New BT3100 quality

[kgworkman]

I bought mine a couple of weeks ago. Checked last night, also made in china blade. I couldn't find "made in China" anywhere else on the saw. Notice that the blade is also marked with the Ryobi brand logo. Is that true of the older Freud blades as well? Maybe this blade is the new model called the "Fraud" blade. I, like others have mentioned, am too dumb to know the difference.

During assembly I also sheared of two of the bolts holding the saw to the stand. And that was using a ratchet with my hand on the rachet head. Not much torque that way. But 25 cents at the hardware store replaced all four of them.

I have no REAL complaints so far, although my saw also arrived without the DVD. But they mailed me one when I called.

[WY]

I presume you mean it literally says, "Made In China"? And is this on the saw itself, or just the blade?

The serial number plate on my BT3100-1, which I bought circa May 2004, says "Made In Taiwan." Politically, Taiwan IS China now, but when speaking of tools many people (myself included) consider "China" to mean mainland China and often highly dubious quality, whereas the stuff from Taiwan is generally quite good.

I don't recall ever seeing a country of origin on the blade itself. I'll look tonight.

"Politically, Taiwan IS China now" i know a lot of people that would vehemently disagree with and be extremely insulted by that statement (not me) but that is a discussion for another time and place.

problem with made in taiwan stuff is that while quality these days is great, it isnt as cheap as it once was. but then again thats better than something randomly falling apart like why back when with made in taiwan stuff.

[ssmith1627]

I think maybe you're confusing Taiwan with Hong Kong. Taiwan is still a separate country with a separate government. Hong Kong however was not that long ago turned back over to China by Britain.

I'm very happy with the cuts my saw makes -- had it for about 2 months now. So I'll be very curious to look tonight to see which blade is really there.

Steve

[John Hunter]

I just checked the blade that came with the BT3100 I just bought during the sale. Had not installed it as I took the Freud blade off my old BT3000 and never looked close at the new blade just put it in my blade rack. But sure as HELLO it says Made In China. I also just checked the blade on the new Ryobi Miter Saw TS1352 that was delivered yesterday and it too has a blade made in China!

[jziegler]

Made in China as well

I just checked and my saw bought in Aug/Sept 2005 has a made in China blade . That might explain why I've been getting a bit more burning in oak than I would have expected. It would be interesting to do a comparison between the new made in China blade and the original Freud blade.

-Jim

[cwsmith]

I purchased my BT3100-1 a couple of weeks before Christmas and, unfortunately for me, it's still in the box waiting for us to move. However, I have taken it out to check the materials, rails, SMT, etc., as I have seen variously questions and concerns pop up over the last few weeks.

My BT was made in Taiwan, but the blade clearly says "Made in China". Everything on the saw seems to be in good order, with the table tops all being even, the SMT and fence are square with the blade, etc. and the blade is true, at least as its manually is turned throw it's revolution.

I ended up spending $150 and I received my rebate about 3 weeks ago. So, if it turns out that I will not be happy with the blade, than I guess I'll buy the better Freud.

For those who are politically inclined, Taiwan is NOT part of China, but a free and independant country that it still protected by the U.S. The "Nationalist" Chinese fled mainland China at the end of World War II, when Mao Tse Tung's communist took power. Back then, we called it "Formosa". Up until Nixon, main-land China (or "Communist-" or "Red-China" as it was often referred) was not recognized politically. When we began diplomatic relations with "China", they insisted that we (the U.S.) could only recognize "one" China and for economic reasons, we sort of shoved Taiwan down to a lesser status. Today, the communist have moved politically toward a "ONE CHINA" policy, laying claim to Taiwan. Taiwan still claims their independance as they well should, seeing that they have been independant since the late 1940's. The U.S. backs that claim, but is waivering a bit as it faces a growing China and the growing economic threat that it represents. The U.S. is heavily invested in Taiwan and is growing it's investments in mainland China. I predict that as soon as main-land China becomes the bigger investment, you will see us nudge Taiwan into relinquishing its independance.

CWS

[LarryG]

Ooops ...

I need to confess something; the act is said to be good for the soul.

Steve is exactly right. While writing what I did yesterday about Taiwan, I was under the influence of a World Class Brain Fart. I was talking about tools from Taiwan vs. mainland China. Somehow I got my mental wires crossed and confused, from a political standpoint, Taiwan and ... Hong Kong.

My apologies, both for that specific gaffe, and for taking the thread down a path it probably never should've seen anyway.

And BTW, the blade that came with my BT3100-1 says MADE IN ITALY on it.

[Ken Weaver]

I just checked and my saw bought in Aug/Sept 2005 has a made in China blade . That might explain why I've been getting a bit more burning in oak than I would have expected. It would be interesting to do a comparison between the new made in China blade and the original Freud blade.

-Jim

Bought mine several years ago and it has the Freud/Italy blade. I occassionally will get burning in oak, the result of my feed rate rather than the blade.

[LCHIEN]

was at HD today and the blade said Made in Italy.
The saw was in Horrible shape but it did have a sale $249 sticker but If I were to see that saw only I'd never buy one.

Blade was jammed into the guard and wouldn't spin (Don't even lknow how you get that)
miter fence on floor three feet away. Knob and holder MIA???
SMT missing base, just the top, laying on top of the aux table. Bottom slides - MIA.

I used to put them sort of right but there was too much too far gone to do anything.

[kayakee]

I don't known what's happened to my original message but it seem that is has been override by somenone

[jbalders]

It was a result of the "bug" that was introduced on Tuesday evening. 537 posts that were made between Sunday and when it was repaired on Wednesday were lost and replaced with the text you see.

Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done. You're free to edit the post if you want.

Jeff

[mikeg]

Saw: Taiwan
Blade: China
purchased 1/06

[leehljp]

Taiwan or China

Politically, Taiwan IS China now,

Larry, I just read your post up the ladder. I apologize for missing it and am editing mine to reflect that.

Things change when I am back in the States so much that I have to learn "history" all over again when I go back over there!

[LarryG]

Hank, please read my follow-up post on this matter. It's about seven or eight posts up the ladder. I screwed up, rather royally.

[ssmith1627]

I finally looked last night. My blade is made in China as well. I bought my saw back in early December 05.

Shows what I know -- I've been very happy with the cuts it has made ! haha Really no basis for comparison though since I'm new to all this.

Steve