JET 708750G 18-Inch Woodworking Bandsaw

Features:

• 1-1/2-horsepower induction motor can wired for either 115- or 230-volt sources
• Steel cabinet protects the motor from dust and debris
• Features a 10-1/4-inch-high and 18-3/8-inch-wide cutting capacity
• European-style blade guides provide quick, precise adjustments while running cooler
• Package includes 1/4-, 1/2-, and 1-inch blades, over an $82.00 value

Accessories:
Empire Manufacturing TSS-8D The Complete TopSaver System	Jet 709401 133-Inch x 3/8-Inch 4 TPI Skip Tooth Blade	HTC HTC2000 Universal Mobile Base	PortaMate HTC1000 - 400 Pound Capacity Universal Mobile Base	Jet JW1007 4-Inch Blastgate

Customer Reviews:

Quite Pleased [Posted on 2002-05-24]
I purchased my saw about 9 months ago and have been quite pleased. I balanced the cost of this larger saw with the 14" Jets and Deltas and opted for the larger motor, table and fence. I did consider the Carter guides (I still am, but the standard guides work well).

I purchased my machine from a local tool store as one of their floor models. Therefore, it was fully assembled and the protectant had already been cleaned off. Still, I ran through the setup and adjustment procedures in the handbook. The book is OK, but nothing to get excited about. It covers basic setup and operation and not much else.

The only aggravation with setup and operation is the lower blade guide adjustment. Clearance for the allen head capscrews is poor, and a guy with short fingers has a challenge getting it right. I think this will improve with practice. Upper guides are no problem. During operation the guides can be a bit noisy but this might pass as I learn the fine points of adjustment.

Overall fit and finish is great. Table finish was satin smooth with no visible tool marks. The height adjustment wheel operation is as smooth as glass. Blade replacement is very easy, unless you're changing sizes; then you have to readjust those pesky lower guides. Re-tensioning is nearly brainless - just center the blade on the wheels, loosen a hand nut and turn the large adjustment wheel, also smooth, until a needle points to the appropriate blade size. The fence is simple but effective with good, positive locking. The miter gage slides in a t-slot to keep it from hitting the floor, which is good because it is a bit on lightweight side.

I have done a little practice resawing using a 1" blade with good success. A bigger blade would be better but with practice and steady pressure against the fence the saw will consistently cut very thin strips from thick stock. Curve cutting with the smaller blades is easy and the big table really accommodates larger work. I love that table! I don't have a dust collection system and the dust port doesn't expel much dust. However, the huge access panels accommodate quick cleaning and blade changes.

This machine is big and heavy. I strongly recommend the mobile base, especially for smaller shops where you might want to move the machine occasionally. Also, don't expect to find the 133" blades hanging on the store displays, but this isn't a problem. Most tools specialty or blade shops will make blades to custom length from a variety bulk stock selections. Often you can buy these blades cheaper than the card stock items.

In summary, this was my first experience with JET but not my last. This is a high quality machine that will produce consistent results. I am looking forward to challenging both it and myself with future projects.

great machine [Posted on 2002-08-31]
I researched the market for a larger bandsaw for my home shop. I considered the 14" models with the riser block options. I do some resawing and wanted a good capacity for this as well as lots of power. This 18" Jet was on sale at a local store as a one day 10% off storewide promotion. This unit that I purchased has the Carter guides on it and the fence with the resaw optional attachment. The assembly was minimal and it was very accurate from day one. I have a Jet dust collection system and this saw has a 4" line to it so there is virtually no dust from it. The only thing that disappointed me was the fact that this saw did not have a light on it. The power and accuracy are all that I had hoped for. I would definitely recommend this saw to anyone wanting to upgrade to a beefy accurate unit.

Okay quality for the price [Posted on 2002-10-05]
I have owned this product for a year. Like most Jet equipment I own, this one arrived with minor (nuisance type) damage from being dropped. I am wondering if Tool Crib purchases the damaged equipment from Jet at a reduced price to garner higher profit margins.
The saw performs adequately although the accompanying blade did not have a long useful life. The rip fence is low quality and does not permit easy minor adjustments. The miter gauge is also poor quality. Maybe I'm spoiled by the more accurate fence on my table saw but for [price] I expected more attention to detail.
I am using the saw at the lower power level although it can be rewired for higher power.
I like the nice sized cast iron table but plan to build something larger to accommodate more intricate cutting.
The blade guides are not high quality and you should plan to purchase a better quality set.

Great saw [Posted on 2002-12-08]
I, too, have had my 18" Jet bandsaw for almost a year, and it has been a pleasure to use in every respect. Mine arrived without damage or problem, and other than the difficulty of moving a 6' tall wooden crate weighing almost 400 pounds around, setup was straightforward and worked first time out.

I had some problems with blade drift (i.e., trouble cutting a straight line), which seemed to vary with the kind of wood, the blade used, and the tension. I finally made two purchases which I *highly* commend, both from Ittura Designs, a bandsaw supply company that provides an amazing range of accessories and expertise. The first is a tension gauge, to tell you how many psi you're really putting on the blade (note to experts: the Jet has no problem tensioning to 30,000 psi), but the turning point was a Lenox ProMaster iI carbide blade. This thing isn't cheap---over $100 for a single blade---but what an unbelievable difference! The tolerances and sharpness of this blade have made drift a thing of the past: I now cut through everything like a heated knife through butter. If you spend this much on a bandsaw, spend the extra $100 on one of these blades, otherwise you're wasting your time and your wood.

The finish on the saw seems good to these relatively inexperienced eyes; the dust collection works terrifically, and while the lower guides are indeed tough to adjust, the Euro-style rollers work well and seem to hold their adjustments. (One aside: a lot of bandsaw accessories, like zero-clearance inserts and Cool Blocks etc., don't seem to be available for the 18" Jet, so if you're a tweaker, you might want to look elsewhere).

In summary, this is my favorite tool in my workshop. When I started woodworking, I followed closely the "do you need a tablesaw, or can you make do with a bandsaw only" argument, and now that I've had my Jet for a year, with the ProMaster II carbide blade, I have no regrets about my decision to leave a tablesaw behind.

JET 18" BANDSAW [Posted on 2003-02-13]
Purchased my Jet 18" bandsaw with 3/4", 4 tooth blade bout a year ago. Before purchasing this saw I searched for as much info on bandsaws that was available. I am 100% satisfied with it.
Everything I cut is hard wood. I have cut up to 6" thick and even with the 3/4" blade, it was no problem for this saw.
The table surface area is one of the largest on any saw. That's nice! It's easy to clean and the hand wheel adjustments for the cutting height and blade tensioner makes life good.
I don't believe there is a better 18" saw out there for the money.

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