New BT3K1 owner

[JRoque]

Hello everyone. I purchased a BT3001 this Sunday from HD, $249. I was skeptical about what I would get but so far the quality seems pretty good for any price and for what I paid its a steal. Putting the whole thing together was straight forward. While this machine is made in Taiwan, you can tell some locals edited the manual because I could actually read it and understand it.

My first project on this machine, and first time on any table saw, was to crosscut the bottom of a door. I stopped pushing the door in after an inch or two to see why it wasn't cutting. Well, it was cutting but it was so smooth I couldn't tell! Of course, I got too confident and screwed up the cut a bit. Yes, it was one of those "hollow" doors but still, very impressive.Also forgot to connect the dust collector and made a mess in the garage...doh!

On close inspection I noticed the (made in China) blade wobbles a bit. I'll use the old pencil against the blade trick to mark where the bend is and push there. Any other tips to get that straighten out?

Ryobi/HD should be thanking this forum for steering me to their machine and not for the Craftsman version. I also considered a Grizzly but that seemed a bit too much (as in $$$) for what I need it.

BTW, I also picked up two Herc-U-Lift Plus bases for $29/ea. I talked to the manager and related the price disconnect between the website and some stores. He looked it up on his system and told me $29 was the price. If you come across a different price, ask a manager to fix it. At $29 I might get a couple more and use one for, I dunno, the fridge so I can roll it close to the couch on game days.

Later,
Julio

[gmack5]

Welcome Julio,
Congratulations on the acquisition of your BT3100 and welcome to the "family".
One of the first things you need to do, after you get your BT3100 Saw assembled is, following your Owner's Manual, go thru the entire set-up proceedure, step by step, in the sequence laid out in the Manual. Each set up proceedure builds on the one before it, so you MUST keep them in sequence.
Usually the Saw is set up properly, right out of the box, but you should still check it as this gets you familiar with all the adjustments on the saw and assures you that everything is as it should be.
Here's some free plans that'll keep you busy for a while. http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/r...ex.php?cat=102
And here's some additional information about your Saw that you may find useful.
Regardless of what you've read or others have told you, NEVER NEVER use any wax or lubricant on your saw that contains Silicone, this includes all automobile waxes and polishes and most spray-on furniture polishes. The reason is simple, most of them contain Silicones and they will make your projects difficult to finish.
Silicones repell liquid, making "fish eyes" in your finishes, this will force you to remove the Silicones from your project and start over. That stuff (Silicone) migrates all over every where, don't ask me how, it just does.
If you put it in one place, eventually it will be all over the
entire saw.
Your best bet is to use a "dry" lubricant, such as Teflon (PTFE), Powdered Graphite, or Candle Wax for the Raising/Lowering and Tilt mechanisms below the table top.

Then use either Johnson's Paste Wax, Minwax's "Finishing Wax" or Butcher's Wax on the working surfaces, table tops (All three of them) and the Rip Fence.

Do NOT Wax the Front and Rear rails or the Miter Fence. As a mater of fact, you may want to glue 220 grit sand-paper to the front face of the Miter Fence, cause you don't WANT things to slide on there.

You might also want to check out the "Articles" section on the www.BT3central.com site. Lots of good maintenance information on your saw and some of the Jigs and Fixtures that BT3Central members and others have designed for it. Located here: http://www.bt3central.com/articles/ The only thing you'll need to access the information is a recent copy of the Adobe Reader (It can be downloaded from the BTcentral site).

One of the Articles mentioned is a "Check List", written by Jim Frye. You can find it here: hhttps://www.sawdustzone.org/articles/maintenance-repairs/824883-a-bt3000-maintenance-check-list

This list contains all the different areas on your saw that need to be periodically inspected or given some sort of special attention. In other words, a "Preventative Maintanence Check List" or PM. Performing this PM on a monthly basis would be a good idea. One of the other things you'll find there is an on-line copy of the User's Manual in downloadable pdf format (a handy thing to have).

Something you might think about is the use of a set of Draftsman's Triangles instead of the Carpenter's Square that they show in the Owner's Manual for setting up your saw.
An accurate Carpenter's Square is almost a myth!
A good one will cost you quite a bit of money, $40 - $75, or more. I would recommend that you consider using a pair of Draftsman's 30 -60 and 45 degree triangles instead. You'll find they're not near as expensive and are far more accurate than a run-of-the-mill Carpenter's Square. The 30 -60 triangle should have one 12" leg and the other leg would be 9" long. The 45 degree triangle should have at least 8" legs on either side of the 90 degree corner. That way either one can be put up against the side of the Saw Blade without touching the saw teeth.

Just remember, regardless of which measuring instrument you choose to use, check it(them) to be sure they're accurate. When checking the Miter Fence for Square to the Blade with a triangle, use the 12" 30-60, if possible.

One of the other "tricks" that I've discovered is to take a piece of "Wax" paper, fold it several times and rub it in the grooves that the "T" nuts that lock your Rails in place ride in. Makes the Rails move smooth as Butter.

You might also want to check out the "FAQ" shown in the top of the Main Page, in the Wooden Bar across the Top
http://www.bt3central.com/forum/topi...TOPIC_ID=12490
It'll answer a lot of your questions.

Last, but not least, don't forget to paint the RED line!
It's a line that extends the line-of-sight from the saw blade to the front edge of the table to remind you NOT to let your Miter Fence or your FINGERS get in the way of the saw blade. Just put red paint, nail polish, or what ever, in the grove that extends towards the operator from the front edge of the saw blade.


Some of the links referenced in this post are not operational right now. We've got Brand-new software running the Forum and it's not totally "on-line" yet, just be patient and it will be before long.

[mschrank]

I stopped pushing the door in after an inch or two to see why it wasn't cutting. Well, it was cutting but it was so smooth I couldn't tell!

I did the same thing the first time I made a cut on the BT

Ryobi/HD should be thanking this forum for steering me to their machine and not for the Craftsman version.

I've seen a couple of references lately similar to this regarding the Craftsman "versions." Just to be clear, Ryobi makes the saw/router whatever for Sears, but changes a few things to Sears specifications. Same with the Bosch 1617 router. So Ryobi (or Bosch) don't really care which version you buy. BUT, you are correct that Home Depot should wake up and realize how much business is directed to them because of this website. Of course, they might then also realize the rampant coupon swapping going on

Welcome to the forum, Julio! Enjoy the saw and feel free to ask questions. The folks on this forum are the best and very helpful!

[greencat]

Welcome to the club

[just4funsies]

Coupon swapping? What coupon swapping?

[John Hunter]

Welcome aboard.

[Wood_workur]

Welcome. Have fun, and be safe!!!

[Pappy]

Welcome to the Asylum, Julio!

[bigstick509]

Welcome

[RickT]

$29 I might get a couple more and use one for, I dunno, the fridge so I can roll it close to the couch on game days.

That's funny. Welcome Julio.

Rick

[JRoque]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. Two full days now and still have all fingers accounted for....

Julio

[monte]

Welcome to the group Julio. Be safe and enjoy your new saw.