subject: JET JMS-12SCMS Sliding Compound Miter Saw: A Good Saw That Nobody Has Noticed [print this page] In the world of woodworking, the name JET is well-known and respected when it comes to high quality table saws. And this has been true for many years. But the fact JET has been selling some pretty good dual bevel sliding compound miter saws has gone largely unnoticed.
The lineup consists of two models: the 10" JMS-10SCMS and the 12" JMS-12SCMS. Both models are nearly identical except in size so we'll focus on the JMS-12SCMS here. (You may also see this saw designated by its part number, 707120 B3NCH.)
How Buyers Rated This Saw
This JET miter saw is so "under the radar" I had trouble finding buyer reviews for it. What's interesting is that of the few reviews I did find, most - all but two - gave it a very solid five stars. The remaining two gave it four stars; one didn't like the dust collection bag - a normal complaint with miter saws - and the other didn't care for the plastic handles and control knobs.
One buyer commented that unlike most OEM blades, that end up in the recycle bin, he was impressed with the one on the JMS-12SCMS and a couple others said the saw was accurate right out of the box.
Your Work Will Be Easier With These Features
The unique features of this saw will help you do your work faster and easier and with more precision. Others are designed for better performance, less maintenance and longer life. We'll begin with the controls all being up front, even the bevel lock. Using most bevel miters, you have to reach around to the back of the saw to unlock, adjust and lock in the bevel setting. Not with a JET miter saw.
Something else I've never seen on other miter saws is the arms that swing out to give wider stock more support. And the clear blade guard has little wheels on the end to help it glide over your work when you're cutting that 2x12.
The JMS-12SCMS also has a green laser, not the usual red, to help you make precision cuts in any lighting conditions.
One obvious difference in the JMS-12SCMS that you notice as soon as you see it is the power train. The motor is mounted out of the way, directly above and to the back of the blade. Where JET points out that this increases cutting capacity, I think it's also important to note it increases visibility; the motor housing won't be blocking your view of the cut area or casting a shadow on it.
This motor setup is possible because Jet uses an enclosed v-belt connecting the motor to the blade which takes up less space and makes less noise than a gear drive system. And you won't have to worry about dust getting on the belt or pulleys because it's all enclosed in a sealed housing. Likewise with the enclosed slide rail system.
Possible Problems
Like I mentioned above, as one buyer commented the dust collection bag falls a bit short. However, this is a common complaint with most miter saws. People who use a miter saw a lot in their work normally connect a dust extraction machine or shop vacuum to their saw, anyway.
Another possible problem is the specs on the JMS-12SCMS show it comes with a 5/8" arbor, instead of the industry standard 1" for 12" saws and blades. Meaning, to replace the blade, you'll probably have to buy a reducing bushing and these aren't readily available at the big stores like Home Depot. However, there is one online blade dealer that not only sells these bushings, if you buy the blade from JustSawBlades they'll send you a bushing along with it for free if you ask. Also, most double miter machines like the Pistorius have a 5/8" bore on their 12" saws and there are blades made for these that work well on any miter saw.
My Conclusion
It's amazing to me that a saw of this caliber, from a well-respected company like JET, hasn't made a big impact on the miter saw market. Well-designed and feature-rich, the JET JMS-12SCMS is priced in the same range as a similar saw from Makita or Bosch.
JET JMS-12SCMS Sliding Compound Miter Saw: A Good Saw That Nobody Has Noticed
