Power Saws Reviews

I agree with another reviewer...seems the price on this and another Delta saw increased by about $30. I saw the 255L for 297 a week or so ago around 3/15 now its $329?

I have been watching this item, considering buying it. What happen, it was $199 on 3/15, and on 3/16 it now sells for $239. Is it made of oil? Very high price increase, just found it on another site referring it back to Amazon at $199, but when you go back to the site guess what, it is $239.

I bought this saw after being totally confused from viewing so many models at Home Depot and other retail outlets. But could I really buy a heavy woodworking machine over the internet?! Would I do that?!

Well, I did.

I am totally a happy camper as a result. It didn't even have to be calibrated -- it was right on the money at 90 degrees right out of the box.

The posting by the other reviewer really influenced my decision. Thanks to you (who ever you are).

THE SAW WAS GREAT, VERY WELL MADE AND TIGHT TOLERANCE. IT WAS VERY IMPRESIVE. THE TABLE ON THE OTHER HAND WAS POORLY MADE. THE OAK WAS SPLIT IN SEVERAL AREAS BUT DID NOT FUNCTIONALLY AFFECT PERFORMANCE. THE CUTOUT FOR THE ROUTER LIFT ASSEMBLY WAS CUT TOO CLOSE TOLERANCE AND MINOR HUMIDITY CAUSED TOO TIGHT A FIT. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET ASSEMBLY TO FIT INTO CUTOUT WITHOUT FORCING IT WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE. I WOULD PREFER A REPLACEMENT TABLE. I WAS VERY DISSAPPOINTED IN EXTENSION TABLE.

If you are reading this review you are probably doing the same thing I was. Looking for the ultimate killer table saw to get old with. But in the back of your mind is the nagging idea that your better half may not see things quite the same way. So you look at the Deltas, Jets, Powermatics and maybe like me try to come to grips with not buying a good solid piece of Amercian steel.

Well give no more thought to your decision. JET has made the choice pretty plain.

Lets get the bad news out of the way. First, plan to devote a weekend of your life to setting up your new Jet. I got mine with a sliding table and between that and the saw it took a full weekend in part due to the incredibly poor manuals. A bolt sheared and two holes found their way into the wrong place. Only other complaints are the poorly sealed collection chamber bottom plate and the cheeseball vinyl labels instead of a decent rivited nameplate. Come on JET spring a buck or two.

Alright, enough complaining! Lets talk about how this beauty does its job. Punch on the power and this puppy snaps to life. Your first butter smooth perfectly square cut tells the story. This is an outstanding saw. Jet's attention to design and machining accuracy are evident with each cut. The fence has a useful and clever bubble magnifier to aid precise positioning. And is made in USA (which explains why its screws are sae and the saws are metric). Add the handy cabinet and router lift and it seems to me this saw is tough to beat. My suggestion is to use the money you saved over another brand and invest in Jet's sliding table. It's a bit of a challange to set up but makes handling even large panels a breeze.

I was looking for a solid, powerful and highly accurate saw with well rounded features JET delivered and left me with something to spend for more JET products.

Hope my experience helps in your decision! Happy woodworking!

saw was delivered in perfect shape had no trouble putting it together,am very happy

First saw arrived with a cracked base. I found this a bit shocking since it was very solidly built. I attributed this to a lousy packing job which could not tolerate a drop from a truck ( I assume this happened)....Replacement was fast and no hassle -LOVE AMAZON !!! SAW IS INCREDIBLE...cuts wood like butter, accurate scale of degrees, easy to adjust, heavy but not too heavy to move to site of cutting. Manual is not detailed enought you will need to get a wood trim book.

All in All a great saw and great value....

David - Interior Designer

I have owned this saw for about a month now and I love it. I have used it to trim out my house with perfect results. There is absolutely no play in this saw. Every cut is identical to the last. It is easy to set up and use. The motor has ample power. My only complaint is that the motor is not angled up for easier viewing of the work.

I've had my Makita LS1221 miter saw for almost a year now. To say the least, I am very happy with my purchase. The cut was perfect, right out of the box, and continues to be so even now. The blade was a better quality than what I thought would be on it and it still gives me the cleanest miter cuts I've ever seen. This saw is smooth and powerful enough to go through any of the hardwoods I use. My only regret is that I didn't spend the extra money and purchase the LS1212 (sliding compound).

I actually have two of these saws at my disposal and one of them is great, the other i have had trouble with the quick change mechanism. Both saws have lots of power and can tackle any project they are assigned to. They have no problem cutting fiberglass or metal with the correct blades. My only gripe is that the quick change on one saw will not unlock sometimes and when you finally get the blade in it, it doesnt lock: it can be a little finicky. Power to spare and then some- however porter could also work on some better in-box blade storage for longer blades. The milwaukee sawzall seems to have it all down pat- after all they are the original manufacturer of reciprocating saws.

I had one of these for several years without the rotating handle. When it was stolen recently I replaced it with this one. It feels very well made and you can see the fit and finish quality when you hold the tool. It is powerful enough to use a 9 inch blade through 2x8 silt plates. The rotating handle snaps into position at 90-degree angles but can be used in-between angles as well. When I did not have a rotating handle, I did not ask for one, but now that I have it, I find that it is very comfortable. The orbital action is effective and it does not disengage under pressure. The no-tool blade changing mechanism works well. The only negative, which is not enough for me to give this saw a lesser score, is that when you stop cutting if the blade stops in a retracted position the blade changing ring may be too hard to reach. I find that pulling the trigger again solves this issue. If you are changing blades every few minutes you could find this annoying. Overall this is a great saw. If this one gets stolen, I would buy a third one.

UPDATED I purchased a PC drill a couple of months ago (see my reviews) and am so happy with that I purchased a PC tiger saw (reciprocating, whatever). I use this a lot at work when I install new heaters, I cut through a lot of PVC pipe and brass pipe. I really like how you can rotate the handle, makes things a little more comfortable. The only things I would change is the fact you only get one blade, $150 saw with one blade. I solved that quickly with the dewalt variety pack that came with a nice case. UPDATE I have put this thing through hell and it is just fine. A couple of things I would change is to have the blade change system more like the true Milwakee Sawzall and that the button to remove the shoe wasn't so stiff. I use my boss's Mil. Sawzall all of the time and it is great but I hve notice the PC cuts the bigger jobs a little easier.

I had to mount the Panel-Loc to a 2x4 fence because the fence on my table saw is too tall to allow the Panel-Loc to hold down thin plywood. It works much better than a featherboard for ripping plywood. It would be 5 stars except for one problem. You cannot see the base of the fence to ensure that material is tight against the fence.

I got this as a gift from my daughter last year but didn't have a slot in my router fence to use it. Finally got around to making some MDF fences with the right slots and found out this is a great product. I've always had trouble keeping the part I was routing down against the table and tight against the fence. This solves the first problem and helps with the second. It gives you a uniform depth by keeping downward pressure on the wood.It is easy to setup, takes about 5 seconds to set the proper pressure on the wood.

Two disadvantages keep me from rating it as 5 star. I tried routing some rail and stiles and found they were too thin and slipped under the guard. The second problem is when you want to adjust the router bit depth of cut, you can't see the bit so you have to slip the guard out of the way, adjust the depth, and then slip the guard back. This is fairly easy but annoying.
Even with these two disadvantages, this is the best product I've found for router applications. I especially like the fact that the bit is fully encased and dust collecion is greatly enhanced.

I had bought the Bench Dog PL400 a while ago, and unfortunately it sat in the tube it ships in. Well I broke it out, and after using it, I am sorry that I didn't do it sooner. It is great. It will fit any type of fence with the standard T slot. The attaching nuts are included and the easy to turn and fasten tightening knobs do the job well.
The great thing about this piece of equipment is that it does such a great job of holding down your workpiece. If you have a 3, to 6 inch panel or greater, it will perfectly keep it mated to the table. That is in part due to the hard rubber strip that extends below the bottom. The cast aluminum plate is substantial. I was tongue and groove routing, 88 inch long boards, and when I got to the end of the board, the PL400 had no problem keeping it true to the table, even when I let go. So I had 3 inches of an 88 inch piece of cedar being held straight, and under all of that pressure, it was still flush for the bit.
The safety advantage is second to none. Since it completely covers the router bit area, it protects you from an exposed bit. It actually covers an area a few inches away from the fence.
It is usable on your table saw, router table, or anything that has a T-slot. No T-slot, no problem, it is shipped with an included T-Slot aluminum channel, so you can convert your fence to a T-Slotted fence. If you added a wooden riser-extension to your fence, this would attach right to it. It is not predrilled, so you can custom apply it to your needs.
I highly recommend it. Easily adjustable for just the right amount of pressure. It does the job more completely and uniformly than single featherboards. It removes and installs in about 30 seconds. It doesn't shift on you when larger stock is trying to move it.
If I was cutting different size pieces all day long, I would use a featherboard, because it allows you instant access to the bit, for setup changes. If I was making runs of lots of boards, I would use the PL400, because the 20 second additional set up time, is more than worth the benefits and advantages.
I plan on keeping mine handy, and using it a lot more from now on. Hope this helps.

Purchased the 24 V reciprocating & circular saw combo kit some two years back. I'm an electrician, not a professional carpenter, but I do take on remodeling projects from time to time. I've enjoyed decent mileage (a host of window replacements, two kitchens and four bathrooms) out of both these tools, but I've had some problems as well.

When the reciprocating saw gets to vibrating - as reciprocating saws will - the battery pack falls out! Drop that sucker on it's head one time too many, and you're out 114 bucks for a replacement. Recently took my saw to a repair shop, and waiting to hear back from the factory. Thus, still don't know if it's a design flaw, or just another busted tool. Apart from that one, very significant problem, I'll say that the reciprocating saw's darn handy, and excellent for light to medium demolition. However, when the going gets really tough, you need something that'll make the lights dim; that's when my corded Milwaukee takes over.

The circular saw's 6 1/2" blade makes it a light to medium-duty tool as well. It's left-bladed, which I like, but this also means the blade-guide tends to bind against the cut off piece of whatever you're sawing (I'm right-handed), and the tool has to be pushed. I like the saw's electric brake very much; release the trigger and the blade stops quicker'n you can think about it.

Over all, both tools are handy-dandy, but a bit pricey for something that's not pro-grade.

I purchased the Bosch 24 volt with the Drill, Flashlight, Circular Saw, and reciprocating saw. This set is nothing short of awesome! The reciprocating saw blasts through a very thick metal pipe like it was butter! I didn't expect to finish that job on one battery but I was wrong. I have no doubt it could have cut that pipe 50 times on that one charge, it didn't even slow slightly. The drill is the same story, true corded power. I'm 6'5" and 265 lbs and the drill "caught" while drilling 1/4" steel with a 1/2 drill bit and damn near broke me wrist. Regarding the weight......I have been so amazed with the power that I haven't even noticed. With the drill, put the supplied handle on this monster because it takes two hands and a strong grip! I do wonder if the 2.4 amp hour batteries I have seen have a significant advantage over the 2.0 amp hour batteries that it ships with.

The 3960CFK 24 V combination kit includes 2 batteries, 1 charger, 1 light, 1 6.5" circular saw, 1 0.5" drill / driver, 1 reciprocating saw ( mail-in ) and a case for ....

You don't have to be especially observant to notice the significant relative expense of this offering.

This is the same saw as the enclosed stand model, the only differense is in the stand and that the motor is 3/4hp. The open stand introduces a little more vibration from the motor than the close one does (in the closed one the motor is isolated). The other diffrence is in the horse power departament. This one has a 3/4hp and the closed stand model is 1hp. If you aren't going to do heavy resawing on hardwoods this is the band saw for you, otherwise go with the closed stand.
Ps: don't even look at the other 14" band saws...these are copies of the delta. But the quality is not the same, everything on the deltas are beter. From bigger castings, more heavely rib wheels, better guides and bigger and stronger table trunions.

This is one of the last U.S. built band saws on the market. My Delta has a superb U.S. made Marathon motor. The build quality of the saw is excellent. The leg set is made of extremely heavy gauge steel and the powder coat finish is first class. The unit was easy to assemble and calibrate. The saw runs smoothly and is well balanced. As these tools are a life time investment, I stongly encourage any one buying a band saw to buy a U.S. built Delta. The quality improvement is clear and the added cost over the life of the tool compared to the Chinese built Delta or an imported Jet simply makes the U.S. model worth the difference.

I recently went to a tool show and observed this saw in operation. I bought it because the price was to good to pass up. Buying this saw can save you hundreds over the enclosed stand model. It's the same saw except the motor is 3/4 hp and mounts on top of the base. In my opinion the 4 leg base offers more stability than the enclosed stand model. I have to say that Delta pays attension to fit and finish (outstanding). The saw went together with no problems. The flywheels have 9 spokes versus 6 on the [other] model. This saw offers great value and quality.

OI ,

Moro no Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Rj

Trabalho com Arte em Madeira e preciso aumentar minha produ��o e esta m�quina � ideal. Preciso tamb�m inclua: Blades 40-Fourty.
Obrigado, Jorge Luis

OI ,

Moro no Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Rj

Trabalho com Arte em Madeira e preciso aumentar minha produ��o e esta m�quina � ideal. Preciso tamb�m inclua: Blades 40-Fourty.
Obrigado, Jorge Luis

Several weeks ago I purchased thru Amazon a brand new 40-570 Scroll Saw. It arrived in A-1 Condition and I have been totally thrilled with the purchase. I trust Amazon completely. And this saw is perfect for me....it was low-end price-wise, yet has all the features that are important to me....the ability to stop and reset for fretwork takes literally seconds instead of minutes. I would redo this purchase again in a hearbeat. In fact, I'm now looking for a bench-top table saw..... Thanks Amazon, for this rural user you are a Godsend!!!!

While I am impressed with the overall performance of the saw,its light weight, plenty of power for ripping, its easy to see where the blade is,and is very smooth in the startup, it does have one very serious flaw...the thumb screw and the mounting plate , where it screws into on the saw, (so that you can set the saw on a bevel) are made of aluminum, and with very much use or any over tightening, they both strip out and render the saw near useless.This is both frustrating and annoying to the saw owner, not to mention costly. I have purchased two of these saws so far and this has happened to both of them.Currently I have become quite disenchanted with this and have gone to purchasing a more reliable brand.

I went to the big box with all intentions of purchasing the much renowned PC 743-K (blade on left) circular saw, but I just didn't like the way it felt, so I started looking at their other saws. They must have had 20. I tried them all and then my wife said, hey look at this one, it was the Hitachi C7SBK and it was light weight and it just felt right. It was on clearance also... which helped make my decision a little easier. I figured if I didn't like it I could always return it for the PC, but when I got home and cut some plywood, it cut like a dream and you can actually see what you are cutting. If you are looking for a good circular saw for under $100 you will not be sorry with this one.

I read with intrest the comments of roscoe4 concerning his Hitachi C78BK circular saw.I too like the saw for the very same reasons that he likes his i.e. light weight, powerful, easy-to-see blade at all angles etc. but to become disenchanted with an otherwise above average saw because a thumbscrew strips out is something I wouldn't admit. I have also had this very same problem and the solution is quite simple. First tap the hole with the next size fine thread metric tap, screw a wing nut on a 1 1/4" bolt corresponding to the tap, bush with a few flat washers, screw this assembly into the new hole and you're back in business. Total time:10 minutes....Total cost: approx. $1.00. I have owned my saw for over four years now and have used it every day,mostly for framing,and aside from the above mentioned "problem" have only replaced the brushes and power cord. My saw has been dropped off ladders, rained on countless times and still comes back for more. When I do finally lay it to rest I'll definetly buy another one just like it.

Before buying this saw I looked at all the other saws that were highly rated by several sources. the bosch, porter-cable, dewalt and milwaukee. this saw has most, if not all of the features of the others but it has not appeared in most tool ratings. It has tool-less blade change and shoe bevel adjustments. It has multi-position orbital settings. It has variable speed. It has some features that some of the other saws don't. the cast shoe is larger than some others, so you have a very stable base. the shoe also fully retracts for flush cutting. the saw came with a clear plastic dust deflector that snaps on/off. In my opinion it works better than the air blowing saws I have used. the blade guide roller seems to work better than some of the others, particularly the P-C.

The new Makita Saw is an excellent choice for those with a lot of work to do. It is extremely well made and with the powerful motor it should be rugged enough for commercial use. I have used it on three differant projects and the tool has surpassed my expectations. The only reason I am giving it a 4, instead of 5 stars, is the instructions are not concisely written and they should have provided the rip attachment for the price they want for the saw.

I bought this saw only because no one in my area sells Bosch. I didnt like the Milwaukee because i felt that it would be difficult to see the blade while cutting,i was disapointed because i feel that Milwaukee generaly builds a quility product. The Dewalt jig saws took such a beating from customer reveiws on this web site,so i really never even considerd them. I have used Bosch in the past,and it is a very nice jig saw. I took my time looking over the Makita saw before buying it,i liked the balance and feel of it. It took a couple of minutes to figure out the blade locking system,but now it is second nature. The saw cuts very well,its easy to follow the line,dust is not a problem at all,and it has power to spare. Makita greases the hell out of the base from the factory,make sure you clean it off before getting started. All in all i'm very happy with this saw.