Jet jwbs-16x Any good, worth changing mine?

[technium]

Thanks again, ive just checked the RP website and apparently they have a show on this weekend 22nd July at Yandles. I guess at the show I can speak to a rep, get a deal done on free shipping and pay there and then??

cheers

Colin

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Thanks again, ive just checked the RP website and apparently they have a show on this weekend 22nd July at Yandles. I guess at the show I can speak to a rep, get a deal done on free shipping and pay there and then??

cheers

Colin

Precisely that. In fact, you don't even have to actually travel there, it can all be done by phone (that's what I did in fact). Having said that....I would strongly encourage you to go and see Yandles...it is a truly fabulous old wood mill. You'll become a regular I can pretty much say that for certain. Be warned though....don't take your credit card anywhere near the wood shed!!!

 

[technium]

Thanks, I will have to see what the wife has planned for this weekend to see if I can get up there. If I have to phone, who do you ring? Yandles or Record Power?

Is the place easy to get to and is parking ok one one of these show days do you know?

thanks again

Colin

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I would phone their switch and ask to be put through to the record Power rep. Parking is monstrous (a huge field). It's in a tiny village called Martock...lovely spot. All easy.

 

[technium]

Thanks, thats good as long as im not stuck in traffic for 3 hours trying to get out the car park like Ive had before (not at Yandles).

I did think maybe the RP Rep would be too busy with in person customers to be able to chat on the phone to me....

thanks

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

When I bought mine I called at about 08:45 in the morning. I happened to mention that it would be an instant big machine sale and the bloke almost fell over himself to get to the phone

 

[technium]

Thanks, ok so if I cant make it then I will phone Yandles and see if I can get hold of the RP Rep

Thanks again Bob for all your time.

Colin

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

No probs Colin and best of luck.

 

[Sheptonphil]

I had this choice to make 18 months ago. Fortunately I live near enough to both Axminster and Yandles to go have a play with both.

There is no question the Jet is of a better build quality, the fence clamping mechanism is twice that over the Record. The triangular frame makes for a really rigid build. Winder wheels are all cast as against plastic. The power is rated as 1100w input, the Record is 2000w output, damned if I know why companies can't give comparable stats.

The Record was on offer at £900 the Jet was £1050 at that time. I believed the Record would have been a perfectly adequate saw, however, their delivery was on a 16 tonne lorry which couldnt get within 400yds of my house. On to Axminster to look at the Jet. I was won over by the immediate perception of quality. This was to be part of my retirement purchase, I'm not likely to buy any more 'big' tools after the refit of the past 18 months, so didn't really want to skimp.

I think the Jet was well worth the extra £150 and delivery was on a 7 tonner, so I made the decision to go with it.

I don't regret the purchase, it's a superb piece of kit, a little disappointed in two areas, no tension release lever, which is on both the 14" and 18" versions, and the carp blade guides. A bearing set is in excess of £180, so I'll just stick with the plates.

It cuts anything that will go through the throat, and is my go to saw even for ripping rather than the table saw.

So, just not to help you choose, you will probably be happy with either, but the quality feel will never be there like the Jet.

Mercedes agains Ford, makes your choice, pay your money.

Phil

 

[andys wood shed]

Plus 1 for the Jet
Survived Industrial environment for 10 year

Recently broke one of the blade guide castings
Phone call to Axminster to enquire price and availability of replacement
£10.80 in stock and delivered next day

Bet you won't get that with Record

 

[MikeJhn]

I only bought a Mercedes once, the most unreliable car I ever owned, service was appalling as was the personnel and showrooms not a good analogy IMO.

Mike

 

[technium]

LOL thanks Mike, and yet I had a Ford Escort as my first car and loved it....until it fell apart :wink:


Thanks guys, And there was I so close to making a decision!

The problem is theres always going to be two sides to every thread like this. I might try and get to the show this weekend and pop over to Axminster to check out the Jet then at least I can see for myself the build quality etc. Still liking the 5 year guarantee from RP though as apposed to the Axminster 3 Years.

Colin

 

[MikeJhn]

I have never seen a report on here where anyone has had to claim on the five year guarantee after initial teething problems.

I have the RP350S and could not do without it now, bought second hand from a member here.

Mike

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

LOL thanks Mike, and yet I had a Ford Escort as my first car and loved it....until it fell apart :wink:


Thanks guys, And there was I so close to making a decision!

The problem is theres always going to be two sides to every thread like this. I might try and get to the show this weekend and pop over to Axminster to check out the Jet then at least I can see for myself the build quality etc. Still liking the 5 year guarantee from RP though as apposed to the Axminster 3 Years.

Colin

I'll make this my last comment as I'm starting to repeat myself now but....

.....recall the purpose of me publishing that review was to document a series of conclusions about the performance of the BS400 where the conclusions were based on observable, measurable facts that is hard evidence and very specifically NOT opinion. It's purpose was to remove the subjective, leaving only objective data. In doing so, I had hoped we could stop "believing in unicorns" and we could rely on that summary conclusion as being proven fact. Regrettably life is never that simple (if it were Trump would never have been voted in) and if there's one piece of extraordinary wisdom I've picked up about human nature it's this...

...you can't reason someone out of a position they weren't reasoned into!

So, if you plan to make your decision based on observable evidence then the BS400 is a perfectly reasonable choice. I would assert the 350 is in the same category. Other makes and models that I haven't tested I can't reasonably comment on but I can comment on the fact that nobody can make perjorative statements about the BS400 versus any other machine without having performed the very tests I did and therefore one has to consider what the agenda is.

Now you're seeing what I mean about bandsaw snobbery

On that bombshell I'll leave you to your thoughts...are you a climate change sceptic or do you believe the science

 

[technium]

LOL thanks Mike, and yet I had a Ford Escort as my first car and loved it....until it fell apart :wink:


Thanks guys, And there was I so close to making a decision!

The problem is theres always going to be two sides to every thread like this. I might try and get to the show this weekend and pop over to Axminster to check out the Jet then at least I can see for myself the build quality etc. Still liking the 5 year guarantee from RP though as apposed to the Axminster 3 Years.

Colin

I'll make this my last comment as I'm starting to repeat myself now but....

.....recall the purpose of me publishing that review was to document a series of conclusions about the performance of the BS400 where the conclusions were based on observable, measurable facts that is hard evidence and very specifically NOT opinion. It's purpose was to remove the subjective, leaving only objective data. In doing so, I had hoped we could stop "believing in unicorns" and we could rely on that summary conclusion as being proven fact. Regrettably life is never that simple (if it were Trump would never have been voted in) and if there's one piece of extraordinary wisdom I've picked up about human nature it's this...

...you can't reason someone out of a position they weren't reasoned into!

So, if you plan to make your decision based on observable evidence then the BS400 is a perfectly reasonable choice. I would assert the 350 is in the same category. Other makes and models that I haven't tested I can't reasonably comment on but I can comment on the fact that nobody can make perjorative statements about the BS400 versus any other machine without having performed the very tests I did and therefore one has to consider what the agenda is.

Now you're seeing what I mean about bandsaw snobbery

On that bombshell I'll leave you to your thoughts...are you a climate change sceptic or do you believe the science

Thanks Bob, Dont think they I have dismissed your comments and too be honest the BS400 is still the saw im edging towards. Ive spoken with RP today and they said if I cant make the Yandles show they will pass my number on and get them to call me. I am just trying to decide if I should buy it now (I want it) or wait for a couple of Months for the next show to see if I really need an upgrade to my bandsaw (the wifes idea).

Thanks again mate, and I hope I havent annoyed you by thinking I was ignoring your review and comments.

Colin

 

[AJB Temple]

What put me off the BS400 was sample cuts on about a 9" oak block. With a new blade. It struggled. I also thought the case was relatively flimsy and I very much disliked the plastic handles. It came across as a DIY machine, whereas the Jet came across a light trade to trade. Capacity was not an issue as I did not see myself cutting larger vertical cuts on a bandsaw as timber handling then becomes an issue in a home workshop. To give a real world example I and my son have recently cut a pallet load of oak roofing shingles on my bandsaw: enough to do 30m sq roof with 2/3 overlap shingles. That is a lot of shingles (I was using up surplus oak offcuts from beams from my timber frames and it saved me £800). So that is rather like cutting thousands of thick veneers the size of a typical clay roofing tile. The Jet was untroubled by this. That does not mean the Jet is better - it just means it did it continuously all day long and this is quite a severe test of both machine and blades. And extraction!

My experience with accessing the Record guarantee (not on a bandsaw) is they make a good deal more fuss than Axminster (they send out parts and want you to fit them, so you can have a trial error time wasting approach and end up sending the machine back). However, this is based on a sample of one faulty machine in arriving at my customer service experience. I have a record lathe (it's OK - I don't do much turning) and Record 12" circular sander (first one useless 2nd one good).

It is not credible to conclude that one machine is better or worse than another, based on the review of one machine by one reviewer, however factual the review seems to be. The price/perceived quality has to be factored into the equation and to make a judgement both machines have to be factored into a comparative test. At that price the Jet is tempting.

Would I buy a 16" Jet again? No. I would without a shadow of a doubt buy a bigger and more expensive machine that is also capable of cutting metal. The reason I didn't the first time around was I simply did not realise how useful this machine could be - so I limited my budget based on perceived use, when actual use has been far higher. I also misguidedly thought I could do things on it that in fact I can't. This mainly relates to handling large timbers where you need the ability to handle the weight and have the infeed and outfeed space. I also had a headroom issue - which I could (and should) have got round.

Best of luck with your choice. For the sake of comparison it is also worth looking at the second hand Startrites that appear from time to time - basic but bullet proof, and maybe the lower end of hammer / felder, the very good new startrite and maybe the Axi industrial series. I say this as you are on an upgrade path and the more commercial machines are a big step up from the Record and the Jet for that matter. The Italian stuff is now pretty much priced out of the keen amateur / trade market due to the brexit exchange rate issue.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

LOL thanks Mike, and yet I had a Ford Escort as my first car and loved it....until it fell apart :wink:


Thanks guys, And there was I so close to making a decision!

The problem is theres always going to be two sides to every thread like this. I might try and get to the show this weekend and pop over to Axminster to check out the Jet then at least I can see for myself the build quality etc. Still liking the 5 year guarantee from RP though as apposed to the Axminster 3 Years.

Colin

I'll make this my last comment as I'm starting to repeat myself now but....

.....recall the purpose of me publishing that review was to document a series of conclusions about the performance of the BS400 where the conclusions were based on observable, measurable facts that is hard evidence and very specifically NOT opinion. It's purpose was to remove the subjective, leaving only objective data. In doing so, I had hoped we could stop "believing in unicorns" and we could rely on that summary conclusion as being proven fact. Regrettably life is never that simple (if it were Trump would never have been voted in) and if there's one piece of extraordinary wisdom I've picked up about human nature it's this...

...you can't reason someone out of a position they weren't reasoned into!

So, if you plan to make your decision based on observable evidence then the BS400 is a perfectly reasonable choice. I would assert the 350 is in the same category. Other makes and models that I haven't tested I can't reasonably comment on but I can comment on the fact that nobody can make perjorative statements about the BS400 versus any other machine without having performed the very tests I did and therefore one has to consider what the agenda is.

Now you're seeing what I mean about bandsaw snobbery

On that bombshell I'll leave you to your thoughts...are you a climate change sceptic or do you believe the science

Thanks Bob, Dont think they I have dismissed your comments and too be honest the BS400 is still the saw im edging towards. Ive spoken with RP today and they said if I cant make the Yandles show they will pass my number on and get them to call me. I am just trying to decide if I should buy it now (I want it) or wait for a couple of Months for the next show to see if I really need an upgrade to my bandsaw (the wifes idea).

Thanks again mate, and I hope I havent annoyed you by thinking I was ignoring your review and comments.

Colin

Oh crikey, don't give that a second thought, no offence taken at all

It's as I've tried to say all through this and other bandsaw choice threads, I really do empathise because I was in that same horrible decision dilemma myself (with a fair bit of cash at stake). But again, and also with reference to Mr Temple's comments, I refer the honourable gentlemen to the data in my review. Data is free from bias, free from opinion, free from commercial agenda, free from any status related thinking. It's just information from which you can draw reasonable conclusions and that was always my purpose because I felt all at sea when I was in your position due to the push and pull from everyone elses opinion. The great value of data is that it can be trusted and is therefore the closest you're ever going to get to the "truth" in decisions like this. Personally, I don't believe plastic operating handles are important because I think they're an economic measure to reduce the cost of the machine to ensure it's competitively priced. The important features are those highlighted in my review ie the frame, cast iron band wheels, cast table etc etc I wont bother repeating. The important items are those which contribute to it's proper functioning, not cosmetic nice to have's. As for any assertions about the credibility of the review, again, in my world, measurable data derived by repeatable experiment is information that can be trusted, anything beyond that is always going to be opinion. The readers must always make their own minds up about which of those two sources of information are the more credible. As I said, I wish you luck in the choice. I'm sure either machine will do the job just fine as will older Startrites which are built like tanks but some people get put off by the fettling sometimes involved in the older ones and they're not always available when you want one. I seriously considered a 2nd hand Startrite and did watch e bay for a fair few months (still do in fact). A friend of mine locally has recently bought one and loves it and for substantially less than either the Jet or the BS400 so the that might be worth thinking through if time is on your side.

Hope that helps