Jet Headache

warbler wrote:
> I have a Jet Supersaw... I am now realizing that the product design for
> this upgrade was done by some drunk...I am trying to get
> Jet to explain the set-up (or take the stuff back) and can't get anyone
> who really understands the product.
>
> Has anyone had a similar experience. Any recommendations?

I'm just starting the REassembly of my Jet CTS and I have to say that
there have been some interesting discoveries. This was a Woodworkers
Warehouse unit, BTW.

Some of the machining of parts is pretty weak, to say the least. Some
sleeves are drilled off-center to the point that at the ends they
almost break through the sidewalls. One "part" appears to be a sheared
off piece of steel bar. It's not square or flat on any surface and has
burrs on all edges. The threaded hole is half as short on one side as
the other and has roughly 3.5 threads on that side. The gearing on the
trunions really hasn't been deburred, and again the holes are
off-center to the housings(?).

Most of the trunion assembly still had a bunch of Cosmoline or whatever
on it, and the works were pretty gummed up. The owner said he hadn't
done a thing to the saw other than make some cuts about 6 times, so I
have to assume this was a WW Warehouse assembly and "tune". The fence
didn't even lock down properly - it was adjusted so tight that you
couldn't even get the full cam to fully close, he just sort of jammed
it down until it held. And is it "ok" to put the lock washer between
the object to be held and a flat wahser, followed on the outside by
the nut?

Further bulletins as events warrant.

JP
****************
Bite sized chunks.

"The fence didn't even lock down properly - it was adjusted so tight
that you couldn't even get the full cam to fully close, he just sort of
jammed it down until it held."

If it's a standard Jet Fence, that's the way it's supposed to be.

[email protected] wrote:
> "The fence didn't even lock down properly - it was adjusted so tight
> that you couldn't even get the full cam to fully close, he just sort of
> jammed it down until it held."
>
> If it's a standard Jet Fence, that's the way it's supposed to be.

Well I'll be. It feels weird to have so little play. Maybe I can
adjust it to allow for a bit more downward movement prior to tightening
up.

Thanks - I may have really frustrated myself trying to get that sucker
to lock.

JP

Thanks. I will look for the Yahoo Group. Interestingly in a further
talk with Jet yesterday, their tech support person acknowledged that
they don't even have a user manual for the parts they sent me. He
discovered this after retrieving the stuff I purchased from their
warehouse so he might have a more intelligent conversation on my
problem. He discovered to his chagrin that there is not any setup info
or even a picture of the installation. In fact, the box contains
NOTHING printed! He was very attentive on the phone and pleasant but
also seemed frustrated by the way some of thier products get shipped.

But I spent 3 hours yesterday with some new found info and may just get
this puppy to work. Havinging bought Delta and Dewalt equipment (both
were a breeze to set up and calibrate) this is a nightmare.

> Well I'll be. It feels weird to have so little play. Maybe I can
> adjust it to allow for a bit more downward movement prior to tightening
> up.

I agree, it feels funny at first. I use what I would call "firm
handshake pressure" to lock the fence, and it's never budged in use.

Here's a setup tip: I noticed that on my Jet Fence, the plastic glides
in the locking head didn't contact the fence rail squarely. As a
result, the fence would skew (very) slightly as the lock was tightened.
A little tape shimming under the glides fixed it.

There is no adjustability for locking play / pressure, unless you want
to shave some thickness off the glides.

Yes. As I mentioned here before, I had a similar experience the a WMH
corporate cousin - Powermatic. My Model 54A jointer is a great machine that
exceeded my expectations. The owner's manual absolutely sucked. You cannot
expect a book to be easy to use when it doesn't describe the machine on the
cover.

RonB

> He was very attentive on the phone and pleasant but
> also seemed frustrated by the way some of thier products get shipped.
>
Exactly the attitude I sensed with the Powermatic rep. She started off
defensive. When she realized how hosed-up the manual was she switched to
apology and frustration. Having worked for a company that was downgraded
from Cadillac to Yugo status by its accountants, I was fairly sympathetic
(with her, not WMH).

RonB

[email protected] writes:

> Here's a setup tip: I noticed that on my Jet Fence, the plastic glides
> in the locking head didn't contact the fence rail squarely. As a
> result, the fence would skew (very) slightly as the lock was tightened.
> A little tape shimming under the glides fixed it.

I have this problem. I bent the metal tangs a little, and it helped.
It still shifts a little when I tighten. I was going to call Jet and
get their advice.
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"warbler" <[email protected]> wrote in news:1124822672.827315.5200
@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

>
>
> I have a Jet Supersaw with a sliding fence. Been generally pretty
> happy with it but made the bonehead move to upgrade the fence by
> purchasing Jet's Xacta Fence II, rail system and extension table. I
> spec'd all the parts after extensive discussions with a Jet customer
> service rep. The owner's manual bears no resemblence to the parts

Have you posted on the Yahoo SuperSaw group?
IIRC - there was a recent post about someone upgrading to the new fence.

Sorry if I send you off on a wild goose chase.

I'm a Supersaw owner since October 2002. True "Pioneer" - you can tell by
the arrows in the back...