Bts15

[ofna89]

I already have a ts Craftsman 21829 but today I was at HD and they have the BTS15 discounted. There is a floor model I can get with stand for around $60, is this a good price? May use it for a dado setup. Also the HD said they need to get rid of these, does anyone know if a new model is coming out?

[LCHIEN]

I already have a ts Craftsman 21829 but today I was at HD and they have the BTS15 discounted. There is a floor model I can get with stand for around $60, is this a good price? May use it for a dado setup. Also the HD said they need to get rid of these, does anyone know if a new model is coming out?

Piece of junk. I would not mess with it. Not anywhere in the class of a BT3K.

[eezlock]

Bts 15........

Don't know for sure if the BTS 15 will accept a dado blade or not, probably won't. About all this saw is good for is very small hobby stuff or for throwing in a pick-up truck to haul to jobsite for a trim carpenter to use. eezlock

[ofna89]

Could some of the components fit on the 21829 like the fence or the sliding miter? Even at that cheap of a price I should pass?

[rg32]

The main reason I swapped it.
I had a BTS15 and it will accept a very narrow dado if my memory serves me, a little over 1/4 inch?
Its a good homeowners saw with some nice features but it can't hold a candle to the BT3100.

[JSCOOK]

Originally bought the BTS15 ... assembled it, returned it the next day ... has a SHORT ARBOUR and will pretty much only accept a woddle dado blade ... piece of cheap junk ...

RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!

[crokett]

Don't get it. My brother has one - didn't listen to me when he bought it to install some wood flooring - and is now just realizing how limiting it is.

[Daryl]

Why such hate for this saw? I have one and it's a darn good saw. It's not as heavy duty as the 3100, but the 3100 can't stand up to a Unisaw. I have made several projects with mine, I can toss a 3/4 sheet of plywood on it with no problem and accurately cut it to shelf width. I have made a head and foot board and dresser that my wife can't wait to show off. KIitchen cabinets are on the to-do list now. Several little trinket boxes that I have a waiting list for. I use both a stacked dado and molding heads, Since I have a small shop I can pick the saw up and move it outside when necessary. The only fault I have is the throat plate, but I use a piece of 1/4 inch luan for the top when using the dado or molding head, makes a custom throat plate. I never have trouble with belts burning up, shims falling out, hard to raise blade etc. So give it a rest. I will post pictures as soon as one of the kids admit they have the camera and bring it back.

[leehljp]

Daryl,

There are some people that can take the worst of machines and make fantastic work with it. However not everyone can, and the better the machine, the more accuracy they get. You are right that the BT3100 is not a Unisaw, but two of the features of the BT3100 are cheap price and accurate cuts.

There are people who do not get good cuts with the 3100 and have trouble with alignments. I have read the same for some people with unisaws and had one at one time. It was my dad's. He was always re-aligning it. I had the same problem and sold it.

So in comparing a BT3100 to a unisaw, it goes both ways as noting the problems that people write online or have personally with the Unisaw must be noted along side with the negative notes of the BT3X00. In comparing the 3100 to a 15, you can do great things with a 15, but the accuracy of the 15 is more dependant on the skill of the user instead of the machine, and a good user can do that. It is obvious that you have either NATURAL techniques, or LOTS of experience, or great eye-hand coordination or all three.

Most people simply depend on the accuracy of the saw itself to make the cuts. That is where the difference in the BT3100 vs the BT15 comes in. More accuracy for tolerance and cut are built into the 3100 and it was designed and advertised as a "precision" system. The 15 is not designed or targeted for that. But it can be with the right person. But the person has to have a good knowledge of the saw, blades, wood and enough overall concept knowledge to adjust to different cutting situations. You have this, but most people don't.

I used to make some pretty accurate cuts with an old sears radial arm and an old sears table saw. But I had to focus on accuracy and build far more jigs than I do today to make accurate and glass smooth cuts. I can focus more on the safety of my cuts on the 3100 and let the saw do the accurate glass smooth cuts.

You are right that you can take a BT 15 and do some great work. But not everyone can. Not every one can make glass smooth cuts on a BT3100 or even a Unisaw. The better the machine, the more you can focus more of your attention to safety and let the machine do the rest.

[rg32]

Why such hate for this saw? I have one and it's a darn good saw. .

It was never my intention to downgrade and as a matter of fact I’ve built some very nice bathroom cabinets and other precision projects using the BTS15.

[crokett]

Daryl, the saw is ok as saws go but it is limiting. My brother put down 1000sqft of oak flooring with it and was happy until he wanted to build some cabinets for his bonus room and discovered its limitations in regards to dado stacks and ripping the ply panels. IIRC rip capacity is about 20", my BT3000 is a stock 24" and you can go wider with a wide table kit. He is currently looking for a bigger saw.

[gabedad]

can anyone suggest a dado blade ( and insert) for the bts15 as I am one of the unfortunate to own one. Another mark against I will add is that there is no sawdust collection for it either.

[Daryl]

I use an older six inch stacked set. Harbor freight has an eight inch set on sale for 30 bucks. If you go the full width you will have to remove the arbor spacer, just make sure you have clearance. The truth is I find it just as easy to use the router or just run two or three passes with the regular blade for dados. For dust collection you can enclose the upper part of the legs with ply or MDF and hook up your vacuum or dc.

[Hoover]

Personally, I would take the advice offered by LChien, Crockett, and Leehljp as some solid advice to avoid this saw. They offered valid opinions on what they believe, so if you want to go against their suggestions, realize you do so at your own peril. They are not blowing smoke. Le Caveat Emptor.