I just took delivery...of Jet's #708596K sander with the 9" disc and 6x48" belt and am VERY pleased with the purchase.pPackaging was excellent with everything strapped to a wood pallet. After unpacking, I set up the open stand on a mobile machine base, then simply bolted the sander to the top of the stand. [Be sure and read the directions on stand assembly as this will eliminate trial and error attempts at short cuts]pInstalling the belt is quite easy. Adjusting it to track requires careful adjustment of the tracking wheel, but this takes less than one minute. Once the belt is tracking and not drifting left or right, it stays on track until the belt is changed or for 6 hours, whichever comes first. For whatever reason, the belt will get out of allignment just sitting there. It is a good thing that adjustment is a simple quick process.pThe work support tables install easly and are excellent. All adjustments are up front and easy to make and once made, hold their position.pThe main reason I purchased this unit over others in the market[some a good deal more expensive] is the outstanding dust collection system that is built into the machine. Belt and disc sanders can cover up a shop in sawdust in no time without some sort of dust control and this machine has the best I have seen. At the base of the belt there is a 2"x6" opening for the dust coming off the belt this feeds into collection area at the bottom of the machine. The disc has a 2 1/2" collection hole that also feeds into the base. Both of these openings are controlled be separate blast gates. at the back of the machine, there is a built in 4" exhaust port to connect to your dust system. This is an excellent design that gives you dustless sanding!pYou can't go wrong with this machine. Particularly with Amazon's low price, no sales tax, and free shipping.

I rec'd the sander a few days ago. It went together easy. It was quite heavy. Unless you've got some muscles, get some help placing the sander body on the stand.pThe stand is solid and doesn't take up much floor space. There are pre-drilled carriage-bolt holes in the legs if you want to add your own lower shelf. I plan to do that at a later date but I thought it would be nice if Jet included the horizontal supports for such a shelf with the stand. Not a big negative just a suggestion. The stand comes with rubber-cushioned leveling feet unlike some of the other stands I've purchased in the past. It was a nice touch.pOther than the stand, essentially the only assembly needed is to attach the work tables to the sander body. The instructions are pretty good and they show in some detail how you get the tables lined up square to the sanding surfaces. I had a little trouble getting the belt sander work surface to go on smoothly but after making some adjustments to the 90 degree stops, it seemed to go on more easily.pThe unit runs smoothly and with about as much noise as I would expect with a sander, although the graphite belt sander platen seems to make a little more "whooshing" sound when it starts up. The graphite is supposed to make it run cooler. I haven't confirmed that but it makes sense. There aren't any undue vibrations. Not having owned a stationary belt sander before this one (but I have used several) releasing the belt tension was new for me but makes sense. It's recommended so the belt doesn't take on an excessively oval shape or wear out prematurely. It's easy to do but I find that I have to line up the belt on the rollers before I move the tension arm back. Easy to do, just something to remember if you plan to release the tension when the machine is off.pThe belt sander will lay flat if you need to do some surface sanding. There's a horizontal stop but no vertical stop. However, eyeball vertical is fine since the work surface moves with the belt assembly and as such stays perpendicular.pThe disc sander is great for me. 9 inche diameter is all I need. I've considered 12 inch disc sanders but this machine gets the job done. I build furniture, cabinets and various (larger) craft items and I expect that it will handle my needs.pAdjusting the work surfaces requires some patience but wasn't too difficult. For example, if you want to change the angle on the belt sander work surface, you need to loosen two locking handles and line up the angle that you need while maintaining a gap between the table and the sanding belt. I find that when I tightened the right-side locking handle, it pulls the table toward the belt. I don't use the belt sander at other that 90 degrees too often, so I don't expect this to be a big deal for me. The disc sander work surface on the other hand is a breeze to adjust. There's an angle indicator on the table, so once the index is set to zero for perpendicular, moving to any other angle is a snap....pThe 3/4 hp motor has yet to bog down on me. It seems adequately beefy so far.pI think this is a great sander. I've considered spending some money on Jet's larger sander and others in that class and was also considering other brands with lower priced units ... but when Jet re-released this machine, it didn't take long for me to make up my mind. As I use the sander more, I'll add more comments, but I expect to be very happy with my purchase and expect most other woodworkers would be happy as well.pNice job to Jet on this one. I give it 5 stars for quality and value.

I was a little skeptical about this product, because of the relativly low price and the 3/4 h.p. motor. My previous sander had a 1 1/2 h.p. motor, and cost ($$$) 15 years ago.br Assembling the unit was straight-forward, and took about 30 minutes. The quality and craftmanship, with no regard concerning the price, is outstanding.br Once I starting using the machine, I became equally impressed with it's function. My last concern, the 3/4 h.p. motor, has never slowed or bogged-down, even while force-feeding it with varions types of walnut, and mesquite.br Everything works the way it is supposed to, and after 3 months of heavy use, I would highly reccommend this product to anyone seeking a heavy-duty home, or light-duty commercial belt sander.

Heavy duty and generally well designed. Plenty of power even for larger pieces. Assembly was fairly straightforward but not quite as easy as their 14" bandsaw--this statement based on the bandsaw's exceptionally clear owner's manual and instructions. Recommend JET use the bandsaw manual as the model for all its equipment documents. pGood design, fit, and finish on all the adjustments for the various accessories/tables. I found that nearly everything was square and within specs at initial installation. Motor is quiet but the belt does "whoosh" a lot.pBelt tracking adjustment is a mystery to me, however. After several trials, involving tiny movements to the adjusting wheel, the belt will run dead on center. Then I use it for a while, or wait until the next day, and the belt will run maybe a quarter inch off-center to one side or the other (haven't identified a pattern yet). Doesn't seem to get worse than this. After much thought I decided it's not a significant problem but it is a small irritant. I always loosen the belt tensioner when not using the machine, per the manufacturer's recommendation, and I don't yet know if this is a factor.pOther item: the sanding table for the belt seems to get out of square to the belt surface with fairly minor forces applied to the table. The brackets and tighteners that secure it aren't very large and are thus working at some mechanical disadvantage, so maybe I just need to tighten the bejasus out of them.pOverall this sander is an excellent piece of equipment and a delight to work with, when all is said and done. Would have given it 5 stars if not for the drawbacks mentioned here.

I bought this sander after reading the reviews of this sander and reviews of a similar Delta sander. If you're looking for a sander, look no further, this is the one to buy. I had a cheap 1/3 hp Delta that I threw away after using the Jet sander a few times. THIS IS A GREAT SANDER! Heavy, solid, and powerful. It goes through hard wood without hesitation. My old Delta would just bog down and sanding took forever. Now, I have to be careful not to apply too much pressure. My old Delta sander had alot of plastic and aluminum peices, but this one is cast iron and steel, solid. There is no comparison. I'd recommend this sander to anyone. Look no further, this is the one to buy.

This is my 4th Jet power tool. I have a jointer, band saw,and air filtration system already. I have some delta power tools (planer drill press)tools but after I bought my first Jet I have never looked back. So when I wanted a sander I decided on the jet 708596K Combination 9" Disc 6" x 48" Belt Sander with Stand. I ordered it from Amazon and it was shipped by truck. I was informed of it's movement by the trucking company on their web site and within a week they had called and set up a day and time that was good for me. They arrived on time and the really nice driver helped me carry the unit up my driveway to my garage. Good thing because this baby was strapped to a wood shipping crate and very heavy. I removed the box from the crate and some how got it to the basement. I am used to JET tool manuals (which are pretty good) and I followed the instructions carefully and all went together without a hitch. After the base was assembled I placed..grunt....the sander on top of it (not easy to do..heavy is good though in power tools remember that!) And secured it with the bolts I had everything set up and adjusted within about hour 15 minutes hour or so. The last thing I had to do was install the aluminum disc on the motor shaft, that's when things went bad. The disc had a run out of .085 thou. That means not useable and not safe to use. I have never had a problem with a jet tool before so I guess this is to be expected once in a while. Jet has excellent customer service (thanks MaryAnn)problem is because I bought it from Amazon I had to go thru them 1st instead of Jet just sending a new part. They said that is the way Amazon wants it. They even emailed Amazons phone number to call. So I called Amazon then they emailed me for more info (S/N etc) And then they contacted Jet to have them ship out a new disc. (7 to 10 days) The bummer at this point is I have had the sander set up in my shop for a week and can't use it yet. I would have gone 5 stars because I have used one of these (not mine it's broken) and they are excellent tools, but with all considered I chose 4 stars. I just want to reitterate If you have any questions or problems with a Jet tool email them they have been just terrific in helping me with other questions before this happen. So if you are concerned with customer service after buying a new power tool The WMH Tool Group (JET/POWERMATIC) will be there for you I am a believer....I just wish my part would get here!!!
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br /Latest update 8/27/04 I haven't heard anymore from Amazon and it's a pain trying to get in touch with them about it. BUT The WMH Tool Group (Jet) says my part is backordered until 9/21/04!!! I am not happy that's almost a month of waiting.
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br /FINAL Update 9/14/04 The new disc came UPS from WMH today. I put it on and if you are interested.... now has a run out of only .002 That just fine for a sanding disc. Now I can finally use it, I'm happy.
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While I was in the tool store buying something else entirely, I noticed that they were running a special on this Jet 'benchtop' sander. The price was right, and I'm not heavy on sanding gear, so I picked it up. Well, I'm fibbing a bit. Someone loaded it into the Jeep and I drove home. Then I tried to pick it up and discovered I was in trouble. It took pyramid building ingenuity to get it out of the car, down into my basement, and up on its stand without needing a back transplant.pSeriously, if this sander weighed any more than it does it would cause a gravitational anomaly. Now heavy is good, it dampens vibration and provides stability, so I'm not really complaining. But this is a small tool with unbalanced weight distribution and no place to get a secure grip. For a wimp like me it was almost too much. Be warned, make sure you have a friend available or get strong enough so that a 150 pound dumbbell won't bother you.pSetting it up was a bit anguished as well. This is my first Jet tool, and I found the instructions a bit terse. Again, this wasn't insurmountable, since the sander isn't a complicated piece of equipment. But I had to make some guesses - all of which turned out right.pWhat you get when the smoke clears is a 6x48 belt sander and a 9" disc sander. It uses a 3/4 horsepower motor that is quite capable of turning hardwood into dust. It has a heavy table that can be mounted at either the disc or the belt, and a lighter weight table that is meant for only the belt sander. It also includes a miter and a pivot center for sanding round items. The chassis has a dust removal port and an open stand is included. There is also a closed stand available.pOnce you get it all set up and working you are going to realize that this is a very fine tool. One that is built to last forever. Vibration is minimal. Adjustment and operation are easy and quick, thanks to the available power. If you are looking for a top notch utility sander, the Jet JSG-96 is your best bet.

Metal, not plastic, two worktables, best for the money I've seen so far, have to agree with all the others who point out the best features

Just took delivery of this unit and I couldn't be happier. I would agree with Jim Rapp's review whole-heartedly. The sander combo came well packaged, everything was there, set up was quick and easy (but look at the directions to avoid trial horror in assembly of the stand).brThe machine works great - no problems in the operation, other than occasional adjustment of belt tracking, but that's an easy thing to do with this unit.brI shopped around before buying and wouldn't even consider some of the other machines out there. This is my fourth Jet machine, and probably won't be my last. This thing "feels professional" and seems to be performing that way as well. Dust collection is great, the individual control for each side is a plus, and the machine certainly has the heavy construction to last a long time. The belt fence is a little on the "light" side, but you can always swap the disk table over to the belt side if you need it - one screw does it.

I recieved my Jet sander after waiting about a month! They must be popular. Having used it, I can see why, it is a terrific tool. It has great power, great dust collection (no dust). It is very accurate and the tables are large and solid. I had another model before this and there was no comparison. It has many good adjustments and is fun to use. It operates without creating visible dust! I have several Jet Tools and this one is a really great one and worth more than the sale price...the price of a nice cordless drill....a great value in a handy tool!

I love the Jet belt/disc sander. It is my 4th Jet tool. However, a word to the wise.....if you find the need to replace the graphite platen pad, which I recently did, give Woodworker's Supply a try. Not Jet (WMH Tool Group) Jet's price is higher, the shipping rate is ridiculous, and I am still waiting for my order. I wish that Amazon carried them!!!

I bought this from my local wood working store. When I got it home I found that the 9" cast plate was broken. It was not just cracked, it was fractured. It was likely damaged in shipping. Another person mentioned that his sander arrived with a broken disk as well.
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br /I bought it locally because I felt that the chances I would receive a broken tool were less --- WRONG! Jet probably should work on their packaging a little bit more.
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br /Other than that initial bad experience I am fairly happy with it.
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br /The dust collection could be a little better, but it does a fairly decent job.
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br /UPDATE: I wrote a note to Jet describing my trouble with the first unit, and they sent me some abrasives for my trouble. Jet's customer service is quite good in my opinion.

I've put several shop machines together over the past couple of months and this JET by far has been the easiest! All the parts were clearly described in the manual and everything fit together without need of persuasion. The machine was up and running out of the box in about 25 minutes and I was sanding in about 30. All pieces are heavy duty and I'm looking forward to a long life with this tool.

This is my third Jet Machine. So far, three positive experiences. This Combo Sander arrived in perfect condition. Thirty five minutes later I was making dust. It's easy to put together.(providing you CAN read and follow simple directions) It's a lot of machine for only 300 bucks!

I needed a sander capable of sanding larger widths than the 4"x36"/6" Disc Delta allowed. Shopped for a long time, read reviews so I stayed away from the Delta 6 x 48 belt sander on the low end, a little light duty for what I require and didn't want to fork over the additional $400 for the Sanding Center, maybe someday.pThe set up was very easy, directions were good. I have not installed the table for the disc sander portion or the belt. At this time, I don't use the disc sander and I run stock over the full length of the belt, so I did not want the table there.pQuiet is a relative term, but I wear ear plugs in the shop so noise is not a major concern. The sander itself is virtually bullet proof. I have not experienced the tracking problems that have been mentioned with the belt portion, but if/when the occur, adjustment is very simple.pThe only complaint I have is with the grit of belt/disc, who uses 80 grit, I want to sand not plane. Purchased a 120 grit belt and gloves at the Western Tool Supply, they matched Amazon's price w/$25 off online special. I would suggest using gloves when running this sander, remove a little leather instead of a little skin.pGo make some dust. Zane

I own many Jet tools, but this is the first to come with an open stand and no lower cross supports. When you push or pull the machine, the stand flexes badly. The holes are there on the lower legs, but Jet doesn't provide the hardware.
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br /Also, the dust collection is not very efficient. When I hook up my four inch Jet dust collector I still get significant blow-by and dust build up in the wheels and housing.
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br /Like most Jet tools, it does a good job, but the stand and dust collection are sub-standard.

I received this sander and started to assemble it, after making three mistakes on the stand assembley,I started reading the directions closer.br I think for the price it is made extremely well. Motor seems to have more than enough power and very quiet! Belt easy to ajust. I have a 4 inch central dust collector conneted to it and see very little dust escaping.br The only thing I see at present that might give me trouble later is the plastic shield on the disc sander. It looks kinda flimsy,but who knows time will tell.br Overall for the price I do not think you will beat this combination of quality and price!

The JET JSG-960G is built to run hard. After a thorough search of 6x48 belt sanders that met my needs I choose the Jet JSG-960G and haven't a single regret with my purchase. I looked at Grizzly, Sears, you name it I looked at it. With free shipping from Amazon.com this sander is a bargain. Well built, sturdy legs (even w/o a shelf), plenty of power, very effective dust collection, great tracking that's easy to adjust and lock. I was at first concerned with the plastic base but the base is very thick with molded reinforcement, very sturdy indeed. If you've got the extra $125- or so to blow I would choose this over any other cheaper 6x48 sander. I realize hard earned $$ are tough to part with but you will be glad you did.

I recently bought this Jet sander, and it is, like any Jet tool, a great piece. At 3/4 horse, it is very powerful. Dust collection is very effective, I like the 4" dust port, many other sanders have only a 2 or 2 1/2" port. The base looked a little shaky in the photos, but it is very solid. While other manufacturers have resorted to plastic and aluminum for critical pieces, Jet still used old time cast iron and steel, resulting in a tool that weighs 128 pounds. This helps the tools stability. If you are looking for the best belt/disc sander at any price, look at the Jet sanders.

I Bought this three days ago and it works great.No problems with assembly and sands hard maple without bogging the motor down at all.I keep seeing bad reviews on amazons shipping practices and the condition the merchandise is in when customers receive it.I guess I'm the only lucky one that has a retailer close by that sells woodworking machinery.I personally have never bought any machinery over the internet just for the fact that i like to inspect what i am buying before i take it home to put it to use,it sure seems that taking that approach to shopping would alleviate alot of peoples problems.I really think I see more complaints about shipping problems on the reviews on this site than actual reviews of the merchandise advertised here.

Whenever it comes to a major tool purchase, I do a side-by-side (or screen-by-screen in the case of on-line purchases) comparison of the Jet and Delta models, and usually see what Grizzly has to offer. Accordingly, my shop is a sea of white/cream and blue/gray, with a touch of green every now and then. Generally, each decision has been a bit tortured (my table saw decision was particularly excruciating), as both companies put out a decent product and have a comparable product line.pThis being said, if you are looking for this combination (6" belt and 9" disc), there is NO decision. The Delta model is more in line with their 4"/6" machine (plasticy flimsy garbage) whereas the Jet is just a smaller version of their 6"/12" machine (solid, cast iron). pComparisons aside, the Jet machine is SOLID, the dust collection is very effective, set-up is simple (the machine is essentially assembled in the box), and fit-finish is first rate. Finally, especially compared to the 12" disc machines, this machine is a huge bargain. Frankly, if I thought I would ever "need" (a word my wife feels has lost any degree of meaning when it comes to my shop) a 12" disc sander, I would probably still buy this machine and then get a stand-alone 12" disc sander...This way I could have 2 different grits set up at once and still spend less than the larger combination machine.pThe one drawback of this unit is that the fence for the belt sander is a bit flimsy. Granted, a square fence is much more important for the disc than the belt and, yes, the cast iron fence can be moved to the belt, but the attachment mechanism for the fence/table designed for the belt sander, as well as the table itself, is less than perfect.pAll things considered, however, I still rate this machine 5 stars and am 100% satisfied with the purchase.

I love this. I normally use my Shopsmith 12 inch disc sander but for smaller operations the 9 inch is great. Tracking and operation of the disc sander was smooth and effortless. Absolutely love it so far. Set up of stand and all was a breeze. I added casters to the base. Watch it is you add after the fact as the sander is heavier in one direction. Buck

I PURCHASE THIS SANDER AND IT WORKS GREAT I COULD NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING BETTER I ALL MOST PURCHASED THE DELTA BUT I'M GLAD THAT I DID NOT GREAT SANDER.

Almost a screwup. The shipping company had the wrong phone number (I don't know where they got it), they were unable to contact me for delivery. I called them to check and fortunately, the warehouse was close, so I went and picked it up. I don't know what would have happened if I had not called.
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br /I suggest that the order process include a contact phone number, especially for items shipped by trucking company. Also advise the customer that the trucking company will call for delivery coordination.

No problems with this tool. Easy to set up. Preforms as it should.

Received my new sander from Amazon a week ago and I'm quite pleased. Assembly and setup was quick. The sander has performed very well. I recommend this product.

I would like to say I liked this sander, but I ordered it on May 13th and just received the second notice of delayed shipment. If the sander comes after this new delay, it will have taken two months to get it. My suggestion would be to find someplace else to order it. My dissatisfaction with Amazon grows with each order.

First order arrived broken (plate on disc sander cracked). Broke a vertebrae getting it all loaded up and returned (had to get to a loading dock!).
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br /Took another month for the second sander to arrive. It was missing 2 stand parts, so I had to build a separate stand. Amazon never shipped the new parts.
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br /Sander goes together easy, works well. Powerful. Buy it at one of the many other good tool sites. My last Amazon tool purchase.

I ordered this item on Dec. 8th, 2004. I asked for 3-day shipping to get it sooner. HA! It is now Jan. 4th 2005 and it is on its 2nd deferred shipping date of Jan 13-15th. Any bets that they make this one? I asked for some assurances but received none. -- So what good is a good price if you never get it?

I ordered one on Oct 3. At the time, ship date was estimated as a week to 10 days.
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br /I was notified on November 4 that the order was still delayed, and they wanted confirmation that I still wanted the item. I check the website that day, and it indicated that the item usually ships in 24 hours.
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br /It has been three days since then. My order status has finally changed to "Shipping soon", so I am hopeful that I'll get it in a week or so. I would have expected that my delayed order would have shipped on the same day that they changed the website to read "Usually ships within 24 hours". Apparently it is more important to get new orders than to fulfill existing orders.
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br /I'll submit a real evaluation when I actually have it in my shop.