Charlie Velasquez
07-13-2005, 10:31 PM
Hi all,
I am new to the forum and just starting out as a hobbyist.
I inherited some of my dad's tools: 1970's DeWalt Radial Arm Saw, 1970's Craftsman drill press, several routers of various brands and power and my dad's pride and joy, a 1950's metal lathe and milling machine (he was a tool and die maker) - I have done a modicum of woodworking but have never done any metal work; but I can tell you it was really easy to turn uniform diameter walnut dowels for my son's cradle -clamp in a cutter, get it close, dial in .375, flip the traveller lever, and watch it go!
But I digress,
I have made several pieces: the afore mentioned cradle, captain's beds, loft beds and such for my kids, (mmm.. it seems trying to get my kids to go to sleep is some sort of a fixation for me), a trestle table for my mom. But these joints were dowels, screws and plugs and the like, none of these would be described as fine cabinetry. I would like to improve my skills and techniques, but I keep getting the feeling I am taxing the capabilities of the RAS.
I made "Mr. Sawdust"'s table for my RAS, I have read and followed Jon Eakes guide to aligning my RAS, and I get reasonably close tolerances when cutting (maybe <1/64"" off square when crosscutting an 10" board). But I am constantly checking set-up and alignment every time I move the arm or tilt the motor. That is time I could be making sawdust! These tolerances were fine for the type of projects I had before, and I could always touch up my cuts with a plane, but I have been lurking on this site and others for a while and am amazed that the talk is of tolerances of .001" or better. It appears for the kind of accuracy I need for cabinet work, I need a different saw.
Following a newspaper ad I found someone wanting to sell a Jet cabinet saw for $400 with the standard Jet fence. An additional $150 buys an accusquare fence (54" max rip)
The saw is an older JCS-10 (Blue). I looked on the internet and all the JCS-10's are contractor saws, but I copied the model # down myself and this IS a cabinet saw.
I know the motor is a 2hp /230 with NO use (seller had it hooked up to run on hydraulics) I didn't even ask if it was right or left tilt. Someone told me Jet didn't make a left tilt till they changed color to white, but I don't know that to be a fact. I couldn't find anything about this saw on the internet. Does anyone have any information on this saw? A site I could download the manual or specs?
Looked on http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/. They only have newer manuals and such on-line and no mention at all of the older products.
Seems most of the newer machines are 3 hp, left tilt, Beisemeyer fence..,for only a few hundred more.
My budget is VERY tight, (am paying for college for 4 children at once!) and I was saving for a Unisaw or such, but if this is a good deal and could give me the required accuracy, maybe I could buy now and start saving for a jointer and planer.
I have no knowledge of the value of these saws so I look to more experienced minds for help!
I am new to the forum and just starting out as a hobbyist.
I inherited some of my dad's tools: 1970's DeWalt Radial Arm Saw, 1970's Craftsman drill press, several routers of various brands and power and my dad's pride and joy, a 1950's metal lathe and milling machine (he was a tool and die maker) - I have done a modicum of woodworking but have never done any metal work; but I can tell you it was really easy to turn uniform diameter walnut dowels for my son's cradle -clamp in a cutter, get it close, dial in .375, flip the traveller lever, and watch it go!
But I digress,
I have made several pieces: the afore mentioned cradle, captain's beds, loft beds and such for my kids, (mmm.. it seems trying to get my kids to go to sleep is some sort of a fixation for me), a trestle table for my mom. But these joints were dowels, screws and plugs and the like, none of these would be described as fine cabinetry. I would like to improve my skills and techniques, but I keep getting the feeling I am taxing the capabilities of the RAS.
I made "Mr. Sawdust"'s table for my RAS, I have read and followed Jon Eakes guide to aligning my RAS, and I get reasonably close tolerances when cutting (maybe <1/64"" off square when crosscutting an 10" board). But I am constantly checking set-up and alignment every time I move the arm or tilt the motor. That is time I could be making sawdust! These tolerances were fine for the type of projects I had before, and I could always touch up my cuts with a plane, but I have been lurking on this site and others for a while and am amazed that the talk is of tolerances of .001" or better. It appears for the kind of accuracy I need for cabinet work, I need a different saw.
Following a newspaper ad I found someone wanting to sell a Jet cabinet saw for $400 with the standard Jet fence. An additional $150 buys an accusquare fence (54" max rip)
The saw is an older JCS-10 (Blue). I looked on the internet and all the JCS-10's are contractor saws, but I copied the model # down myself and this IS a cabinet saw.
I know the motor is a 2hp /230 with NO use (seller had it hooked up to run on hydraulics) I didn't even ask if it was right or left tilt. Someone told me Jet didn't make a left tilt till they changed color to white, but I don't know that to be a fact. I couldn't find anything about this saw on the internet. Does anyone have any information on this saw? A site I could download the manual or specs?
Looked on http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/. They only have newer manuals and such on-line and no mention at all of the older products.
Seems most of the newer machines are 3 hp, left tilt, Beisemeyer fence..,for only a few hundred more.
My budget is VERY tight, (am paying for college for 4 children at once!) and I was saving for a Unisaw or such, but if this is a good deal and could give me the required accuracy, maybe I could buy now and start saving for a jointer and planer.
I have no knowledge of the value of these saws so I look to more experienced minds for help!