. My one complaint about this model is that the stamped steel wings are inadequate. I was advised by wise carpenters that cast iron wings are nice but not essential. I disagree. The steel wings are difficult to adjust to level with the cast iron table top and appear to be too lite (the saw has a mild vibration despite being properly assembled). If I could do it over again, I'd spend the extra money and buy the same saw, but with the cast iron wings (708300K). Aside from that minor complaint, you're going to get a great saw!