I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.
http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.

This saw is amazingly accurate and will do just about anything you want
it to do. However.....

The sliding miter table takes quite a bit to set up properly and the
table is sort of small. For building your cabinets you will likely
want a saw with a bigger table, unless you plan on building your own
outfeed table etc.

The saw has plenty of power for what you intend to do. I was able to
rip the wide end of a pressure treated 2X4 with no problem, so ripping
plywood and hardwood panels for your cabinets should not be any
problem.

Yahoo groups has a ryobi group where you can obtain answers to any and
all questions that you may have.

Elmar



habbi wrote:
I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good
table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.

http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing
raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.

I have no experience with this saw, but I do have experience with making
kitchen cabinets.

Plan on making an outfeed table for whatever saw you buy - before you start
making cabinets.
You will need the extra support to work with large pieces of sheet goods
(even if you pre cut it down to smaller sizes with a circular saw, which BTW
is reccomended)


Sometimes you need to build/modify tooling for your needs. This is one of
those cases.

-Steve




"habbi" wrote in message
...
I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.

http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.

"habbi" wrote in message
...
I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.
http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.



I do not have any first hand experience with the saw but have heard good
things about it being a good value.

My comment is about the router table portion. Do not, repeat DO NOT put a
Ryobi router in it. The Ryobi/Craftsman routers have the worst possible
reputation. For raised panels you want a high powered variable speed
router. Bosch, Milwaukee, Porter Cable, etc.

I bought the BT3100 a few months ago and I have been very pleased. It
is very accurate, and easy to adjust as necessary. It is one of the few
saws out there that has such a cult following. It may not be
immediately apparent at Home Depot, but you can get a free "Accessory
Kit" if you buy the saw before 12/31. This is a $99 package of various
goodies like throat plates, casters, dust bag, miter slots, etc.

Check out this web site if you haven't already...
http://www.bt3central.com

One thing you might consider is not buying a table saw, but buying a panel
saw instead. It is a whole lot easier to clamp a sheet of plywood and draw
the blade through the saw rather than pushing a sheet of plywood through the
blade of a table saw.

You might also get a table saw but a small bench top type might suffice for
your dado cuts and such.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

"habbi" wrote in message
...
I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.

http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.

sheeesh.

"habbi" wrote in message
...
I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.
http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.

You MUST visit and read www.apachetrail.com/ww/BT3100 after you make your
choice. It will make you ever-so-happy that you avoided a total waste of
time, money and effort.

--
Enjoy life and *do* well by it
-- it might well be the only chance you get :-)

Steve,
http://www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/

Roger Shoaf wrote:

One thing you might consider is not buying a table saw, but buying a panel
saw instead. It is a whole lot easier to clamp a sheet of plywood and draw
the blade through the saw rather than pushing a sheet of plywood through the
blade of a table saw.

You might also get a table saw but a small bench top type might suffice for
your dado cuts and such.

But the long-term benefit ratio will be much higher with the higher
quality/larger table saw...you can always do the initial large cuts w/
hand saw and a panel saw will sit idle for long periods of time in
most home woodworking shops...

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 17:47:33 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"habbi" wrote in message
...
I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.
http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.



I do not have any first hand experience with the saw but have heard good
things about it being a good value.


My son owns a BT3100 ...and I have to admit... for him... it was a
good value.... he is not even a weekend warrior... saw gets only
a very ocassional "workout"

Thats is all the good things I can actually say about the thing...

Bob Griffiths






My comment is about the router table portion. Do not, repeat DO NOT put a
Ryobi router in it. The Ryobi/Craftsman routers have the worst possible
reputation. For raised panels you want a high powered variable speed
router. Bosch, Milwaukee, Porter Cable, etc.

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 10:40:09 -0800, "Roger Shoaf"
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Not from experience, but from checking out and reading here and
elsewhere.

Unless you pay a lot ($1000s) for a panel saw, they are rarely as
accurate as a table saw. The Ryobi TS is not very expensive. You would
not get much panel saw for the money.

One thing you might consider is not buying a table saw, but buying a panel
saw instead. It is a whole lot easier to clamp a sheet of plywood and draw
the blade through the saw rather than pushing a sheet of plywood through the
blade of a table saw.

You might also get a table saw but a small bench top type might suffice for
your dado cuts and such.

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 13:07:49 GMT, "habbi"
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email

My usual hobby horse. Keep this in mind, along with all other
statements. TSs do not suit everyone. They are not a substitute for
good workmanship and care, often with other tools. They save _some_
time.

I am not one to say "you must have the best, or don't bother" usually.
But IME a table saw is a large outlay per tool. The BT3100 is around
US$300 from what I can see. It works quite well, but is not strong
from what I can see.

I really feel that you are better off getting a handheld circ saw and
setting yourself up to cut well with it. Good fences and clamps, or
some other guide method, and a good circ saw with a good blade. Much
more adaptable. Cutting panels, even smaller ones, with a TS is quite
an "art" and usually involves quite a bit of extra "stuff" before you
even start. Depending on size, a mitre sled, infeed, outfeed, etc.

You still do have to learn to _use_ a TS to get good results. It will
not do the work for you. Unless you are doing lots and lots of cuts
(see BT3100 does not last long) you are saving very little percent of
the overall job. Remember there is timber selection, purchase,
sanding, assembly, gluing, finishing, installation etcetc.

I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.
http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.

For more info on this saw, try the following forum
http://www.bt3central.com/forum/default.asp


"habbi" wrote in message
...
I plan on building my own kitchen cabinets and am looking for a good table
saw. I have my eye on the
Ryobi BT 3100 at Home Depot.

http://www.ryobitools.com/product/pr...at=1&toolcat=4

It has a router table built in as well. Does this model have all the
features I would need. Is this type of router table fine for doing raised
panels for doors? Thabks for any opinions.

"Old Nick" wrote in message
news

Unless you pay a lot ($1000s) for a panel saw, they are rarely as
accurate as a table saw. The Ryobi TS is not very expensive. You would
not get much panel saw for the money.

This baffels me. Why would a panel saw not be accurate? It is basicly a
skill saw that rides on a couple of rails with bearings. Once the wood is
clamped in place, why would the saw track anything other than a straight
line?

Conversly, a table saw is only as accurate as the operators ability to hold
the wood against a fence. My experience is when cutting full sheets of
plywood it is a RCPITA to keep everything from twisting a bit.

I ask this not to pick a fight, but just because I am curious.


--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.




One thing you might consider is not buying a table saw, but buying a
panel
saw instead. It is a whole lot easier to clamp a sheet of plywood and
draw
the blade through the saw rather than pushing a sheet of plywood through
the
blade of a table saw.

You might also get a table saw but a small bench top type might suffice
for
your dado cuts and such.

Roger Shoaf asks:

"Old Nick" wrote in message
news

Unless you pay a lot ($1000s) for a panel saw, they are rarely as
accurate as a table saw. The Ryobi TS is not very expensive. You would
not get much panel saw for the money.

This baffels me. Why would a panel saw not be accurate? It is basicly a
skill saw that rides on a couple of rails with bearings. Once the wood is
clamped in place, why would the saw track anything other than a straight
line?

Because the saw itself is not as accurate as a table saw, in that the runout of
the blade is more. Youalso have more opportunities for slop in the rails and in
the bearings. A circular saw does not need to be as accurate as a table saw,
because circular saws are intended for rougher work.

Conversly, a table saw is only as accurate as the operators ability to hold
the wood against a fence. My experience is when cutting full sheets of
plywood it is a RCPITA to keep everything from twisting a bit.

Problem there is with the fence, the outfeed table and the operator's skill
level. The table saw, if it is a decent one, is considerably more accurate than
a circular saw, which is the basis for the panel saw.

Charlie Self
"Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder
respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." George Orwell

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 16:01:18 -0800, "Roger Shoaf"
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email


"Old Nick" wrote in message
news

Unless you pay a lot ($1000s) for a panel saw, they are rarely as
accurate as a table saw. The Ryobi TS is not very expensive. You would
not get much panel saw for the money.

This baffels me. Why would a panel saw not be accurate?

Hehe! Money! G

It is basicly a
skill saw that rides on a couple of rails with bearings. Once the wood is
clamped in place, why would the saw track anything other than a straight
line?

Wot Charlie said.

There are some very accurate Panel saws, But they cost a fortune.
Thousands. IIRC, when I was trolling around the web last time about
this, to get 1/64th accuracy was a starting price of maybe US$1500,
maybe more for handling larger sheets.


Conversly, a table saw is only as accurate as the operators ability to hold
the wood against a fence. My experience is when cutting full sheets of
plywood it is a RCPITA to keep everything from twisting a bit.


I agree. Handling large sheets on the average TS is frightening. I
would suggest rather to cut the sheet down to near size with a circ
saw, then handle the manageable bits on the TS, using appropriate in,
out and holding ware. Or even use a router to finish.

I ask this not to pick a fight, but just because I am curious.

Well the heck with you. I wanted a good bloody fight! G

"Paul Dulong" wrote in message
...
For more info on this saw, try the following forum
http://www.bt3central.com/forum/default.asp

Yeah, but most of those people are Rare-To-Occassional Users who'd rather
brag about what they bought than use it and discover the mistake they made.
They're well-matched to their BigToy saws -- a bunch of Felix Unger-types
who would rather clean a shop than make things.
--
Enjoy life and *do* well by it
-- it might well be the only chance you get :-)

Steve,
http://www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/

Steve, you are the first person I've come across that has given the
BT3100 a fair shot and decided they didn't like it. It's interesting to
me what a vendetta you have for this saw. Maybe you had a lemon, but
you are one of a very small group who have actually tried this saw and
didn't like it.

I've had mine for a few months and have put it to work on several large
projects. I've found it to be the most accurate and easy to use saw
I've seen under $1,000.

Steve

I can't comment on the BT3100 but certainly can on it's predecessor, BT3000
as I've been using it for 5 years and have not had a problem with it. It is
very accurate and has seem more than it's fair share of hard usage.
The main reason for getting this saw was a limited amount of space. It is
light and easy to move around and will do anything that I throw at it.

Paul

"Steve" wrote in message
...

"Paul Dulong" wrote in message
...
For more info on this saw, try the following forum
http://www.bt3central.com/forum/default.asp

Yeah, but most of those people are Rare-To-Occassional Users who'd rather
brag about what they bought than use it and discover the mistake they
made.
They're well-matched to their BigToy saws -- a bunch of Felix Unger-types
who would rather clean a shop than make things.
--
Enjoy life and *do* well by it
-- it might well be the only chance you get :-)

Steve,
http://www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/

On 22 Dec 2004 12:13:14 -0800, "Chuck"
wrote:

Steve, you are the first person I've come across that has given the
BT3100 a fair shot and decided they didn't like it. It's interesting to
me what a vendetta you have for this saw. Maybe you had a lemon, but
you are one of a very small group who have actually tried this saw and
didn't like it.

I've had mine for a few months and have put it to work on several large
projects. I've found it to be the most accurate and easy to use saw
I've seen under $1,000.


I've had a bt3000 for about a decade. pretty much the same saw.

it's OK. I bought it because I needed something that I could get
accuracy from that was easily portable. it was that.

it's fragile, though. too much plastic. it really is a disposable
machine. treat it nice and you'll get your money's worth, but don't
think of it as something you'll be leaving for your grandkids.

Old Nick wrote:

I ask this not to pick a fight, but just because I am curious.

Well the heck with you. I wanted a good bloody fight! G

Just step on over to one of the Sawstop threads and get as bloody as you
like.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 19:16:32 -0500, Silvan
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Old Nick wrote:

I ask this not to pick a fight, but just because I am curious.

Well the heck with you. I wanted a good bloody fight! G

Just step on over to one of the Sawstop threads and get as bloody as you
like.

hmp-hmp!

I've had mine for a few months and have put it to work on several large
projects. I've found it to be the most accurate and easy to use saw
I've seen under $1,000.

---------------
I can not offer any comments on the merits of the 3000 vs the 3100...

BUT I have used my sons (It is a 3000)...enough to be LMAO...

I can think of plenty of Table Saws that retail new for under 1000
that are far...make that very much .. better ....

What I can NOT think of ...is.. even one.. that is good as his 3000
for 300 bucks...

Bob G

Steve, very nice website, and thanks for the info on the BT3100. I've had a
BT3000 for about a decade now. It took a few years of replacing/modifying
until it was stable and accurate, and it's stood up so well that I can't
justify another saw. However, it was some-improvements-needed. From what you
say, I gather the BT3100 wouldn't be worth the attempt. A real shame they went
the wrong way on that.
GerryG

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 18:51:51 -0700, "Steve" wrote:


"Chuck" wrote in message
roups.com...
Steve, you are the first person I've come across that has given the
BT3100 a fair shot and decided they didn't like it. It's interesting to
me what a vendetta you have for this saw.

I understand why you might think it, but No, it isn't a "vendetta" against
the saw. It is, however, a desire on my part to counteract the ridiculous
amount of blind passion _for_ the saw by those "Sammy Suck-Ups" who populate
a forum created by a modern-day Tom Sawyer. The BT 3100 is simply NOT the
same thing as the BT 3000 -- the "innards" of the BT3100 have been
cheapened to the point of being beyond absurd. As designed, built and
delivered to the end user, the (3100) saw simply won't stand. the test of
time. (The older BT 3000, on the other hand, had its own issues that
all-in-all appear to be far more minor. The 3000 was well built in
comparison.)

Maybe you had a lemon, but
you are one of a very small group who have actually tried this saw and
didn't like it.

Don't make a hasty assumption based upon what you 1) want to hear and 2)
simply haven't heard: grave concerns regarding the very points I bring up
were raised when the BT3100 first hit the marketplace over 2-1/2 years ago.

Those concerns were raised by none other that the fellow who has so ably
convinced the naive to pay him to keep his (one time hobby) website and
forum going. (I have met a number of BT3100 owners and have come to fully
understand why and how this guy can con folks into paying for his upkeep.
It doesn't take substance -- just moxie.)

Mine is/was not a "lemon". What _is_ unusual is that I am very well versed
about the machine and I stand out because I speak out about the reality of
the thing.

I've had mine for a few months and have put it to work on several large
projects. I've found it to be the most accurate and easy to use saw
I've seen under $1,000.

Indeed, as I state right up front in my site, it is a very accurate saw
(while it lasts). It _is_ a shame that it's made of really cheap fall-apart
materials that won't stand the test of time. (Your saw _will_ commit
"saw-i-cide" one of these days and you'll quickly be in the market for a
real saw yourself..)

In the meantime, Do Enjoy It!
For now, it's all you have and all you know and I celebrate that for you.