were your projects done with that saw?

[rickd]

one of the most interesting comments/questions i have received since posting my new website is this one:

"I see links to ryobi's site and a picture of the bts3100. were all your projects that you show completed with that table saw?"

i'm not exactly sure how to read this, but i think what he is saying is "you used that saw to make furniture?"

anyway, i responded very politely telling him that indeed they were and that the bt3100 is extremely accurate, has lot's of power and is amazingly versatile compared to some higher priced table saws.

maybe he was considering buying one and was just curious - i don't know. i just found it to be an interesting question - like the looks i sometimes get when i tell people my tablesaw is the bt3100!

[JimD]

I have not posted many pictures of my projects but I have been woodworking for over 20 years so I have many pre-BT3100 projects (including a butler tray table, pembrooke table and display case all in walnut). I made some nice furniture pre-BT3100 but I am finding it easier to get precision now that I have a BT3100.

Jim

[Pappy]

People just don't believe the BT3K can be as accurate as it is.

[drumpriest]

I agree with you Rick. I posted some pictures of a couple of my more recent projects up at Rockler, and people seemed to assume that I had some huge cabinet saw. When I explain that it's a bt3100, they look at me funny.

[woodsmoke]

They don't believe it because most don't know. I know longer use my bt3100 for the majority of my shop work as it is not designed to make continous runs in long materails one after another. I have a Delta to do that now and save my btxxxx for cuts it does better. I like the accuracy of the smt and use it often in making a cabinet. I have it set to cut exactly 90 degrees and it does with out fail. I am a one man shop and the bt3000 is a very valuable tool in constructing a well made product.
I often hear people bark at certain tools(the btxxxx being one of them) and just smile knowing that tool and realizing its not the tool causing the poor results. I think too many woodworkers, both hobbiest and pros suffer from "small tool envy" if all was really known.
The equation: more tool+woodworker does not always = better product/project