Jet recently introduced a new 22″ scroll saw that boasts some really cool features (model JWSS-22).
First, rather than having a tilting table like most scroll saws, it’s the arm that tilts while the table remains stationary. Second, blade changes are said to be made easier, thanks to a slot in the table. This new blade holding system also makes it faster and easier to thread blades into your work.
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The scroll saw has a 3/4″ stroke length and maximum cutting depth of 2″. The motor has variable speed control that can be adjusted from 400 to 1550 SPM (strokes per minute).
The throat depth is 22-3/8″, and the cast iron table measures 12-7/8″ by 23″. Also, you can lift the top arm up and out of the way if you have a large workpeice. The arm is spring-loaded so it’ll stay there until you put it back down.
To make angled cuts, you can tilt the arm between 45° to the right and 40° to the left, while the table stays level.
The lower part of the blade is tightened into a cylindrical removable lower blade holder. This holder is then captured by the lower arm. You don’t have to feed the blade through a hole in the table, the table has a slot in it to make loading the blade as easy as possible. Once you have the lower part of the blade in place, the upper blade holder both clamps and tensions the blade.
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The saw features built-in blade storage, and can accommodate tubes of spare blades, and also lower blade holders that are preloaded with blades. I suppose this means you can buy extra lower blade holders, for quicker blade swaps.
On the side of the blade storage area, there’s a hole to hold the lower blade holder while you tighten a blade into it. It isn’t shown on any of the pictures on the website, but I dug one out of the manual
Jet also built in an air blower, for clearing sawdust away from the blade for better cutting visibility. It also has a removable dust collection port on the bottom of the saw, and dust collection holes in the table, flanking the blade and cutting zone.
The scroll saw comes with a foot switch. You can buy just the saw, or a combo that comes with a stand.
Price: $900, $990 with stand
Right now, Sears has the best price on the saw and stand combo, via a 3rd party seller “Factory Authorized Direct,” for $900.
Saw: JWSS-22B, 727200B
Saw with Stand: JWSS-22, 727200K
See Also: Dewalt Scroll Saw ($560 to $600)
Buy Now(Saw via Amazon)
Buy Now (with stand via Sears)
Check out Jet’s video to see the new features in action.
First Thoughts
I remember really enjoying working on some old industrial Delta scroll saws we had in my shop class. So back a few years ago. I purchased a cheap 16″ Porter Cable model to do some scroll work. But, it’s barely usable and not exactly enjoyable to work on. It hops up and down like a truck with no shocks on a washboard dirt road. Whether I have it on the stand or bolted to a table really makes no difference.
Plus, changing blades is a pain because you have to grope blindly under the table for the lower blade mount. Because of all that, the scroll saw lives in a space under my bench and only gets pulled out once in a while when I can’t use my jigsaw to make a cut.
If you watch the Jet promo video (embedded above), at one point the guy puts a nickel on edge on the table and proceeds to use the scroll saw. The nickel doesn’t fall over – it doesn’t even budge! That drives the point home the table doesn’t vibrate. And changing the blades seems so easy that you could do it without looking.
I always dreamed of getting a Dewalt DW788 20″ scroll saw, but now that I’ve seen this saw from Jet, I’m dreaming a little bigger.
fred
The specs look good – it will be interesting to see reviews as folks start using it.
I like the tilting saw versus the tilting table. We had a big Marvel band saw in our metal/pipe fabrication shop that worked this way and was a great machine
At home, I have a Hegner 22 ( with both their regular and their quick clamps ) – that is a class act and a pleasure to use – but pricier. I’m not sure that I’ve gotten my money’s worth out of it. Unless you’re really into fret work or the crafty-side of woodworking a scroll saw probably will be more of a dust collector than a dust maker – but I do use mine from time to time.
BTW – the Hegner quick clamp is a bit tough on my old arthritic hands – so I mostly use the standard clamps unless I’m doing some inside work. I have six sets of the standard clamps – made up with different blades and ready to switch out. Switching to the Quick clamp on the Hegner does require you to change the tension. I also have come to like the Pegas brand scroll saw blades. My old eyes also like that I have a magnifier/light combination mounted on the saw.
Matte
Good and innovative design
Ben
The saw appears to be great for a bottom feeder and if you change the clamps to the new Pegas clamps (90.00 Bear Woods ) you can make it a top or bottom feeder. You can not use the clamps that are on the saw but you will change blades like you do on an Excalibur or an ST-21 (Seyco). Most people are bottom feeders so the clamps that are on the saw should be sufficient for a quick blade insertion when you are doing fret work. If you buy this saw thru Home Depot on their credit card you will have one year to return it to a local Home Depot, Also you can get 18 or maybe 24 months no interest on your credit card. This saw has the brush type motor and the brushes need to be checked every two months. The brushes run about 36.00 for the two and that includes the caps. If you are a scroller that scrolls many hours in a month I would suggest you go with the Hegner. It is a Parallel arm and not a parallel
link type saw. {fewer moving parts , negligible front to back movement on the blade. It has a brushless motor and very very little maintenance, It is a few hundred dollars more. The Jet appears to be the best of the parallel link saws. IMHO.
Guddy
I love the saw and I have arthritis in my hands. The blades are very easy to change and I can cut out my reindeer bodies without breaking a blade, the lumber is 2in thick. It also works great on harder wood like Wenge.
My husband likes the jet tools and suggested this one for me.