The new SKILSAW SPT99-11 10-inch Heavy Duty Worm Drive Table Saw should not be confused with its smaller brother that was released last year (SPT70WT-22). SKILSAW’s new saw is a larger version with more power delivered through a worm drive powertrain with a bit larger motor. The two SKILSAW table saws share a 3-5/8" depth of cut, but the new SPT99-11 features 30-1/2" rip capacity with a rack and pinion system that makes fence adjustments quickly and accurately. Included with the SPT99-11 is a new gravity rise stand with 16" wheels with ball bearings. The new table saw and stand weigh in at 94 pounds, but the stand design allows for easy loading into a truck with just one person.
Precision & Accuracy
The SKILSAW Heavy-Duty Worm Drive Table Saw uses rack and pinion fence system that helps to maintain the fence parallel to the blade. With the rack and pinion system, the user turns a dial that moves both arms of the fence at the same time. Once the cut width is reached, a locking lever is depressed holding the fence in place. There are three places the fence can be attached to the rack, one to the left and two to the right. The far right attachment point allows for the 30-1/2" rip capacity.
Also, unlike some other jobsite saws on the market, the SKILSAW allows the user to adjust the blade to be parallel to the miter slots. This might seem like a normal adjustment, but some saws are fixed. This adjustment is a plus for the SKILSAW SPT99-11
Rip Fence
Fence quality on a jobsite saw can vary greatly. SKILSAW has a three position fence that rests on a rack and pinion. All three positions are adjustable to ensure they are parallel to the blade. This fence attaches to the rack and pinion in both the front and back and is held parallel with bolt heads.
This fence also has a material support for when the cuts extend out beyond the table top. The material support folds to the left from its storage position and locks at the same height as the table to help support the wide material. This material support can also be placed in the upper slot to be used as an auxiliary fence for use when the fence is over the table top. This allows for more room for push sticks and visibility when cutting thin strips.
Blade Height & Bevel Adjustments
The blade height on the SPT99-11 is adjusted by turning the elevation wheel. The operation is smooth and works as one would expect even when the table is full of sawdust. Just behind the elevation wheel is the bevel lock handle. To change the bevel angle, loosen the lock handle clockwise and slide the elevation wheel until the pointer is at the desired angle.
The SKILSAW SPT99-11 can bevel from -1° to 47°, but is set from the factory to have positive stops at 0° and 45°. These stops are adjustable through a cam screw. Since the bevel adjustment is a very simple mechanism on this saw, having those locks in important to the accuracy of the saw and quick setup.
SKILSAW SPT99-11 Features
SKILSAW's worm drive gearing
3-5/8″ depth of cut at 90° cuts through 4X lumber
30-1/2″ rip capacity
Precision rack and pinion fence system
Rugged rolling stand with 16″ wheels
Dust port elbow helps contain debris
Outfeed and left support
Basic Performance
SKILSAW’s worm drive powertrain is designed to deliver awesome torque and has a no-load speed of 5,000 RPM. The table saw's torque is apparent when you flip the switch and the saw comes to life. Cutting dimension lumber, even 4x lumber, was a breeze. The saw was able to handle rough cut hardwoods without issue.
Cutting sheet goods hardly put any stress on the saw and would feed almost as fast as one is comfortable. The power of this saw will impress the pro's looking for a good saw that will not let them down, no matter the wood, the thickness or the type of cut.
Dust Collection
Many people do not put dust collection high on the list of must-haves on a table saw, but we feel it is pretty important. Many finish carpenters are working indoors and need a solid system to collect dust. This table saw has a 2-1/4" port to attach a vacuum or the included elbow. The elbow is a nice addition for anyone not using a vacuum. Rather than having the dust shoot out and the person catching the wood, the elbow directs it down and would allow it to be collected in a 5-gallon bucket.
The dust collector cover is removable so large pieces that will not clear the port can easily be removed.
Blade Changes
When it comes time to change the blade, the blade lock lever on the SKILSAW is superior to working with two wrenches. This table saw has a 5/8" arbor and can accept a dado cutting up to 13/16" wide. SKILSAW does offer a dado blade insert for this application. SKILSAW does not recommend wobble dado sets on this saw.
If you are into cutting thin strips, there is also an optional zero clearance plate available as an option.
