I stand in a small shop that once belonged to my grandfather. The walls eat sound. The lights hum. The air holds that sweet mix of fresh pine and old motor oil. I work here every week. I break down lumber. I chase straight edges. I sweep chips that stick to my boots. I also test gear. Today the focus sits on JET saws. This jet table saw review pulls from hard hours, loud motors, and honest sweat.
Why Bother Reading My Take
You must pick one tool and live with it. A table saw rules the center of a wood shop. Pick well. Every cut turns cleaner. Pick poor. Every project limps. I have owned three JET machines. I have also owned two other brands. I know the feel when the fence drifts. I know the sound when a belt slips. I now share every result. I hold nothing back.
The Brand Story In Short
JET began selling metalworking gear in the nineteen fifties. Woodworking lines followed later. The parent group now also owns Powermatic and Wilton. Factories in Taiwan cast most frames. Motors come from several suppliers. JET tools land in that sweet middle. You pay more than big box models. You pay less than boutique iron. My goal is to show if that middle wins your coin.
Common Questions And Quick Replies
Who makes JET saws
A factory team in Taiwan handles casting and assembly.
Are JET saws good
Yes. They feel solid under load. They keep alignment with little fuss.
How do they stand against Grizzly
JET costs a bit more yet offers smoother fence travel.
Do they share parts with Powermatic
A few castings look close. Finish levels differ. Powermatic adds shine.
Does JET give good service
I called twice. Both calls ended with fast parts on the truck.
Three Main JET Lines Explained
XACTA Cabinet Saws
Heavy. Stable. Motors from three to five horse. Left tilt blades. Enclosed cast iron cases. Built for daily cuts in hard maple.
ProShop II Hybrid Saws
Cabinet style base yet slimmer. One and three quarter horse motors. Runs on a standard socket. Great for a home garage.
Older Contractor Saws
Open legs and motors that hang off the rear. Many show up on used lists. Still a fair choice after a tune up.
How Each Line Feels
- Cabinet saws sit still. Mass kills shake.
- Hybrid saws feel light and lively yet stay true.
- Contractor saws require more tune time but still earn trust.
Power Needs And Cut Goals
Every shop owns limits. Wall outlets. Room size. Cut list. Match saw to need.
- Small craft builds use thin stock; ProShop II fits.
- Fine furniture in oak or walnut uses thick lumber; XACTA ten inch delivers clean rips.
- Wide plywood sheets need long iron; XACTA twelve inch gives huge tops.
Let Us Talk About The Fence
A fence that lands square each lock saves pain. The XACTA fence glides on nylon pads. One lever clamps both ends. I measured drift across full travel and saw less than two thousandths. That stays inside glue gap spec for tight frames.
I once owned a cheaper saw. The fence needed tap taps with the mallet each cut. That dance killed joy. JET solved that with stout rails and a large head.
First Cut Impressions
I set a sharp forty tooth full kerf blade. I aligned tooth to slot with a feeler gauge. I locked the fence at four inches. Maple slid. Motor tone stayed even. Offcut held flat on the top. Edge looked jointed. I felt respect right then.
Detailed Setup Walkthrough
Time spent here buys future smiles.
- Move crate inside using a pallet jack if possible.
- Keep plastic on top until bolts snug.
- Use four strong friends for the lift from skid.
- Set saw on mobile base if space tight.
- Check base for level with a long bubble.
- Shim low feet with stack cards or steel shims.
- Tighten base bolts yet avoid crushing threads.
- Raise blade full height then mark one tooth.
- Measure blade to left slot front and back.
- Tap table until numbers match.
- Lock trunnion bolts after alignment.
- Slide fence gentle and check to slot.
- Adjust fence head so back sits hair open to avoid pinch.
- Rip a test strip at one inch.
- Measure with calipers and set scale cursor.
- Set bevel stop at ninety with a machinist square.
- Set forty five stop using digital cube or bevel gauge.
- Fit riving knife flush to blade body.
- Wax top using paste wax free of silicone.
- Plug into correct circuit and start saw for five seconds.
Follow those twenty steps and your saw rewards every day.
Safety Features That Stay On The Saw
Most guards sit in a drawer after one month. JET tries to break that habit.
- Clear guard leaves line of sight open.
- Split leaves lift over thick stock.
- Riving knife moves with blade height.
- Paddle switch kills power by knee.
- Wide slots accept bigger sled bars.
Use them. Fingers love such habits.
Dust Control Tips
Cabinet models house a blade shroud. A four inch port hides under the rear. I sealed inside gaps with foil tape. I used a five foot hose straight to collector. Dust fell almost nil under the saw. Fine haze still floats so add top hood if you run sheets daily.
Quick Dust Boost List
- Zero clearance plate blocks chip spray.
- Overarm hood grabs fines above blade.
- Box fan with furnace filter cleans floaters.
- Keep broom handy for floor chips.
Blade Guide For Each Model
| Saw | Rip Blade | Combo Blade | Crosscut Blade | Dado Stack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShop II | Thin kerf 24 tooth | Thin kerf 40 tooth | Thin kerf 60 tooth | Six inch max |
| XACTA ten | Full kerf 24 tooth | Full kerf 40 tooth | Full kerf 80 tooth | Eight inch |
| XACTA twelve | Full kerf 24 tooth | Full kerf 50 tooth | Full kerf 100 tooth | Eight inch heavy |
Clean blades double motor feel. Pitch steals power faster than you guess.
Deep Dive On The XACTA Twelve Inch
This saw weighs six hundred twenty pounds. You need a lift gate. The cast iron wings reach eighty inches across when both wings and table join. Five horse motor drives a poly belt. Table height sits around thirty four inches. Fence rail gives fifty inch rip right of blade.
Features That Impress
- Arbor lock on table top speeds blade swap to seconds.
- Poly belt snuffs vibration at start.
- Big hand wheels turn smooth with no slop.
- Storage hooks grab fence and gauge off the floor.
Points To Check Before You Buy
- Shop door width must fit base.
- Floor must hold weight.
- Power feed must use two pole breaker at thirty amps.
Use Story
I ripped eight quarter oak for a dining table. Feed never slowed. Motor pitch held steady. Offcuts never burned. That job alone proved worth.
Deep Dive On Deluxe XACTA Ten Inch
Mass sits near four hundred pounds. Table length around sixty five inches with cast wings. Three horse motor handles daily hardwood cuts.
Good Bits
- XACTA fence glides with one finger push.
- Quick release knife changes in two seconds.
- Chrome hand wheels feel like vintage iron.
- Fully shrouded blade path drops dust to port.
Minor Issues
- Stock miter gauge feels plain.
- Requires two hundred thirty volts.
Shop Day Story
I built a cherry bookcase. Ripped long boards all day. Fence never drifted once. My push felt safe and smooth.
Deep Dive On ProShop II
Weight sits about two hundred eighty pounds. Runs off standard twenty amp socket. Cabinet base hides trunnions. Table top cast iron with stamped steel wings on standard trim. Rail extends to thirty rip or optional fifty two.
Strong Points
- Knife swaps with thumb lever.
- Belt tension sets with one bolt.
- Magnetic switch resets after power loss for safety.
Weak Points
- Thick hardwood needs slow feed.
- Steel wings lack larger mass.
Day At Work
I cut maple face frames at two inches. Thin kerf blade slid with ease. Edge ready for glue right off saw.
Choosing Based On Real Needs
- Only one hundred twenty volts, pick ProShop II.
- Need wide rip on sheet goods plus heavy power, pick XACTA twelve.
- Mix of hardwood and cabinet parts with two hundred thirty volts, pick Deluxe XACTA ten.
Used saw still worth look if top flat and bearings smooth.
SawStop And Others Compared
SawStop offers blade brake. If safety tech tops list then pay extra. Fence feel stays same as JET. Powermatic adds gold paint and small upgrades for higher price. Grizzly gives bargain cost yet may ask more tune time. JET holds the middle with smooth fence and strong support.
Repeat Alignment Plan
Check alignment each quarter. Dust and bumps drift parts.
- Verify blade to slot.
- Test fence parallel.
- Record in notebook.
- Wax top.
- Clean belts.
Five moves keep cuts square.
Small Shop Layout Tricks
- Place saw near door so long boards run clear.
- Use fold down outfeed to save floor.
- Mount fence hooks on wall.
- Mark path lines on floor with tape.
- Keep push sticks within reach on fence rail.
Space stays tight yet flow feels calm.
Fix And Tune Guide
| Problem | Fast Fix |
|---|---|
| Burn marks | Clean blade; set fence toe out hair. |
| Startup shudder | Adjust belt tension; check pulley grub screws. |
| Fence drift | Clean rail; tighten head bolts. |
| Stuck arbor nut | Use scrap wood to block blade; tap wrench steady. |
| Swirl marks | Raise blade height; slow feed. |
Most issues vanish with those steps.
Maintenance Schedule
| Task | Time |
|---|---|
| Clean top with mineral spirits | Monthly |
| Apply paste wax | Monthly |
| Vacuum inside cabinet | Two months |
| Check belt wear | Six months |
| Grease trunnion gears | Yearly |
| Replace belts | Three years |
| Check switch contacts | Yearly |
Stick to list and saw feels fresh.
Accessories Worth Buying
- Zero clearance inserts for rips, crosscuts, dados.
- Featherboards for thin rips.
- Digital angle cube for bevel.
- Aftermarket miter gauge for precise angles.
- Mobile base rated for weight plus fifty pound margin.
Each add on lifts accuracy.
Jigs That Pair Well
- Crosscut sled with pine base and hardwood runners.
- Taper jig built from plywood and toggle clamps.
- Thin strip jig for edging.
- L fence for picture frames.
- Box joint jig for drawers.
Build once. Use forever.
Electrical Setup
ProShop II draws fifteen full load amps. Use a twenty amp breaker. Deluxe XACTA draws about fifteen amps on two hundred thirty volts. Use thirty amp breaker to avoid nuisance trips. Twelve inch model draws twenty two amps. Use thirty amp breaker. Use twelve gauge wire for branch. Twist lock plugs prevent pull outs.
Story From A Long Day With All Three
Sun rose. I warmed coffee. I turned on heater. I needed two cabinets and one farm table. I rolled ProShop II to middle of garage. I ripped plywood strips. Thin kerf blade cut fast. I swapped to Deluxe XACTA. I sliced maple rails. The fence stayed dead square. After lunch I needed to rip a live edge slab. I rolled the twelve inch XACTA outside on a dolly. Five horse motor never slowed. Cicadas sang over blade whine. Dust curled in sunlight like smoke. I felt calm. Three saws. Each job perfect fit.
Buying Used: Check Points In Detail
Flatness
Lay a fifty inch straight edge across both axes. See no light pass bigger than three thousandths. Small scratches fine. Deep grind marks bad.
Arbor Runout
Mount fresh blade. Set dial indicator against tooth. Spin by hand. Reading under two thousandths safe.
Bearings
Spin blade silent. No grit sound. Grab arbor and push pull. Zero wobble.
Fence
Lock at front and back. Push sideways. No wiggle. Check nylon pads for wear.
Motor
Listen at start. Smooth ramp. No hiss. No smell of burning windings.
Price Math
Add blade forty dollars. Add belts twenty. Add pulley upgrade if needed forty. Use total to decide fair number.
Air Quality Plan
- Four inch collector pulls saw dust.
- One micron canister traps fine chips.
- Short hose run reduces static.
- Anti static wrap solves zap.
- Wall hung filter passes shop air every ten minutes.
Clean air saves lungs. Finish looks better too.
Full Day Workflow Example
- Mill rough boards at jointer.
- Bring flat face to planer.
- Rip one edge at saw.
- Set fence for final width.
- Crosscut parts on sled.
- Cut joinery with dado stack.
- Dry fit frame.
- Sand faces.
- Glue and clamp.
- Cut panels to final size.
The saw stands central at four steps. Accuracy there echoes through final build.
Idioms And Small Jokes To Keep It Real
The saw sings like a baritone on Saturday night. Chips fly like snow in a stiff wind. The fence hugs the wood like a good friend at the pub. The blade eats knots for breakfast. These lines sound silly yet ring true when you stand at the cast top.
Frequently Asked Questions Expanded
Left tilt or right
Left tilt keeps offcut off the fence during bevel. Safer feel.
Can ProShop run dado
Yes six inch stack. Keep cut light.
Best mobile base
Pick one with steel bars not sheet. Look at wheel diameter. Bigger rolls smoother.
Noise level
Around eighty decibels. Wear plugs for long runs.
Blade guard worth keeping
Yes. Clear shield shows line. Leaves lift on tall stock.
Cut foam board on cabinet saw
Yes with fine tooth blade. Slow feed.
Store blades where
Hang on wall rack from plywood slots.
Finishing Touches That Matter
I scribble join marks on parts before cut. The black sharpie vanishes once plane glides. I sweep after each session. Dust breeds rust if left. I oil hand wheels. They spin sweet after one drop. I smile each time I lock fence and hear that solid clack.
My Final Map In Bold
Pick ProShop II if power and space stay small
Pick Deluxe XACTA if you own two hundred thirty volts and love hardwood
Pick XACTA twelve if sheet work fills your week and weight does not scare you
One saw can change the pace of your wood life. JET sits ready. Grab the one that fits. Send me a picture of first shavings. I will grin.