DIYbanter - View Single Post

On 15 Dec 2003 04:57:00 -0800, (YJJim) wrote:

I looked at one at Home Depot yesterday.

resistance is futile. you will be assimilated

I know everyone always directs folks to BT3central.com for info, but
I'm wondering what people on here think about the BT3100. Lots of
people on the bt3central site seem to like it, but the site is also
replete with articles about fixing problems with the saw.

I have one. these days I don't use it much. it's my jobsite saw and I
mostly work in the shop now. my BT is pretty beat- it's 8 or 9 years
old and has seen a lot of use. the slide table was one of the first
things to go. you can adjust the play out of it and get pretty good
cuts, but the sliding parts are small bits of plastic that are hard to
get to- you have to have 3 hands and it's a 'make an adjustment, put
it all back together, check your cut, take it apart and repeat' kind
of process. pain in the butt, and when one of the little plastic parts
broke I didn't bother replacing it. the fence back rail lockdown has
gotten to the point where it can no longer be adjusted to lock down.
again, I no longer bother.

I have been wanting a table saw for quite a while and have been saving
for a Grizzly 1023 (still got a ways to go). The bt3100 is an
atractive deal at under $300, but it seems pretty cheaply made to me.

the only reason I'd consider the BT is if you needed a portable saw
with lots of available table area. then you'll have to baby it, but it
can perform well for you.
if you're on a tight budget don't even consider buying new. shop for
an older saw with a cast iron top you'll get way more saw for your
money, and likely get a few blades and such thrown in.

(also hard to believe you can make repeatable cuts on the sliding
table due to a lot of play in the sliding system) I imagine the vast
majority here would say, forget the 3100 and save for the cabinet saw.

the BT served a real purpose for me. I was working out of my truck,
traveling a lot to work and needed a capable saw. the work I did with
that BT was how I made the money to buy this house, this shop and my
current workhorse- a 1965 powermatic 65 cabinet saw. I don't regret
buying the BT one bit. would I buy another one today if the one I have
bit the dust? maybe, but probably not. my needs have changed. I would
certainly consider it when shopping, but there are a lot more portable
saws on the market now than when I bought mine.

Just curious though, because I could buy that today if it were a good
saw... but, I'm guessing that I would end up regretting the choice as
I would still want the bigger saw.

it is a good saw, but a bit fragile. if it really fits your needs, go
for it. if you aren't going to be hauling it around a lot you'll be a
lot happier with some old iron for the same money.

Bridger