Replies

1. 
   Andrew | Apr 01, 2003 04:55pm | #1

   Just a tip for aligning the extension wings. get yourself a round copper or brass bar about 1" diameter and 8" long, or you can use a soft faced hammer if you have one. Get the extension wings so there pretty well lined up and then tighten the bolts down. after everything's bolted in place you can easily make fine adjustments by tapping the wings where they are too high. the soft metal won't damage the top.

   good luck with the saw

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Apr 01, 2003 05:23pm | #2

   wood

      Can't imagine why the cord swap would create a problem. I would agree with you that it might eliminate one though.

   Good Luck...

   sarge..jt

3. 
   TKanzler | Apr 01, 2003 05:39pm | #3

   14 gauge SO cord is rated 18A for two current carrying conductors, which is more than enough for your saw.  3 HP Unisaws, at 12.4 FLA, also come with 14 gauge cord (and a 15A plug).  The percent voltage drop over a 10' length of 14 gauge (10' out and 10' back) is miniscule, and less than miniscule with 12 gauge, at 240V.  That's why the manufacturers only provide 14 gauge on these saws; it's all they need.  You can always go bigger, but I wouldn't bother, and I understand from other posts that 12 gauge cord doesn't fit the strain relief in the starter without modification (but I don't know this for fact, since I don't own a Jet).

   As an aside, the percent voltage drop over a 50' run of 12 gauge NM and 10' of 14 gauge SO cord at 240V and 14A is about 1.5%.  Using 12 gauge SO cord instead of 14 gauge, it's about 1.4%.  This is hardly something to be concerned about.

   Be seeing you...

1. 
   corners | Apr 01, 2003 06:09pm | #4

   We don't buy tools anymore - we buy kits.

   Most of these kits are boxes of parts from different factories that have never been assembled together before.

   It requires time, patience, and ingenuity to put them together well.

   This forum would be a good place to post notes about tool assembly tricks and modifications.

   I could not align the upper wheel of my Asian made Delta 14 inch bandsaw until I took the upper main housing off, put it on a piece of 4x4 and jumped on it a few times. The 1/4-20 tilt adjustment screw for the upper wheel was not threaded well and I drilled it out and tapped it 3/8-16 putting in a new, heavier screw.  I could have returned the saw and complained but I accept that it was inexpensive for me to buy because it had never been assembled and tested. I spent a few hours instead of dollars doing the job myself and the machine now works perfectly.

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 03, 2003 04:32pm | #17

   "I could not align the upper wheel of my Asian made Delta 14 inch bandsaw"

   Did I read that right? Asian made Delta. All my Delta tools are less than 8 years old and all have a "Proudly made in America" stickers on them. When did that happen?

   Jon

1. 
   corners | Apr 03, 2003 05:05pm | #18

   At the time I bought mine I had the option of buying either a US made machine or an Asian machine. Side by side they looked exactly the same except for the price tag. Yesterday in the tool store there was only the asian machine. But I am not in the USA.

   What percent American content allows the manufacturer to claim made in USA?

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 03, 2003 06:13pm | #19

   Define content. I warn you, if you do, you'll get more than a two sentence response back.

   Jon

2. 
   corners | Apr 03, 2003 06:36pm | #20

   Actually I didn't answer your question - I bought the bandsaw about a year ago.

   The content thing is something that I am confused about. I have bought items that said made in one country on the box but on the actual item it says made in some other country.

3. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 05, 2003 04:26am | #24

   OK. I said that I would get back to you on this, Just been kind of busy. So I apologize for the delayed response  What does "Made in America" really mean. Lately, I think not much. Here's why I think that. The U.S. Government has set forth standards that are easily circumvented as to what qualifies as made in the U.S. or not. But just like people can launder money, it's pretty easy to circumvent the regulations regarding what constitutes "Made in the America"  by manipulating true domestic content. If there is an interest in this topic, I'll go future into the subject on a new thread, as I really try not to highjack unrelated threads. All let me know.

   Jon

4. 
   Elcoholic | Apr 03, 2003 10:22pm | #22

   If we were buying equipment under the federal "Buy American" provisions it would have to be 51% made in the USAand/or Puerto Rico as an assembly.  If I remember it correctly it's 51% of the cost.  So you could have a bandsaw made entirely in Taiwan with an American-made motor as long as the motor was at least 51% of the cost of the bandsaw and it would qualify.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

2. 
   Elcoholic | Apr 03, 2003 10:12pm | #21

   "We don't buy tools anymore - we buy kits." 

   Not a fair charactorization of the Jet Cabinet saw.  Mine went together just fine.  All I had to do was hang and level the extensions, fence and extension table.  All reasonable considering normal shipping constraints.  My one gripe was that I couldn't verify the blade to table alignment written on the inspection/calibration card - I don't have a dial indicator that goes to ten-thousandths :)John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

4. 
   JeffKurtz | Apr 01, 2003 06:23pm | #5

   Bob,

   I may help to have an extra set of hands when you align the wings since it can be rather frustrating trying to do it alone.

   If I remember correctly, the extension table is held in place by the legs (of course) and a series of holes in the fence rails, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to use a couple clamps.

   Congratulations on both your new babies!

   Jeff

5. 
   MarkRoderick | Apr 01, 2003 06:35pm | #6

   "Its amazing how having a kid just causes *everything else* to grind to a halt."

   Treasure those things while you have them, man. In 18 years that old piece of iron will still be sitting waiting for you every morning, but the kids will be off on their own, and you'll keep one ear cocked, hoping they'll at least call.

1. 
   jeffrow1 | Apr 02, 2003 01:07am | #7

   Thanks for that comment, it made me pause and reflect.

2. 
   MajorWool | Apr 02, 2003 01:11am | #8

   I agree, this is much better looking than any old new 3HP cabinet saw. I still have time to do things, but it is in random 15 minute intervals. Even though I have a baby monitor in the garage, it isn't like you can go from assembling the saw to rocking them in your arms in 60 seconds. The latter usually requires going through a lengthy decontamination process (ie shower).

1. 
   JeffKurtz | Apr 02, 2003 01:24am | #9

   Thanks for the picture - it really made my day! 

2. 
   MarkRoderick | Apr 02, 2003 02:31pm | #12

   Thanks for the picture. Enjoy it.

   Now, I was a little confused about your post. You spoke about the need for de-contamination. Going which way?

1. 
   MajorWool | Apr 03, 2003 12:18am | #13

   In the post, I was referring to the coating of oil on me after working on the saw.

   But as to your confusion, lets just say that I change the 7AM diaper, and she calls it even for the day. To paraphrase HH Menken, "Changing diapers, like death, is not nearly as bad as it has been made out to be." But I wouldn't swap it for anything.

1. 
   MarkRoderick | Apr 03, 2003 12:32am | #14

   You know, I never minded changing diapers. I learned very quickly that when you have boys you have to take certain precautions, but after that it was just another thing to do with the kids.

2. 
   Skiph | Apr 03, 2003 08:26am | #15

   104 years ago when our oldest was our first, sis-in-law (she has 3 girls) agrees to baby sit "How different can it be?" she asks.  De-diapers the boy, walks 2 steps to get a fresh diaper, turns and, "Two degrees right, 1 degree vertical, ON TARGET! FIRE!" Moving target, no less, got her right between the eyes. Kid was never left with out his sword in a scabbard, so to speak, after this. I laughed until I thought I had damaged something.

   Back to on topic. I had a problem I have never heard anyone else have. I'm so special. I get the shop owner to help me put together my PM 64A (my first tablesaw not counting the circ saw mounted upside down). No Amazon for me, I want local talent. We get this thing installed, power it up and looking at it hard would cause it to bog down. Tried 3 different plugs in the garage and 2 in the house. No change. Nice guy that he is, he brings out a different motor the next day, no change. Next day, he brings out a trailer, loads up the 64A and takes it to his house (great shop, make Normy jealous). Thing works like a champ. I watch him cut down the middle of an oak 4x4 and it just hummed. I get him to bring it back to the house, I am now convinced I need an electrician, and we fire it up and it would cut through plate steel. This has been 2 months and change now and I keep waiting for it to break. So far, I have had no problems with whatever I cut. I have changed nothing, still running on 110 and no link belt and this thing cuts like a hot knife through butter and no vibration I can discern.

   Speaking from pure ignorance and no little bias, I think my 64A works better than most cab saws.

   Skip

3. 
   MarkRoderick | Apr 03, 2003 02:30pm | #16

   Two great stories.

   Keep your fingers crossed, but far away from the blade.

   Good luck.

4. 
   KevinLBS | Apr 04, 2003 12:13am | #23

   Wood-

   I was fortunate enough to get my Jet saw (same one) assembled when my wife was still pregnant. Not that it matters much. My time in my wood shop is somewhat limited now that my boy is here.

   Month 1: total of 1/2 hour in shop

   Month 2: maybe 2 hours in shop

   Month 3: maybe 6 hours in my shop and 5 in Richard Jones'

   Month 4: about 6 hours so far...

   It's getting better!

   Kevin

6. 
   DennisS | Apr 02, 2003 11:00am | #10

   Trick I learned (here) for aligning the extension wings:

   Bolt them (loosley) in place. Align either the back or the front perfectly. Tighten the bolt. Align the center and crank down on that bolt. Now the other front (or back depending on where you started) may, or may not be, out of alignment. Use a large C clamp and some blocks of wood to force it into submission. Yes, cast iron will bend.

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

7. 
   prman | Apr 02, 2003 12:21pm | #11

   I have to respectively disagree with Tom's advice regarding the 14ga wire. If you need a longer cord for your saw, upgrade it to at least a 12 Ga. I have 10ga on mine for only a 20' run, and have no problem what so ever. Run your saw under a load with your 14ga, and you will find that the cord will feel warm. With a 12 ga probably not. With a 10 ga absolutely not.