To Mobile Base or Not to Mobile Base

[Veramacor]

Hi all,

I'm starting to ride the fence on wether to build a wide mobile base like a 'Kirby' or a 'Maroon' as shown in the articles section.

Give that the BT3100 is now discontinued, If or when my BT does break down and I do have to buy a new saw, would a mobile base built specifically for the BT be money that could have been spent elsewhere?

I'm trying to get a feel from everyone wether or not they think the next model ryobi is going to incorporate the wonderful rail system that the BT3000 and 3100 share.

I'm not up to speed on what It would cost to replace a BT motor. I think the saw itself other than the motor should last a lifetime, but if I can buy a new TS for less than the cost of a new motor - that makes me think twice.

I do have the extension rails and a shark guard for the BT on order, so I am already heavily invested to go ahead with the wide table base.

Any opinions?

Jeff

[RayintheUK]

Exactly the same questions I asked myself before I built my mobile base, Jeff! Mine is for a BT3000, which I bought used some years ago. In the end, I decided that, although there would be considerable time and effort invested to build a fully mobile base with storage, etc. and using the wide rail kit, I went ahead.

I've no idea on any future replacement saw designs, but the way I designed my base was to leave the box upon which the saw stands as a separate entity to the rest of the base. If my saw goes down the toilet, I could shim or remake just the box stand. If the rails of the new saw don't have a wide table kit, then at least I've got outfeed support for wide boards, even if I don't have such a wide ripping facility. I've also got a great deal of mobile storage, which I now know I couldn't do without.

Ray.

[HarmsWay]

I was thinking about that the other day as well and decided it would take very little effort to reconfigure for another saw (it would be a sad day to lose my BT3k though). The mobile base, wide table and extra storage is a huge improvement - just build it, you'll wonder how you ever worked without it.

Bob

[vaking]

Mobile base is a big benefit. Wide table kit is also very usefull. The design of mobile base in general should not restrict you from replacing the saw in the future. The one thing to consider (I did not) is that the distance between rails for BT is smaller than for most other saws. BT rails are 22" apart, most other saws are about 25" to the best of my knowledge.
The mobile base is not that expensive in material that goes into it. It takes time and effort to make one but this is the labor of love. I expect my BT3100 to last for few more years. I already had it for about 3 years and the only thing wrong so far were the belts that broke once. I replaced the belts and got some spares because the saw is being discontinued and belts seem to be the weakest link.

[rcp612]

I agree with Ray. I found out my saw was being discontinued just about the same time that I was finishing my base. But, there is enough room to mount a different saw which will most likely be deeper in measurement than the BT. The only concern I'd have is with the height of a different saw but, everything can be modified. Go ahead and build your's, I don't think you will regret it.