| Model | Table Size | No-Load RPM | Max Cut Depth (45º / 90º) | Bevel Cuts | Rip Capacity (Right / Left) | Weight (saw / stand) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jet JBTS-10MJS Table Saw Check Price on Amazon.com | 30-1/4" x 21-25/32" | 4 000 | 2.5" / 3.063" Guides: saw alignment, maintenance, safety | -2º to 47º | 25" / Unknown | 90 lbs. combined |
When you move around from jobsite to jobsite, you need a table saw that can move around with you. Too often, though, table saw manufacturers skimp on quality in order to maintain portability. It is important to find a high quality table saw that will have the accuracy and power of a cabinet saw, but the portability you need to take the tool from one place to another. In this review, we will examine the Jet JBTS-10MJS to see if it manages to balance portability with usefulness on the job site.
Pros:
- Powerful motor
- Lightweight
- Rear extension to support large sheets of outfeed wood
Cons:
- Small wheels on stand are unsuitable for moving the saw over finished stairs
- Fence is so difficult to keep square that you have to use clamps to have any accuracy
- Table top is not flat
What’s in the Box
When you unbox the Jet JBTS-10MJS, the first thing you might notice is the light weight of the table saw and stand. This powerful table saw comes in at just under a hundred pounds, and includes the following essential components:
- The Jet JBTS-10MJS table saw (Amazon link)
- Rolling table saw stand
- Rear extension
- Rip fence
- Aluminum extruded rails
- Miter gauge
- Push stick
How Hard is the Jet JBTS-10MJS To Assemble?
The Jet JBTS-10MJS comes out of the box almost fully assembled. All that is required is to attach the table saw to the stand and install the blade guard, blade, and miter gauge. You will also need to attach the fence, rails, and rear extension. Once that is done, you will need to calibrate and adjust the table saw for accuracy.
The first problem you might run into is the fact that the table is not flat. This makes it difficult to make square cuts, and hinders you in trying to calibrate and make the table saw accurate. The fence is another problem altogether: it almost refuses to stay square to the blade, unless you use clamps to hold it in the proper orientation.
I spent well over two hours with a table saw aligner adjusting this table saw, and was never able to get it within what I would consider even acceptable tolerances.
What Are the Best Features of the Jet JBTS-10MJS?
The JBTS-10MJS has a powerful 15-Amp motor, which is capable of cutting through most woods without any problems. The soft start motor ensures a long life for the motor, and the blade spins fast enough to keep cutting even through hardwood without binding up.
One very nice feature is the dust shroud design, which keeps nearly all of the dust and chips away from your work piece and you while you are working.
The rolling stand is nice in a pinch, but Jet could have done quite a bit better. It is sturdy and stable, but the small wheels make it a chore to maneuver the table saw over curbs and stairs. In fact, I would not recommend trying to roll the saw over finished stairs, because it will gouge deep ruts in the stairs.
How Durable is the Jet JBTS-10MJS?
Durability is another area where this table saw sadly disappoints. For a table saw in its price category, I would expect the tool to be able to stand up to some use and abuse, but the plastic housing used for this table saw simply cannot. Furthermore, pieces (such as the elevation wheel) fall off of the table saw at inopportune times.
The motor, fortunately, seems to be much more rugged than the housing. It rips through hardwood without any problems, even when the wood is wet or aged. As long as you keep a decent blade on your saw, the JBTS-10MJS should be able to stand up to whatever wood you might want to throw at it.
Is the Jet JBTS-10MJS Easy to Use?
This table saw is very easy to use, with all of the controls within easy reach. The rear extension provides excellent outfeed support, keeping your work piece fairly flat as you cut or rip the wood. A convenient push-button arbor lock allows for blade changes without tools, which is always handy on the job site.
The rolling stand is nice for flat terrain, and is sturdy and steady when the saw is set up. The stand sets up and folds down easily, making a quick job of stowing the table saw away for transport. For those times when you want to lift and carry the table saw without the stand, the rubber hand grips make this much more comfortable than it would be otherwise.
What’s the Warranty Like for the Jet JBTS-10MJS?
Jet provides a 3 year limited warranty for the JBTS-10MJS. Unfortunately, their customer service staff are a bit unhelpful, promising to email information and then failing to follow through. When I first called them about the table not being flat, they informed me that my method of using a framing square was not the right way to text the flatness of the table, and offered to email me proper instructions. Those instructions never came, not that I would expect them to be very useful. A framing square is a tried and true way of checking the flatness of a table, after all.
Jet JBTS-10MJS Saw Review Summary
From my experience with the Jet JBTS-10MJS, there are plenty of competitors out there in the same price range that perform much better. The poor quality of the plastic housing, the ineffective wheels on the stand, and the utter lack of accuracy in the fence rails make this table saw unsuitable for more than occasional casual use. If you still want to buy it though, take a look at Amazon.com’s price on the Jet JBTS-10MJS if you’re interested.
