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JET 708663DXK JTAS-10XL Xacta 10-Inch Left Tilt 3 Horsepower Cabinet Saw with 50-Inch Xacta II Fence, Router Lift, Table, and Legs, 230-Volt 1 Phase | List Price: $2,286.00
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Brand: Jet
Binding: Tools & Hardware
Features: - Totally enclosed fan-cooled 3-horsepower motor
- Micro-adjustable 50-inch Xacta II fence with removable side panels; 12-inch rip capacity to the left of the blade
- Heavy-gauge metal construction
- Built-in slanted cabinet floor leading toward the standard 4-inch steel dust port; includes Xacta router lift
- 2-year warranty
Powerful Beast [Posted on 2004-08-17]
Top notch system and a great price ($1,599 w/ $100 refund in April 2004). The saw is very powerful and accurate. With the included router setup you just can't go wrong. A great saw for the money ...
WOW!! My favorite tool in my shop. [Posted on 2005-01-07]
For the last 2 years I'd been using a contractors saw in a shop that a friend and me shared. After building my own shop I started looking to replace a few tools and a "cabinet" grade table saw was first on my list. For a month I researched magazines, Amazon reviews, questioned woodworkers, and so on. Finally, I decided on the Jet and MAN what table saw. I drove 2 hours to pick up my JTAS-10XL (Amazon was sold out) and paid an addition $100(Ouch). Brought it home and began to assemble, BY MY SELF (not a good idea, the cast iron top/motor is quite heavy). Some people see assembly as tedious labor; I view it more like a child standing in front of the tree on Christmas morning. Assembly took about 3 hours and plus an addition hour to dial it in. Everything went together smoothly as a matter of fact I don't recall opening the instruction book. Having used a contractor's saw for 2 years it was like trading in a Yugo for a Ferrari. This saw is solid, little or no vibration and accommodates all 13/16 of my dado blade stack. The biggest surprise to me was the quality of the router as well as the lift. Honestly, as with most "bonus" items I expected a so-so router and a lift that I would have to replace in a year or so. The Bosch router runs smoother than my DeWalt 618. The other saws I seriously considered were the Grizzly and the X5 but the router table pushed me over to the JTAS-10XL and boy did it pay off. If you must have a con I not real fond of the magnifying bubble on the fence. (There I said it) Seriously, this might be best purchase I've made to date. Solid, smooth and accurate you get you money's worth.
just about top of the line [Posted on 2005-02-18]
In this category of saws, I have a friend with a PowerMatic, and it IS a little heavier built saw (I even had a WMH Tool Group rep admit to this). Mine has performed great though, I added Jet's sliding table later, and this is one super combo. It has had daily use since Dec. 02, when I started my cabinet shop. I have another friend with a Delta, and I prefer this one over a Delta any day.
Great Saw - Mediocre Router Lift [Posted on 2006-12-06]
I have had this cabinet saw/router lift combo for about four years. The saw performs fantastic day-in and day-out. The Bosch router works great. The problems I have encountered are with the router lift. The top plate has bowed up across the extension table. I noticed that the plate is reinforced lengthwise with bars, but nothing sideways, which is the direction the plate bowed. It has bowed about 1/64". I have tried to adjust the rabbit and top plate, but I can't get it flat enough (or at least to a compromise position) that will allow good routing. After contacting Jessem I discovered that this top plate is not the same as their regular router lifts - it was contracted out to Jet who sub-contracted to a different supplier. The lift has obviously been "cheapened" to sell in the package deal through Jet. This has been a disappointment. I am also disappointed with the fact that I had to add the "Extreme Extender" in order to change router bits above the table. I am soon going to replace the extension table on my saw and buy a Bench Dog Prolift (best on the market).
comparing the Delta Unisaw with the Jet cabinet saw [Posted on 2006-12-06]
I have had the opportunity to compare the Jet with the Unisaw for a period of more than 2 years because I have both saws in my small cabinet shop. Why 2 saws in a small shop? I'm glad you asked. Both saws are set up with mobile bases. Typically I have the Unisaw on the left and the Jet on the right with about 2 feet between so I can walk between them. The Unisaw is a left tilt and my Jet saw is a right tilt. I have a mobile off-bearing bench immediately behind the Unisaw. The Unisaw is used for ripping both hardwood and sheet goods. The Jet will come into play for all the cross cuts. The two saws are levelled to each other and lubed with Boeshield, so when I am crosscutting an 8' piece of sheet goods on the Jet, the Unisaw provides smooth support for the piece. When I want to set up a dado operation, I use the Jet and this is the only area where the right tilt is an advantage because the scale for the fence still reads accurately with a dado blade.
I frequently cut a 45 degree bevel in the lower section of base cabinet bulkhead where it will join with a toe kick piece. These cuts are either a right hand or a left hand. I can safely handle either right or left if I set up both saws for a 45 degree bevel. If only one saw is used the only way to get the other handed bevel is to creep the piece backwards...very carefully...not recommended, or to use a jig saw and be satisfied with an imperfect cut.
But to the comparison: Both saws are winners. The Jet is very impressive with its finish. I like the compact knurled knobs for locking the wheels which adjust the height and blade tilt. The Unisaw has large wing knobs which are more awkward; the extra leverage they provide is simply not necessary. Now the cons on the Jet: The Exacta fence is equipped with a very slick material on either side. The idea is to reduce friction against the fence and I assume that it works, but the reduced effort is not particularily noticable and it comes with a price--for whatever reason, even when material is tight against the fence, there seems to be a shadow line separating the fence from the material. This is not a problem most of the time; however, I usually am ripping sheet goods by myself which means that I am positioned at the far back left corner of the sheet and I have to proceed by feel more than sight. Another gripe: the magnifying lens on the fence would seem to be a great idea; however, even the slightest movement of your head seems to change the sight reading drastically. I end up checking the setting with a tape measure every time to be sure. My Unisaw, set up with the standard Biesimeyer fence does not have either of these problems. One of the best positives about the Unisaw is the switch. The "on" switch has an indentation; you have to be very intentional to turn the saw on. The "off" switch, on the other hand, is oversized and very accessible. If I get into trouble with a cut I can kill the saw with a light touch of my leg. In fact, until I got used to this, it sometimes would happen that the saw would unexpectedly die when I was pushing forward and came into contact with the "off" switch.
Neither saw has a very good system for latching the door which accesses the interior for dust removal or retrieving the inevitable dropped nut. Someday I will replace the Jet magnifying bubble and the switch with comparable Unisaw parts, then it will be nearly perfect. With my current set-up, I use the Unisaw for the bulk of the work. If the Unisaw were right tilt and the Jet left tilt, the the Jet would get the bulk of the work, and if that were the case the magnifying bubble on the fence would absolutely have to go. A significant factor in my production is not having to slow down to check the fence setting with a tape measure. Both of these saws are excellent; if I had to choose between them, I would most reluctantly give up the beauty and finish of the Jet and go with the Unisaw.
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