Replies

1. 
   BG | Jun 16, 2003 12:27pm | #1

   Telemiketoo,

   Looks great...like the way you utilized the little platforms from the shopfox(?) base.  It looks like your hooked up to central DC ..or is that a shop vac?  My question is why the need to vac if central DC...? 

1. 
   Telemike | Jun 17, 2003 08:23am | #6

   The saw is on a central DC system with an older Grizzley 2 hp and a 30 gallon drum cyclone.  Sometime, I'll upload some pictures of the new dust collection system and its home in a new shed outside the garage.  I'm slowly upgrading my shop starting with the shop itself (TJ calls it a "garage", as if a car will ever enter this space!) 

   I bought the saw at Woodcraft.  I did this because they could load it onto my pickup and I could offload it later using a chain and the tractor bucket.  I learned to avoid trucking firms accepting delivery of a wood splitter from Northern Hydraulics.  It showed up on the second day (home from work) and was about five feet high on a truck bed.  I listened to the driver and we dropped the splitter.  No harm, no foul, but I will lift things my way from now on!

   I bought the jet over the dewalt for a very mundane reason.  It was much easier to put extension tables on the Jet given the fence rail design.  Both seemed like good saws, if still a step below the Unisaws.

   Again, buy the sliding table!  Tonight I cut 16 small wedges (along the grain) for double wedged tenons on my latest shop upgrade, a new joiner's bench (pictures to come when finished - how about 2010?).  I used the sliding table to cut the wedges with the fence only 1/8" from the blade!  Otherwise, I would have cut them on the bandsaw and gotten rough messy wedges.  I can't imagine cutting these multiple wedges with a mitre gauge.

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 16, 2003 06:29pm | #2

   It's great to hear a positive review on this saw -- it seemed to get slammed pretty badly when it first came out.  Like the modifications you've made too.

   Do you think Jet made some changes from the initial release?

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

3. 
   ballandclaw | Jun 16, 2003 11:01pm | #3

   I bought demo Supersaw in October 02 which I disassembled to move  then but it back together.    Mine has the miter gague and works great - alignment was right on, dust collection is good and the rip fence deflects only when pushed hard, something I usually don't do.    However, after using it for two weeks the belt that raises the motor broke leaving me without a saw.  Jet said the belt was on back order but as soon as they came in one would be shipped to me.   After 3 MONTHS of calls and broken promises the belt arrived.  Jet said all they had to do was supply a new belt - did'nt have to compensate me in any other way for loss of the saw for 3 months.

   My reccomendation is when you adjust the blade to the top or bottom limit go very slowly near the limit so the belt doesn't slip on the pullies or get excessive strain on it that may cause it to break.

   Other then problems with Jet customer service  -- something I never thought would happen --  the saw has been great.   

   I upgraded from a 1980 radial arm which got a lot of use then sat idle for 5 years then was put back in service.      budwoody

4. 
   KenWaltsgott | Jun 17, 2003 05:54am | #4

   I would agree that it is nice to hear some nice comments about the SuperSaw.  I just convinced my wife that I could no longer live without a table saw.  The hand me down I got from her father, a 1960’s Montgomery Ward died a year and a half ago.  I took her to my local tool store where she proceeded to find me a $180.00 “bargain” table saw, at which point I said no I was looking at this Jet SuperSaw with the 52” fence.  She still thinks I could live with the “bargain” saw she found but agreed to buy the Jet. 

    

   May I ask where you purchased your SuperSaw?  I am trying to decide if I should get mine locally or online.  The base price is comparable $10 cheaper online, where the local shop gets killed is in the sales tax 9% you tack on another $89.  With no tax and no shipping online I am leaning toward buying it there.  I would love anyone’s input on buying online.

   
   

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   Edited 6/16/2003 11:26:42 PM ET by Harry's Horse

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 17, 2003 07:02am | #5

   Kelly Mehler wrote a review on the Jet and DeWalt hybrids in the new Woodworker's Journal magazine.  Might be worth picking up if you're in the market.  I didn't realize that the DeWalt trunnion design is different from the usual contractor's saw design (which is what the Jet uses) and avoids the possibility of nighmarish alignment problems such as the one I had with the JTS.  Pros and cons for each saw though.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Jun 18, 2003 07:30pm | #7

   Harry's Horse

      I usually find on-line to be cheaper with the avoidance of state sales tax and free shipping. I call Tool-Crib direct and talk to someone. I don't like to put a CC# into a computer.

   Caution: On-line is great, as long as you have checked the product out throughly before you lay your money down. Do your homework and use or talk to folks that have the product you are considering.

   Luck...

   sarge..jt

3. 
   forestgirl | Jun 18, 2003 07:47pm | #8

   Wow, and I thought 8.5% (WA) was bad, ouch.  Online vs. local:  Price obviously is much better online, but you get no local support.  At $100 difference, online is probably the way to go.  If the difference was only $30 or $40, personally I'd go local.  These brick and mortar business give us support we can't get online, carry stuff right there in stock we can grab off the shelves, and are (usually) knowledgeable people we can depend on.  Suggestion:  If you'd be willing to pay an extra $40, ask if they'll meet you half-way on the price.  Offer to pay with check rather than credit card, that alone saves them 2% or more in costs.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

4. 
   DeskJockey | Jun 18, 2003 08:20pm | #9

   Harry,

   I might add a little word of warning here before you go out an buy.  I was one of the original saps who bought this saw in the first batch, and am happy to say that I have recovered from my four month nightmare.  Out of the box, the saw was great - perfect alignment, quality build, easy to put together, great power and little vibration.  Two weeks later I was chucking it across the floor because I couldn't get the fence to stay put.  Bye-bye $120 mahogany ply.  I called Jet and they said they would send another fence out.  In the mean time I clamped the fence everytime to finish a project whose deadline had already passed.  Go to raise the blade - POP! - lost the timing belt, as has already been discussed.  I was lucky, I got the belt in three weeks.  The fence, well that took a little while longer.  2 months later I am up and running.  After a day of half-lapping 2 by 4 the moter is chugging along like a '72 Pinto and vibrating everything right off the table top.  A couple more weeks of frustration culminated in another fence that would not stay put to save its life.  Another three weeks with jet arguing that I wanted a new fence, not the crappy one that they put on this saw, but a real one like the Xacta.  After that much fighting, and about 3 weeks of a working saw, I convinced them to let me trade it in for a 30" left tilt cabinet saw for the extra $250.  WELL, WELL worth it.  A proven design, and excellent fence and the extra power all make it a great saw, and it is the exact same footprint as the contractor. 

   My vote, don't buy this saw untill at least they come out with the Xacta fence "upgrade" which is due in August or so.  And by the time you shell out the extra cash, you could get a cabinet saw.   I do think all the problems I had are a bit of a fluke, but a quick glance at the reviews on Amazon will show you that the timing belt and poor fence are systemic problems.  If you need a saw at or below $850, I have to recommend that you go with another brand because a great saw without a great fence is WORTHLESS.

   Jon

1. 
   KenWaltsgott | Jun 19, 2003 04:08am | #10

   The saw that you traded in for was that the 10" Cabinet Saw with 30" Homeshop XACTA Fence Model Number JWCS-10A-PF.  That was the other model I was looking at.  No regrets with the new saw, I know about that 2 foot itus with boats, if I get the 1 3/4HP cabinet saw am I going to want the shop re-wired so I can get the 3HP model.  Then after a few years am I going to need to get the 5HP model cause I did re-wire the shop?  Just kidding, so you think the cabinet saw is worth the extra $150.00

   Thanks 

1. 
   DeskJockey | Jun 19, 2003 03:53pm | #11

   I actually got the JTAS-10XL-1 which is the 3hp left-tilt cabinet saw.  I got my shop rewired for it, and it was no big deal.  I think the 1 3/4 hp model that you are considering is probably worth it just because of the fence, but as I have no experience with it, it is impossible to recommend.  But as you say, it is a slippery slope. If you pay the extra $150 for the 1 3/4 hp, why not pay another $100 and go all the way and get the 3hp.  I don't think you will ever need the 5, but if you want to go that way, be my guest.  Its a tough choice, but I just think the fence is too important to ignore since it is used in 9 out of every 10 operations that you will ever use with the saw.  I couldn't be happier with my cabinet saw.  No complaints, no regrets and I believe that it will most likely be my last saw.  That alone is worth a little extra money.

   Good luck,

   jon