BT 3100 Being Discontinued?

[phrog]

Just returned from local HD and noticed they have a demo BT3100 with miter arm missing marked down to $199. There are none on the shelves. I picked up a copy of the Ryobi catalog and it is not listed. Is the Bt3100 being discontinued? Anyone care to comment? Thanks.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

A search of the forums results in many conversation on the topic. The answer is that no one knows. There are signs but customer service at Ryobi said no. Others dispute whether they would know the correct answer to being with. There does seem to be a very strong rumor on the discontinue issue.

[phrog]

Thanks for the reply Jeffrey. It just seems strange to me that Ryobi shows all their other saws in their catalog EXCEPT the BT3100. Makes me wonder. Again, thanks for the reply.
Richard

[sweensdv]

Check the date code on that catalog you have. When I requested a catalog from Ryobi, the one they sent me was 5 years old!

[cwsmith]

Ryobi recently (April) distributed their 2006 catalog to most Home Depot stores.

Regarding the BT3100, consensus is that the saw is no longer going to be carried as standard stock by Home Depot. It is no longer in their inventory and has been closed out in most stores for over a month now. With its absense from the Ryobi 2006 catalog, it sounds like it is no longer going to be available... at least under the Ryobi name. Sears has a portable model of the BT3100 which carries the Craftsman name and colors. It sells for significantly more than the $299 HD price. But it now includes a folding mobile cart and the router accessories (sans router), like the fence, guard, etc.

Hope this helps,

CWS

[phrog]

Like CWSMITH, my catalog is dated 2006. No BT3100.
Richard

[kmk]

I heard different story today at local HD store. There was a display model (no fence, no miter fence etc) and I was asking the employee whether they would sell it. He said "no" because several parts are missing and they want to keep it around until "next version" shows up!!

He said the next version will have improved features like add-ons for the accessory table (he couldnt tell me more) and BT300 is discontinued!

[onedash]

Does it matter? I can't understand why some people in the past have wondered if they should buy one or sell their current saw because it might be discontinued? If its a good saw and you get one who cares if they continue to sell it. The only valid concern i can come up with is that they break alot and require frequent repair parts but it doesnt sound like it in this forum so what gives?
I have the Craftsman 22124 hybrid. If they discontinue it I could care less because I dont think I will be buying one ever couple years. I hope it lasts long enough to pass down to grandkids. Of course you hate to see a good thing go but thats a whole seperate concern.
Anyhow Im just trying to understand.
If you dont have one and want one and miss the boat thats another reason to be upset.
Like a Remington 541T HB they quit making. I never got one so Im a little upset but not heart broken because it was pretty expensive for a .22

[DUD]

Mine is now 11 years old, and still going, of couse it's a BT3000. and They got rid of it and replaced it with the BT3100. I am going to keep using it. Bill

[bigsteel15]

I heard different story today at local HD store. There was a display model (no fence, no miter fence etc) and I was asking the employee whether they would sell it. He said "no" because several parts are missing and they want to keep it around until "next version" shows up!!

He said the next version will have improved features like add-ons for the accessory table (he couldnt tell me more) and BT300 is discontinued!

You have to think that possibly they will implement some of the ideas that have come from the Sears models, such as the miter slots in accessory table and rail mounted power switch if they are permitted to.
As long as the table height remains the same and the rails are compatible I would think they will have a winner on their hands as far as existing owners go.
One can always hope.

[dwolsten]

Does it matter? I can't understand why some people in the past have wondered if they should buy one or sell their current saw because it might be discontinued? If its a good saw and you get one who cares if they continue to sell it. The only valid concern i can come up with is that they break alot and require frequent repair parts but it doesnt sound like it in this forum so what gives?

Well one nice thing about your Craftsman is that, because it's from Sears, it'll probably have repair parts available for the next 50 years. Sears is (or has been) really good that way; go to www.sears.com and go the Parts site, and look up any Sears model number of any Sears item you have, no matter how old, and it'll probably have parts available.

With Sears' recent financial problems, however, I don't know how long that will last.

Also, since Sears has a tablesaw clone of the BT3100, parts for that should be available for a long time too.

[messmaker]

How about a new BT with an induction motor,miter slots and a built in moble base.

[dwolsten]

How about a new BT with an induction motor,miter slots and a built in moble base.

Miter slots and mobile base sound good to me, along with a standard Sharkguard :-)

But keep the universal motor. Induction motors are overrated. Universal motors work fine in your router, sanders, circular saw, CMS, etc. They're fine for table saws too if you're a weekend woodworker like I imagine most people here are. And they're smaller, lighter, and cheaper, which is important in a saw in this class.

[RmeDad]

How about..........

a Delta branded table saw to replace the BT3100-1?????

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

[ssmallwood]

I haven't seen it in either store in my hometown (2 locations) for over a year now. Glad I got mine, very happy with the performance.