RTS31 SMT fence parts compatible with BT3?

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  • I saw that!
    Banned
    • Oct 2013
    • 13

    RTS31 SMT fence parts compatible with BT3?

    .....
    Last edited by I saw that!; 04-26-2015, 01:27 AM.
  • cwsmith
    Veteran Member
    • Dec 2005
    • 2737
    • NY Southern Tier, USA.
    • BT3100-1

    #2
    I have both the BT3100-1 and the BTS-21, with the latter being very similar to the RTS-31. The RTS-31 has the removable riving knife, I believe, while the BTS-21 is designed with a splitter. The folding carriage is different with the newer model opting for round tubing vs the square tubing of the BTS-21.

    As far as the SMT fence is concerned, I just went out to the garage and pulled that off my BTS-21 and brought it into the basement shop to compare with the BT-3100.

    The aluminum extrusion are almost exactly the same, except on the BT, it's 14-5/8's long compared to the BTS-21's 11-1/4 inches. The only difference is that the bottom extrusion has a slight difference, which appears to be only cosmetic. All the slots are identical.

    The end caps are identical, as are all of the clamping components... thus interchangeable.

    However, the pivot pins have a slight difference... they're interchangeable on the fence extrusion, but the the pin diameters are slightly different with the BTS-21 pin being 13/32 diameter and the BT-3100's being 25/64 th. My first thought was that the difference might be wear, but I don't think so. Either way, a little Emery paper would reduce the BTS-21's SMT fence pivot pin to fit the BT-3100. (Question is whether there is a difference between those components between a BT-3000 and BT-3100-1?)

    The moveable indicator's are the same, except for color, (BT is red and BTS-21 is black).

    I hope this is helpful,

    CWS
    Think it Through Before You Do!

    Comment

    • cwsmith
      Veteran Member
      • Dec 2005
      • 2737
      • NY Southern Tier, USA.
      • BT3100-1

      #3
      While I've never worked for Ryobi or any other tool company, I've spent almost my entire working life providing service literature for industry as an illustrator, writer, parts catalog specialist. With the exception of IBM which has an amazingly simple and logical parts identification system, almost every one else's was insanely complex, and most often non-sensible.

      Many companies simply don't compare old components and with new component needs, and even if they do, a change in material, color, or process with warrant a new part number. At one time my employer (Ingersoll-Rand) attempted to do "interchangeability catalogs" specific to certain product lines. While I was able to do so, the engineering folks were steadfastly against the idea, as it caused them a real challenge with record keeping, engineering change levels, etc. After a decade and a half, they simply threw it away and for awhile even went in the opposite extreme, trying to give exclusive numbers for every single product... a total nightmare for the warehouses and field service folks.

      But to the matter at hand, the indicator is exchangeable, I slid them off and on both SMT fences; just different in color. I couldn't do that with the end caps, as one on the BTS-21 seemed stuck, even after I removed the retaining screw... However they sure do look the same!

      The center clamp is absolutely the same in every component of its assembly.

      The extrusion's profile is dimensionally the same, though different in length as I previously mentioned. The BTS-21 SMT fence extrusion has a couple of grooves in the profile, that seem just cosmetic, they aren't functional with any of the other components and I don't see why they should have been designed into the extrusion.

      The cost differences I obviously can't explain. If you'd like, I can try to snap some pictures of anything that you'd like to visually compare yourself. Let me know.

      CWS
      Think it Through Before You Do!

      Comment

      • EarltheWoodbutcher
        Forum Newbie
        • Dec 2014
        • 15
        • Tucson, AZ
        • BT 3000

        #4
        I just ordered end caps for the miter gage from Sears and they did not fit the BT 3000. Too big. I checked the BTS 21 parts list and it shows the same number as Sears for the BT 3k. I called Sears and they said the part was a factory substitution for the BT 3000. They are sending me two new ones in case I got the wrong parts but I pretty sure they will be the same. Sears will refund my money if the new ones don't fit. Anyway, there must be a slight difference in the miter gage.
        Earl

        Comment

        • EarltheWoodbutcher
          Forum Newbie
          • Dec 2014
          • 15
          • Tucson, AZ
          • BT 3000

          #5
          The numbers sears gave were: 0134010227. I assume they will send me the same. However, I went out to the shop today, took one of my very sharp carving knives and went to work on one of the new caps and shaved it down to fit. It now fits better than the one that was on there. The original one set back slightly from the fence so if you were cutting a very small piece you could not hold it true. Now it is perfectly smooth. Guess that is what it is all about. Go figure!

          I will let you know if the ones I receive are any different. It won't be for a couple weeks as I'll be out of town when they arrive.

          Comment

          • EarltheWoodbutcher
            Forum Newbie
            • Dec 2014
            • 15
            • Tucson, AZ
            • BT 3000

            #6
            I had to shave a little off all four sides that fit into the fence. The rest of the piece is fine. I actually shaved a little too much off one side so the end cap was little proud of the fence. But that was easily fixed with a little sand paper to get it perfectly even. Now I feel a little guilty. Sears rebated the costs of two end caps and shipping and told be to throw them away as it wasn't worth returning them. Then I made it work. Oh well...

            Comment

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