Looking at a jet table saw JS10

Can you post those pics? If it’s a full size cast iron saw with an outboard belt drive induction motor, $175 is a nice price if it’s in decent shape. It’d be nice to know which fence is on the saw….even Jet’s worst fence was better than the older stock Emerson fence on some of the Cman saws. Things like solid cast iron wings and upgraded fences are items that can make a nice difference in a saw.

Table Saw Info

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Run away from the direct drive Craftsman.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

with no info on the jet, it’s not possible to render an opinion. the fact that no info is available is usually not a good sign.

I also have looked at a very nice Craftsman 1hp direct drive for $100.

i would humbly counsel against this saw as your intro to WW saw. they usually have plastic cabinets with universal direct drive motors, aluminum table tops and unreliable, inaccurate fences. the HP ratings for most of those saws were wildly overstate. i have one of those for offsite work but it took more than a little effort to make it serviceable. had it been my first TS, i’d be collecting stamps now.

as knotscott suggests, some of the older (emerson electric built) or higher end (built by orion) c-man saws can be good values, especially if budget is a concern. this is a 70s vintage c-man 10” CI TS built for c-man by emerson electric with a 1hp motor that will rip 8/4 hardwoods.CI extension wings have been added as well as a t2 fence system. i have ~ $175 into that saw as it sits now, thanks to CL and clearance items from HD:

if ~ $400 is in your budget, the ridgid 4512 is a lot of saw for the money. it retails for ~ $500. finding a HD that will honor harbor freight’s “20% off any single item” coupon gets the price down to the $400 level. with a 1.5 hp dual voltage motor, CI top, integrated mobile base, 30” rip capacity, riving knife, 3 year guaranty, 90 day satisfaction guaranty and the LSA, there probably isn;t a better new saw value on the market today.

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.

”Run away from the direct drive Craftsman.”

Bingo! It was early and I looked right past that key tidbit of info, and thought it was a belt drive induction motor…...skip the direct drive saw.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

I have had a lot of trouble trying to post a picture of this Jet JS10 Table Saw I am looking at. Hopefully I have it now. The owner said it has the Jet fence. Hopefully someone will recognize this saw.

i’d pass on it. doesn’t appear to be a CI top, it’s a right tilt and the fence doesn’t look particularly appealing. looking at the throat plate, it looks eerily like the throat plate used on cheap, light weight, direct drive c-mans. although, why is “jet”spelled backwards on the front of the saw?

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.

Toolie, The photo is flipped over, thats why jet was spelled backwards and the fence is on the wrong side. I fipped it over in Photobucket. is it then a left tilt? It seems to be an aluminum top. He said it is not cast iron. It does have a movable base.

the aluminum table top would be the deal breaker for me. the mass of a CI top and trunions greatly dampens saw vibrations. that stamped aluminum table top is what sears had put on many of the saws they sold that earned them the “CRAPSMAN” moniker.

BTW, i have about $175 into the saw i posted a picture of, and it’s ten times the saw that jet ever dreamed of being. keep searching CL. and don’‘t be put off by a little rust. the right saw will come along in due course.

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.

Glad you posted a pick… I’d pass on both. That Jet is just a little benchtop saw on a legstand, and has a universal motor. Very small, very light. Technically it does use a drive belt, but it’s more like a cogged vacuum cleaner belt that’s prone to breakage, and isn’t the easiest thing to replace. Table Saw Info

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Thanks for all of the info. I have decided to pass on the jet and the craftsman. I might look at a craftsman contractor saw that has been sitting for 10 years. He is asking $225, but I will offer $150. It needs a lot of cleaning up, has a 3 horse motor , which is actually 1 1/2 , and the standard fence. It has a total cast iron top, but no riving knife. Buying a new saw for $400-500 is just too high for me. It seems that the bigger and heavier Craftsman is better for me.

I really learned a lot after reading some of the really good articles in Lumberjocks on table saws. Thanks much for showing me what is all here .

Good idea. You’ll find lots of members here are using 113 series Craftsman contractor saws- including me.

One thing to keep in mind about those saws is that the standard fence SUCKS. The fence on my saw was such a pain in the ass to use, that it drove me to avoid using the saw all together when possible. However, I upgraded to the Delta T2 fence which made the saw an absolute pleasure to use. So my points to consider are:
- $200ish might be a good price if the saw happens to have the upgraded, craftsman-branded fence. I think its called the “accu-rip” or something like that.
- If it has the typical, dark gray-colored POS fence that my saw had. then its probably ONLY worth $150 and no more. If its REALLY rusty, is missing parts, or looks to have been abused, then $150 is a stretch. In my area, these saws sell for $50-$250 depending on condition and accessories. I paid $75 for mine in pretty good condition. But it only came with one extension wing and was being sold by a motivated seller.
- Keep in mind that the Delta T2 is the least expensive fence option. And while it is a very good product, its semi-difficult to install on a Craftsman and will cost you $150-200. You should add that into your “buyers equation.”

If you can find a Jet contractors saw with a cast iron top, and a TEFC motor – they are good tablesaws. Used they would cost closer to 500 though.

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush