don't you miss a miter slot?

[rockybrown]

the smt is nice but don't you miss the miter slot?


rockybrown

[BobSch]

That's why I added the aux miter slot to my 3100.

Although I use the SMT for most work, the miter slot is nice for holding fingerboards and such.

[LCHIEN]

no, not really.

But, I did not take Woodshop in School, I did not learn on a big cabinet or contractor saw.
I started with a dinky benchtop table saw that had a real crappy miterslot and miter
and it was one of the things I hated about it.
The SMT can do everything, I have no accessories that would use it. The "Normal" things one builds to attach to a miterslot I have built to attach to my SMT, no problems.

[scorrpio]

A miter slot is far easier and cheaper to add than a sliding table.

Edit: and no, I did not add miter slots to my BT3100 - I use the SMT.

[leehljp]

I bought the miter slot table when I purchased my BT300. I used it with my very accurate and expensive Woodhaven miter gauge. Then over a period of about 6 months, I began to realize how accurate and handy the SMT was at accomplishing the same thing. I rarely use the Woodhaven miter gauge today and if I do want to use it, I have to hunt for it.

I have a BT3100 and never even think of the miter gauge. Unlike Loring, I did take shop in HS, and I grew up with construction in the family, using miter gauges. But it did not take long to find the repeatable accuracy of the SMT and SMT fence to be more than suffecient for me.

[RayintheUK]

My setup has a miter slot, but I never use it - SMT every time.

Ray.

[LarryG]

I have, and use, both.

My BT has the SMT and the dual miter slot table. I use both regularly -- meaning for cuts, not just for attaching featherboards and the like; at a guess, I'd say I use the SMT about 2/3 of the time and the miter slot about 1/3.

I'm in the process of adding a miter slot to the right side, so I can build a dual-runner crosscut sled and miter jig with more capacity than the SMT. I expect that 2/3 - 1/3 split will then flip-flop the other way.

[just4funsies]

I added a miter slot on either side of the blade. It is handy for jigs and sleds.

[bigsteel15]

My BT has the SMT and the dual miter slot table. I use both regularly -- meaning for cuts, not just for attaching featherboards and the like; at a guess, I'd say I use the SMT about 2/3 of the time and the miter slot about 1/3.

I'm in the process of adding a miter slot to the right side, so I can build a dual-runner crosscut sled and miter jig with more capacity than the SMT. I expect that 2/3 - 1/3 split will then flip-flop the other way.

This is my ultimate intention as well. The back capacity of the SMT is quite limiting IMHO, especially for miter cuts.

[venkatbo]

Just a noob question...
Is there any cut that the miter slot does that the SMT cannot help with ?

Also, where could one get them for the BT3100 ?

Thanks,
/venkat

[BobSch]

Just a noob question...
Is there any cut that the miter slot does that the SMT cannot help with ?

Also, where could one get them for the BT3100 ?

Thanks,
/venkat

There's usually a bunch on EBay

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...ter&category0=

Also available is the kit that makes mounting the miter table much easier.

[Tom Miller]

The BT3k is the only saw I've ever owned, and I don't have the MST. I did add a miter slot to my first shop-made extension table (router table), but I never once used it. I did not add a miter slot to my second, and current, extension table.

Then again, for most x-cuts I use my SCMS.

Regards,
Tom

[djmst38]

Smt

I dropped my SMT on my floor and broke 2 of those black clips off on the back. I ordered some more but I could never get the SMT to work properly again. I use the add on miter slot exclusively now.

[bigsteel15]

Been there!!

I dropped my SMT on my floor and broke 2 of those black clips off on the back. I ordered some more but I could never get the SMT to work properly again. I use the add on miter slot exclusively now.

Did the same thing. Broke 4 tabs. Mine works fine, I just need to give it some fine adjustment. It is out of square about 1/64" per 2 inch of cut.

[Ken Massingale]

When I had a BT3K I added an MST to each side of the blade. Unlike most BT3'ers, I prefer a slot with miter guage to the SMT. It's not my intend to start a peeing contest, but for my use, a good miter guage and a crosscut and miter sled are more reliable, easier and quicker to setup than the SMT. And, they don't get knocked out of alignment. Also, a miter slot on most contractor or cabinet saws is a T-slot. This allows extending a miter guage head or a sled well past the front of the saw.
But, even with these accessories, the very limited space in front of the blade on the BT limits their effectiveness. That's where the SMT comes in, it extends past the front of the saw table, compensating somewhat for the limited table area in front of the blade. To each his own.
ken