Replies

1. 
   Sancho | Dec 11, 2007 03:37am | #1

   love the jointer

2. 
   bankruptedbyNorm | Dec 11, 2007 05:17am | #2

   I believe Popular Woodworking rated the Jet hybrid table saw as one of the top two in their hybrid saw review.  It was either in the Dec or Nov issue, best I can recall.   

3. 
   forestgirl | Dec 11, 2007 05:38am | #3

   Tom Hintz has a review of the Jet ProShop hybrid saw on his site, click here.  You don't mention what size jointer you're curious about.  If it's the ubiquitous 6" model, well.....they seem to have a pretty good track record.  Not sure if there have been any recent reviews.  Many magazines seem to be focusing more on either 8" models, or on models with shelix heads and such.

   I have the Jet 6" white model, it has served me well.  The tables were flat, and while the fence might have a tiny bit of deviation, it's within reason.  Seems like few jointer fences are actually, truly, without a doub, flat.

   PS:  One of the very recent magazines (sorry, can't remember specifically) had a comparative review of several hybrid saws.  Perhaps you could find it either at a big bookstore, or if it's off the shelf, at the library. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

   
   

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   Edited 12/10/2007 9:41 pm by forestgirl

4. 
   Taigert | Dec 11, 2007 11:35am | #4

   Ever given any thought to looking at Saw Stop. Check out there web site. http://www.sawstop.com

   I think thats going to be my next saw, hopefully in a couple of months.

1. 
   Sancho | Dec 12, 2007 06:15am | #8

   Before I bought a new hybred I would buy a used contractor and up grade it.Add a 2hp baldor motor, make a cross cutting sled, add link belt pullies ect...
   or go buy aNew Grizzly 3 hp cab saw for about the same price.

1. 
   Knotscott | Dec 12, 2007 05:58pm | #9

   Sancho - The 3hp Griz is a great option if 220v and a $1k budget is available, but a contractor saw with an external motor poses a bunch of disadvantages that the other two choices do not.  The cab saw and hybrid have a smaller footprint, better DC, shorter drive belt (more efficient power transfer w/less vibration, more mass, less heeling, and zero lifting hazard when the motor tilts. 

1. 
   Sancho | Dec 12, 2007 07:29pm | #10

   I just voiced my opinion. But a good friend of mine got a old used craftsman contractors that some client gave him after the client bought a Powermatic 66.He then added a 2 Hp 220 v Baldor mtr ,
   link belt, pullies,
   mounted it on a shop built a cabinet with lotsa drawers for storage/ 4"wheels,
   and a intragal router table
   and hard mounted used abs for dc piping a 1hp seco dc to it underneath,
   mounted and laminated 1 1/2" mdf top completed surrounded it then laminated the mdf
   added commerical rubber T edging
   and a on/off switch that turns on the dc when the saw it turned on, and the last time I stopped by he added a small cabinet to the side of the saw cabinet with a 6" jointer mounted on it which and its a beautiful thing.
   that guy has a been a construction/woodworker for over 40 years. Lots of creativity and experiance went into his saw design.with all that being said the contractor is more versatile can do a lot more with it .Though the hybred is more self contained thus the smaller foot print. I think it is more limited in that it is more difficult to accessorize as I described above.
   for example how difficult would it be to build a storage cab and mount the saw to it?
   Though one could extend the top out and build a cab under it and build a cab behind it a with a nice top to act as a combo storage and out feed table..kinda what I seen as a accessory for the griz,Though not everyone does that sort of thing,including me.
   But I'd like the option if I wanted to.Just my opinion. Everyone has one. If we were all the same , we would all be driving fords right?

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 12, 2007 11:55pm | #11

   There are two inherent weaknesses in the standard contractor saw design that your improvements do not address:  The very common tendency to get out of alignment when tilted to 45° and the clumsy method of aligning the blade to the miter slot due to trunnions being mounted to the table instead of the frame.

   Not all hybrids score well on both issues, but at least there are choices among them that will.  I'd gladly trade some minor flexibility for a saw that's better in those two areas alone.  That doesn't even address the issue of better dust collection, which would be pretty easy to obtain with most hybrid designs, some better than others for sure.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   Sancho | Dec 13, 2007 07:52am | #15

   First, Not everyone uses the blade tilt function.
   I dont.
   Second you can align the trunnion assembly.
   To tell ya the truth I've banged my contractors saw around for the last 5 years and haven't noticed anything out of alignment.But ya know..this is America you are free to spend your money on anything you want to. I choose not to buy a hybred for the reasons I originally posted.
   You want to fine. For the money I would get something like this for a few bucks more then a Hybrid
   http://grizzlyindustrial.com/products/10-Left-Tilt-Cabinet-Table-Saw/G1023SLWand for aligning the trunnion
   http://www.in-lineindustries.com/saw_pals.htmlas far as the sliding attachment love this old stand by. I swear by ithttp://www.in-lineindustries.com/single_dubby.html
   Edited 12/13/2007 12:02 am by SanchoEdited 12/13/2007 1:23 am by Sancho

   Edited 12/13/2007 1:27 am by Sancho

3. 
   Knotscott | Dec 13, 2007 12:53am | #12

   I'm glad you voiced your opinion. That's what these forums are for, and we all learn from hearing different views. The idea of storage beneath the saw is one I had overlooked. There definitely are various custom add-ons and other circumstances that can make just about any saw more suitable for a given situation, and you've pointed out a possible scenario for that. For the benefit of the OP's understanding, I'll reiterate that I think the overall design of a contractor saw is a step back from a hybrid or cab saw because of the drawbacks mentioned, and things I'd want to consider before buying and not after. Scott

   Edited 12/12/2007 5:59 pm ET by Knotscott

4. 
   Sancho | Dec 13, 2007 07:55am | #16

   I bought my contractors before they had a Hybrid. I think I would customize it kinda like my buddy did minus a few items. Such as the hard mounted Dc and the built in router table. I have a nice free standing one I use. But I do like the idea of the cab with the drawer for storage.

5. 
   Knotscott | Dec 11, 2007 11:09pm | #5

   The Jet jointers have always been a solid design...very similar to the older Grizzly, Bridgewood, Woodtek, GI, and others. 

   The hybrids vary from model...the newer ProShop saws look great and are getting very positive comments, and the newer Workshop saw looks like a decent value and is also getting positive comments.  The older Supersaw hybrid had a number of issues. 

   
   

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   Edited 12/11/2007 3:32 pm ET by Knotscott

1. 
   GWB | Dec 12, 2007 04:06am | #6

   What were the issues with the supersaw? I am looking at the UK model produced by Jet and sold by axminster tools.

1. 
   Knotscott | Dec 12, 2007 04:49am | #7

   More recent models have addressed the bigger concerns, which were issues with the "timing" belt used to raise and lower the blade. There's also no miter slot on the left side, and the fence didn't win a lot of fans in it's price class. I believe the DC is marginal too. There may have been other complaints, but that's what I recall for now.

6. 
   jeffreysherow | Dec 13, 2007 02:02am | #13

   I have the Jet hybrid and I like it. Wish the motor was a bit more powerful but its fine, love the sliding table, hate they did not put a Miter slot on the left side of the blade.

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 13, 2007 02:39am | #14

   They took care of the miter slot issue with the new ProShop version.  Not sure about the motor.  It's rated slightly higher than their contractor saw motor at 1-3/4HP.  Two HP would be better.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)