Jet JWTS-10 upgrades

I scored a second hand Jet JWTS-10 in reasonable condition. I preferred it to other alternatives because of its cast iron top and a cabinet saw isn't really feasible in my space. There are a few gripes with it that I'm hoping I can address with upgrades, since there seems to be the potential to do some precision work:

• It's underpowered at 1.5HP. I was thinking of upgrading the motor, and bumping it up to 2HP doesn't seem outlandish or too expensive. Or I can go up to 3HP if the hardware can handle it. Is this feasible?
• The rip fence is only clamped down at the front. as I'm pushing wood through, the back could give a little bit. Is there a DIY fix for this? I know I can buy aftermarket fences, but they are quite expensive and I wouldn't want to go this route yet

I know I'm a bit late to the party here but I just noticed this when going through some old posts. Hopefully if you haven't already answered your own questions you may benefit from my experience.

I've had one of these saws for the past twenty odd years and my experience overall has been positive. Initially I had the same concerns as you (and I also thought the blade was too small), however I think these issues were more to do with my very limited experience with table saws rather than real concerns. I didn't change anything and came to realise fairly quickly that the perceived shortcomings were groundless. The motor is plenty powerful enough for most hobby woodworking tasks (especially if the blade is in good condition) however a couple of years ago I did replace it because I thought it was shot (this didn't turn out to be the case). The new motor makes it quieter, and perhaps provides more power because of a more efficient design. I think it cost about $200. The fence is very solid and although only clamped at the front has no tendency to move at the back. I think to some extent this is also due to the fact that you apply little lateral force to the rear of the fence as you pass a piece of material through. Most of the force is applied at the front.

One upgrade I do recommend though is to replace the stock drive belt with a linked belt. This makes it a MUCH quieter machine.

Hope this helps.

Duplicate post.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I have found that it has been more than capable at handling everything I've thrown at it so far, and that's with a 60T blade, not a dedicated ripping one.

I'll look into changing the belt. Where do you get linked belts?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yoboseyo

I'll look into changing the belt. Where do you get linked belts?

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I got mine on eBay but the buy history only goes back two years so I can't tell you the exact seller. Before you buy one though you might benefit from watching this:

YouTube

I only mention it because I'm a big fan of Mathias. Note though that I've had no such problems with my belt which is now over two years old. For reference here's what mine looks like:

Attachment 469521