10 10 ■■ POPULAR WOODWORKINGPOPULAR WOODWORKINGConnect
Jet JWBS-14SFX, 14" Band Saw
I’ve spent a couple of months using the newest 14" Jet
bandsaw and I’m convinced this is an excellent buy
at $1,100. This bandsaw bridges the gap between the
traditional cast iron 14" bandsaw and its modern tube
frame brethren. I’ve resawn 10" hard maple and used
it for plenty of smaller joinery cuts and at no point did
I fi nd the 1^3 / 4 hp motor underpowered. Sure, there are
some cost saving parts–the plastic hand wheels on the
tensioning and guide height adjustment seemed under-
whelming, but this machine is built for business where it
counts. The fence fl ips down for small stock and stands
tall for resawing, a feature found on more expensive
saws. The dual dust collection ports did a good job at
capturing dust and keeping the wheels clean. Add a
mobile base to this machine and you’d have the ultimate
home bandsaw. —David Lyell■ JWBS-14SFX
14" BANDSAW
JET Tools
Jettools.com
Price: $1,Bench Dog Tools
No. 5 Jack PlaneI was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the
No.5 plane from Bench Dog straight out of the box. After
wiping the protective oil off all the surfaces and setting
the blade depth, I was able to make de-
cent shavings within minutes. Additional
honing and adjustments to the frog pro-
duced even better results. My only issue
was with the width and length of the
mouth, it was larger than I’d have liked.
A smaller mouth that I could fi le larger is
desirable over one that’s permanently oversized. Includ-
ed in the box was an inspection sheet that documented
this plane’s sole fl atness and blade hardness. Both were
well within tolerance and included a hand signature by
the inspector. The Bench Dog planes represent a quality
mass-market alternative to restoring antique planes and
investing in premium off erings. —David Lyell■ NO. 5 JACK
PLANE
Bench Dog Tools
rockler.com
Price: $169.
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