Customer Reviews

JET 708901 JWBS-12OS 12-Inch 1/2-Horsepower Open Stand Woodworking Band Saw with Guide Blocks, 115-Volt 1-Phase

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After reading the reviews in fine woodworking about the 14" jet, I was almost convinced to buy it. Then I sat down and analysed my needs for the saw and the budget. I figured I wouldn't be resawing wide boards that often so I chose the 12" saw. I was impressed with the finish on the table and the painted surfaces. This is a quality machine. It went together in less than 2 hours. I also purchased a mobile base. I actually spent more time on the mobile base assembly. After making the initial adjustments, I fired it up. Immediately I knew this was a good machine. It's smooth and quiet. The blade tracked steady and true. My first cuts thru some oak were as smooth as silk. I then cut out some plywood boat hull moulds freehand. I found I could easily track just to the edge of a pencil line and split the layout holes made with an ice pick. I'm impressed. I wish I had bought this machine years ago.

It was time to replace my 10" Craftsman (best suited for cutting cardboard). JET band saws were rated the best choice at several online reviews. Friends who do similar woodworking have 12" Delta's and both agreed that getting a saw that would take a 1/2" blade is critical (their Delta won't). This 12" JET goes upto 1/2", changing blades and adjusting is a breeze. It's also much heavier (solid cast iron housing and table)which helps reduce vibration. It's MUCH quieter than my old Craftsman. Assembley and adjustment took me 1.5 hours (by myself). Documentation was excellent. Too bad they don't include a miter gauge and light. Overall I feel this is a much better saw than Delta.

This is a great saw by Jet. Jet builds their products heavy duty to last a long time. The only problem I have found with this saw is the stand is too flimsy. The saw housing is cast metal and heavy but the stand it sits on is a small gauge steel causing the saw to vibrate vigorously when it is on.

I am very pleased with this 12" Band Saw. I looked at several, and though small, it has a big heart!
Quiet and basically vibration free, it is indeed what I expected.
A couple of points for you to look at though: First, the stand is a little on the light side. You might consider adding a little stiffness (I put a piece of 3/4" MDF on the stand top.) Secondly, the lower blade guide is not very handy. You might want to initially align the bearing and cool blocks before you put the table on. And finally, my saw came with a 1/4" 6TPI blade, a little aggressive. I plan on picking up a 12 or 14 TPI, I'll stick with 1/4" for now.
Over-all, the saw fit my budget and my available floor space, while still capable of doing almost anything I want.

I received the saw and had it set up in about an hour. The assembly was very easy, it just took a while to tighten all the screws :)

After assembling the saw I went through all the usual checks of tensions and such and found that everything from the factory was pretty spot-on. I did have to move the guides forward a bit but they would have worked fine as they were.

As far as cutting power goes, the motor hasn't had a problem yet and I have cut through stock that was 4" white oak.

On the downside, the saw didn't come with a fence or miter guage, so those are going to have to be bought afterward, and the 14" saw comes with those included which makes the price only [slightly] more for the saw. The 12" also doesn't have a riser block, which would have been nice.

Overall, this is a very good saw for the money, but if I had to do over I would go with the 14" for the riser block and fence.

Note:
I called Jet Customer Service to order the fence for the saw and after a short wait I talked to a women who was very friendly and ordered the part for me. I asked a couple of questions which she new the answers to off the top of her head. She also gave me her name and extension and said that if there where any pieces missing or a problem with the order to call her directly and she would take care of it. The customer service was top notch and I will definitely buy [their product] again.
I should also mention that the blade that comes with the saw is of mediocre quality and has stretched over the last couple of months a bit (I don't loosen the tension between uses). I would definitely recommend getting some timberwolf blades.

I wanted to get the Grizzly 14" bandsaw, but at this price, I couldn't pass up the Jet 12". For $275, no tax, no shipping, it can't be beat. I picked the item up at the local freight center (they run a great operation), and assembly was straight-forward and the manual was okay. The base is a little bit light duty.

My first cuts with the saw were great, and the blade that comes with the saw is a good general purpose blade. The saw has plenty of power for my needs. The saw will even re-saw 6" hard maple, provided you use the APPROPRIATE blade. Invest in Lonnie Bird's "Bandsaw Book". It is a good resource and will help the beginner set-up the saw correctly and choose the right blade for the job.

The bandsaw had some vibration when I first set it up due to the lightweight stand. I put it on a home-made mobile base using 1-1/2" thick MDF and casters. After securing the saw to the mobile base, the vibration wasn't a problem. It may also be that the belt needs a little use to even out.

The Pros:
Price
Power is adequate for most jobs
The fit and finish is good
The manual was easy to understand
Blades are easy to change
Cast-iron table
Dust collection fits 4"
Cast iron Frame

The Cons:
Some vibration but the problem was solved
Lower guide blocks/bearings hard to get to
Blade tension mechanism could use a bigger handle
lightweight stand

I was a little wary of JET products after having read some bad reviews. But after buying this bandsaw, I'm converted.

I got it ... at a local dealer in SF, put it together in an hour or so, and was immediately impressed. The complexity of bandsaws had intimidated me, but this saw is easy to figure out and maintain. It's big, heavy, and solid, with no vibration. It's added a whole new dimension to my work, and after I was able to cut 1/16" veneer from hard, white oak, I'll never buy anything else. I'm really looking forward to getting a lot of reliable, quality work out of it. A professional grade machine for the amateur woodworker.

I have nothing but good things to say about this saw. It came in perfect condition, was easy to assemble, and works great. I have had no vibration problems, as noted by one reviewer. I would recommend getting the wheel kit if you need to move it around your shop at all...it is heavy. Also, a 2 1/2" or 4" shop-vac or dust control system is a must.

I have always wanted a 14 inch bandsaw because it appeared to be the only size that offered quality and enough horsepower to do most of the craft work that I do. All of the smaller bandsaws appeared to be underpowered and cheaply made (plastic and aluminum). Well this Jet 12 inch is great. Just got it and it offers everything that I needed at a reasonable price and it is of a size that fits my mini-workshop. Great solid cast housing and table. Very Solid! Quiet, powerful for its size.

I find this to be a good saw, and unlike others, I have absolutely no vibration problems