JET versus generic brands

[Phil Mailloux]

I'm looking to buy several pieces of machinery in the next year or two. I'm looking on the Jet Australia site and the prices on the Gary Pye site and can't help but to compare them to the Carbatec and Hafco offerings.

Let's be honest here, practically every machine looks identical to all the other Asian offerings from practically, well, everyone. The 13" JET thicknesser looks like the 13" Hafco, Carbatec, Ryobi, GMC, Makita, Metabo ect.. with a diffrerent paint job. The same goes for every other product. They all look like they come from the same factory in China or Taiwan.

So why is there such a strong following for JET out there? Seems like I hear a lot of people saying they love their JET stuff.

Is the quality better than the other brands mentioned?, the QC? the waranties? the setup straight out of the box? the customer service? How different can a product be when it comes from the saem factory that does crappy work for another brand :?

I would love to find out more about JET and find out about the pluses and minuses of JET products. From what I see , I like the prices right now. They're not much more expensive then the HAFCO or Carbatec clones and cheaper than the other better company clones (Makita, Metabo ect...)

[Stevenp]

G'day Phil, I have to admit I am a big fan of Jet machinery. I have the supersaw, 18" bandsaw and 8" Jointer. I have never owned any Hafco, carbatec etc. so I can't comment on their quality, but I can say my Jet stuff is pretty good.
From what I have heard they are indeed all made in the same factory, but to a different price. I think you will find that the cheaper stuff is made with lower quality materials and machined to "Not so close" tolerances.
All my Jet gear has been spot on straight out of the crate. The only adjustments I can remember is lifting the outfeed table on the jointer about a poofteenth , otherwise all has been OK.
If I had a critisism it would be the dust extraction on the supersaw. I have a 1Hp dusty hooked up to it and it does not do a good job at all, maybe I need a bigger dusty or better design of holes in the base of the saw cabinet, I suspect the latter.
I bought my gear from Woodworking warehouse in Melbourne and found their sevice excellent , all delivered to my door within 3 days of ordering.
I have had no problems so far ( supersaw 4 years now) so I can't speak of warranty.
I hope this has been of some help. Cheers steven.:)

[dazzler]

I like the feel of jet stuff. Be aware though that they are rebadging the TSC10HB (grizzly et al) and painting it white, so like many companies I think there may now be 2 distinct lines of machinery emerging.

[old_picker]

like many great companies they farm their name out to maufactirers in the orient

my jet bandsaw is a very nice machine btw

[Lignum]

If I had a critisism it would be the dust extraction on the supersaw. I have a 1Hp dusty hooked up to it and it does not do a good job at all, maybe I need a bigger dusty or better design of holes in the base of the saw cabinet, I suspect the latter.


Steve, have you the American model or Euro model. If you have the American, cut out as much of the bottom plate you can. That is the worst dust plate i have ever seen.

But with both models, the best tip is to get an A4 size sheet of that flexible magnetic sheet and cut it up and block the holes, especialy the big curvred one used for the tilt. That makes a huge difference.

[dazzler]

Like this, and also add tape around the corners near the top. :)


Linky (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/attachment.php?attachmentid=21765&d=1144396671) to Picture

[Lignum]

Just like that:) But the magntic strip on the big tilt hole is good when you need to tilt.

[Stevenp]

Thanks Lignum and Dazz I will try that.
I dont know if mine is American or European, Left tilt and long arbour for Dadoe blade.(Murrican?):D Cheers Steven

[plunger]

I've got the 16" Jet thicknesser and it is the best bit of machinery that I have...rest is Hafco, carbatec timbecon etc. For the hobbyist the other stuff is fine but the Jet just seems more solid and never needs tweeking or adjusting.

When it was delivered the guys at PTMS had gone over it beforehand in the workshop to make sure it was adjusted and all OK. It was a display machine so maybe that doesn't happen if you buy a brand new one.

I think I'm right in saying that the more recent Jet products are coming from China and not Taiwan as they were, and seems to have brought the price down a little. I've no idea if this move has affected quality or not, and perhaps only some of the products have moved?

Garry

[Lignum]

I dont know if mine is American or European, Left tilt and long arbour for Dadoe blade.

American because of the daddo arbour.. It has a plate with a series of holes drilled inside the base of the cabinet and blocks so easy and restricts suction. It has to go for your dusty to work properly.

[artme]

Jet has a very good reputation both here and in the USA. I suppose if looks and "feel" count the they are certainly good in those areas. I know some tyrners who are avid Vicmark fans but have no hesitation in recommending Jet.
I have a jet table saw which i think is a fine machine. Not their top line but a very good sturdy saw. Even my grumpy brother with a mechanical and maching background sees it as a good saw!
I also have a Haco bandsaw, a Hafco Drill press and an older model Hafco belt/disc sander.All very pleasing machines, and less money than Jet.
Oh, and Jet mini lathe. A beaut little machine!

[Phil Mailloux]

Thanks for all the comments guys. It looks like I can't go wrong with them. I'm happy paying the extra $50 from comparable generic brands just for the proper setup out of the factory

[Chumley]

I know Jet has a good reputation on this forum. I nearly bought a JPS-10 but was turned off at the last post by actually seeing one in a showroom - it was surprisingly sloppy and inaccurate. Went and got a TSC10HB instead.

I've mentioned this a couple of times on various threads as everyone seems to say only good things about JET and I think you should be aware that even good stuff is not always perfect.

Cheers,
Adam

[DJ’s Timber]

I don't think Jet is as good as people make them out to be either, everyone does praise their machines but there is also quite a few duds out there as well, my Jet lathe's spindle wasn't true and know of others who have had problems as well.

[bsrlee]

Just spent the day looking at drill presses to replace the Ryobi toy that I have been using - its going to be a Jet 17" for me. All the units that I looked at just didn't have the features I wanted or the quality.

In one case, a 'newly released' ~$800 DP that was advertised to have a miserly 82mm plunge actually proved to have a 75mm plunge when checked out in person - you can't even drill thru a 2x4 the thick way in one go! The Jet at least manages 115mm or so - pity Jet are not bringing in the Powermatic press with a 155mm/6" plunge, and that Delta has abandoned the Australian market & we can't get their new similar models - the Delta has laser sights, digital readout for both plunge depth & rpm!

[Chris Parks]

When I bought my Jet 18" BS I was talking to the salesman and he related the following...Jet were having no more success than others in the market, then they painted them white and their sales took off. He thought it a clever bit of market research and I am still amazed, as he is right in the fact that the colour appeals, at least to me.