I just wanted to share my success with leveling my BT3100 table top. When I initially set up my saw, I had a difficult time getting everything square. Even my SMT would stick as I tried to move it across the rails. I noticed my straight-edge would rock when I checked the flatness diagnally of the main table. I then checked the front and back of the table with a level and found them to be different. I checked the cabinet and found it also different in the front and back. I finally checked the base and...sure enough...it also was different in front and back. I removed the base and found it wasn't square. I put it upside down on my portable workbench, loosened all the hardware, squared up the top of the base, and clamped it to the bench. My helper (LOML) and I tried to measure and square the legs, but it was hard to prevent one side from moving while we adjusted another side. I finally decided to cut 4 1x2s and drill holes on the ends to allow me to brace the legs the same distance apart. I also cut 2 more 1x2s at the diagnal distance, cut lap joints in the middle so they could cross each other, and mounted them to keep the diagnal the same distance, hence ensuring the legs were square. I re-tightened all the hardware, removed the 1x2 braces and clamps, set the base right-side-up, and checked the front and back with a level. Presto! It was perfect. I mounted the saw back to the base, re-attached my Herc-U-Lift (I forgot to mention I had that), checked the table top, and it was also perfect. Everything else became square as well. My SMT slides smoothly, my fence is square, everything is perfect.
The moral to my story is to ensure the saw is sitting on a square, level base. I've read about alignment problems that I'd bet could be traced back to a non-square/level base. I know I was probably a bit extreme, but I'm a perfectionist. Hey, that's why I bought a BT3100!
Rick
The moral to my story is to ensure the saw is sitting on a square, level base. I've read about alignment problems that I'd bet could be traced back to a non-square/level base. I know I was probably a bit extreme, but I'm a perfectionist. Hey, that's why I bought a BT3100!
Rick
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