interesting post about BT3

[eezlock]

I was on the Woodnet site a few minutes ago....a poster there named
Fathertime66 posted a question about the Ryobi Bt3 saw. It seems as if he
didn't know much about the saw so...I posted a long respone to to his
question about the saw in a long reply. Telling him about the good attributes
of the Bt3## saw and what I think about it. He has a chance to buy one for
$100.00, I told him to grab it for that price! A previous poster basically called the saw" junk" in so many words, I told the poster what I thought of his
response to that comment as well!

I made refrence to our own Tom Hintz review of the saw at " New Woodworker.com", and informed him that he should read it to gain a better insight of what this saw is really all about. If anyone wants to read my comments go the website and see what I wrote to him. I also told him of the fine folks here at BT3 Central site by Sam Conder and all of the help he could get to any question or problem that he might have or encounter.
The reason for this post is to let people know the good things out there if they need help and where to get it...and help dispell the negative comments
that some people post on the web about our favorite saw! Thanks again to Sam Conder and Tom Hintz, having them as refrence , made this a little easier to do! eezlock

[siliconbauhaus]

its tool snobbery mate

[JoeyGee]

Oh man, you just made me visit Woodnet for the first time in a long time. I used to spend a lot of time there until I started hanging out here. I was expecting our BT3 to get SLAMMED as it usually does, but it wasn't too bad. I was expecting the usual, but was surprised.

[Andrew Benedetto]

I tried to make some points . I actually prefer the BT3000, with Norm's shim fix. I have used both.
It seem that some there buy up anything that maybe a deal, even large shapers, jointers. I think most are hobbiest types too. I do not know what the idea is, to buy as much equiptment as possible and then post pic's of it?
Many members are helpful, some are trying to be funny I think. I have got good tips on WW and on Amazon deals there.
Here,it is a much more friendly forum.

[eezlock]

interesting Bt3 article

The reason for writing a response, more than anything else was to inform
the original poster what a BT3 really is. A lot of uninformed people out there
may be ready and able to start in woodworking, and I think that they should
be told the more positive aspects of this saw and what to expect, and
what you can do with it, vs a negative attitude about the saw from a
disgruntled person who probably only used one for a short period of time
and could not correct his own shortcomings with the equipment.

A few negative comments about this saw are not necessairly bad, in the proper aspect, but if a person chooses to post negative comments on a saw
like the BT3 they should in all fairness to everyone, state what problems they had with it and why they could not be resolved in a proper manner.
The negative poster that got me irritated, did not say what the problems
that he had were, and what if anything was done about them. Good constructive comments (some better than others) will do more to lead
or help someone to become a potential buyer, than negative ones.If he
can and wants to buy that saw for $100.00, my advice is grab it real fast
and not look back, he could get 3 times the investment in parting out the saw.Other's have done that and lost nothing but a little time overall.

I am an owner of a BT3100 saw, I use it all the time, and the truth of
the matter is this, I realize it's limitations and work around them. I also
dream of the day/ time when I too can upgrade to a larger more refined
cabinet or hybrid saw....but until that day, I'm going to use the one I have
and do my best with what I have to work with! Funds are somewhat limited right now and enough said for that. I have made some beneficial changes to my saw, and I like it a whole lot better than when it was new, I customized
it to suit me...no one else! That is one of the great points about a BT3100.

Thanks for reading and letting me vent my comments here....eezlock

[kwok cheng]

eezlock,

Can you show how you customize your bt3? Thanks Kwok

[Russianwolf]

went over for a looksee......

remembered why I never registered with the site in the first place......

Came back here where I belong......

breathed a big sigh of relief......

[Knottscott]

I actually thought that most of the discussion was fairly constructive. There were several favorable and informative comments about the BT in that discussion. Most that weren't overly favorable were what I thought were realistic comments about size, noise, and construction materials. Only one of the posters made a broad, poorly explained clearly negative (aka derogatory) remark, and even he went back and posted a followup....his followup was still negative but he did give more details to explain his position and his experiences with it.

You pretty much have to expect more support for the saw here on the "home court" than on a more neutral site. Sometimes it just boils down to different strokes for different folks....you say "pot-ah-to", he says "po-tay-to" ...

[charger1966]

One thing that I have noticed in that forum is if you don't spend thousands of dollars for any tool, It's a piece of sh%& to almost everyone there. I have stated my opinion several times and it doesn't do any good. They are all stuck on Sawstops, or Grizzleys or Delts. I personally can not afford those type of saws that's why I have the BT3100. I really like mine and it works great. I asked several of you guys your opinions of them before I bought it and you guys talked me into it and I have not regretted it.
I am very seriously thinking of not going to that site anymore, they are really pi&^%ng me off.
Today I hooked up my HF dust collector to the BT with a gate valve and a side runner to the router.
Keep Making that Sawdust
Lance

[leehljp]

A lot of the negative talk is ignorance; some of the negative is relative to the individual's expectations.

CHOOSING the right saw for one's needs and work habits are essential. The problem for some is that their "bang for the buck" attitude don't match their work habits and needs. When the wrong choice is made, then the problem is the "saw". Heaven forbid that "they" own up to a mistake in their choice.

I remember a guy on the old Ryobi forum who sung the BT's praises for being a sweet cutting saw, but then a couple of months later slamming it because it would not hold up. (There were several that did this.) When push came to shove, the problem was that the the man said if he wanted to literally slam a 2X4 on it and fast feed a rip, then he expected it to handle it. (And he admitted that he did that) People with type of attitude and expectations need cast iron, steel and 240V.

Truth is that there are several different work needs for saws.
Fast, tough and accurate - Cast iron / steel cabinet saws
Fast, rough cut - contractors framing saws
Slow to medium speed, accurate - for home cabinet/furniture grade like the BT or, as of late, new generation of saws.
Job site rough cut / framing / small project saws.


The area that I get irritated with is the people who say that the BT 3x can't cut glass smooth or stay in alignment because it is a lightweight or made of aluminum or only costs $300. I realize that some BT saws won't, but not all that will not - are not the fault of the saw. Feeding technique and alignment procedures are part of it as it is with ANY saw. But the ignorant dumb head that attributes the problem of the BT to the cost or aluminum gets under my skin. Shucks, I got rid of a Unisaw that would not stay in alignment very long at a time. Fine vibration would cause screws or nuts to come loose, back out a smidgen over a short time. The actual problem wasn't the screws or nuts backing out, but the fine vibrations. Could never find the problem. Blade changing did not help. Belts, pulleys, trunion, arbor" Just a bad saw in my opinion. It was inherited from my dad. He got it for little or nothing in a trade. He knew about the problem when he got it. So problems exist on "Big" machines as well as little ones.

My second BT that I purchased had a bad SMT. I did not know it until it was 100 miles from the store, I was at my daughter's house doing some repairs, AND I was back in the states for 30 days. I did not have a day to lose by going back to the store. I took the sled apart, saw the problem and fixed it myself with some shims. That was 4 years ago. It still stays in alignment. Do OTHER saws have similar odd ball defects, including unisaws? You betcha!

The second gripe that I have is people who still want to slam it and then end up admitting that it "might" be possible for a $300 saw to achieve this kind of cut, but then say "Other saws" can do this easily." Well duh! Of course they can, but the cost to get there is usually far more than the $300.

Why is it OK to admit that a Unisaw can have a flaw and that one in a thousand might, but for an aluminum, $300 light weight to have the same problem, then it is because it is aluminum or $300.?

[leehljp]

A SECOND interesting post: My work habits versus a few others -

The following instance has happened to me several times. A friend comes to me and needs some boards cut. I say OK. We go to my garage or shop and pull the saw out, put the SMT on, put the Fence on, make measurements and get ready to cut. These are people who have a background in "shop" or woodworking that that included at least a little training in proper procedure.

Friend: "Whoooa. Aren't you going to align the fence?

Me: "Oh, OK, if you say so. It isn't needed"

Them: "It is ALWAYS needed."

Me: "If you say so."

Next: Raise the blade, put square on the blade without touching the carbide, bring the fence over and have them check the alignment.

Them: "I can't believe it."

Same situation with the SMT and fence for 90 degrees - and I use registration alignments for that in checking.

I check about every three to six months on average and no problems. Still get glass smooth and accurate cuts. Am I the only one that gets this kind of accuracy? I have two saws, one in the USA and one in Japan. Both have the same quality of cut.

[eezlock]

interesting post about BT3

To the posters ahead of Hank on this thread I started, I will try and post some pictures asap.

To Hank (scrapwood engineer), I agree whole heartdly, there are people
that will not admit to any of the pricer machines ever having any problems
or factory defects, they just like to think that they are always right in a
given situation or incident. Some of these other sites, people there feel
like if you don't have a sawstop, grizzly, delta X5, powermatic, or unisaw
that you don't have anything worth talking to them about, no other types
exist in their minds it seems. For years, a lot of hobbyist/ home woodworkers
have made some incredible projects with a lot less of a machine than the ones I listed....and some still do. In my opinion...it is not the machine
but the craftsman using it is more important! The most expensive machines in the world can't overcome sorry, sloppy workmanship.

Just because a machine is built of alunimum and steel doesn't make it less
than capable of performing it's best, cast iron and steel are just the old standard by which all old mfg.'s make their machines and have been doing so
for a long time. Some of these people are just plainly and simply
TOOL SNOBS and that is it!

Like I said in an earlier post, I too, dream of a bigger saw some day...but I have to live within my budget constraints for now and what I have is doing
the job nicely for now. Just today while I had the time, I went thru my
regular cleaning schedule of MY Bt3100, checked , cleaned, lubricated,
everything, rechecked the alignment of blade, tilt, elevation and so on
and it is cutting dead on the money everytime on every cut! I simply
like to keep my machines ( all of them) in perfect condition, perfect working order, clean and ready for the next time I'm about to start a project. I don't and won't start with a mess on a new project. eezlock

[drumpriest]

There are mistakes made from both sides, I think. Many people get a bt3100 as a first table saw. I had one, and I can say that they are capable of great work, but they are not the easiest saw to keep tuned up. Couple this with new woodworkers unfamiliar with precisely adjusting equipment, and I can see how people get a bad opinion of the saw.

Having said that, I have high praise for the BT3x00 saws. I do feel a lot more comfortable about ripping through 2-3" hardwoods on my pm2000, but it's a 2200$ saw, not a 300$ saw.

[Gary L]

Interesting read for a new member who has owned a BT 3000 for 5 years with no complaints at all.
I have to admit this saw is a step down from my heavy metal Power Matic 66 and Delta contractors saws but it is also a step in the right direction when going from work to hobby and large shops to a garage work shop.

I simply do not have the room nor the muscle these days to house and horse around 500 pound saws that take up major space. I also don't have a need all that often to rip 2-3" thick oak like I used to.

The BT 3000/3100 are what I consider Hobby saws and are perfectly designed as such.
I have the extension table and legs and I have my PC 890 router and woodpecker QL350 lift mounted into the table for an all in one woodworking machine that I am able to swing around and store against the wall when not in use.

Sure there are times when I wish I had a 5 HP motor and full size cast table with a Beismer or Paralock fence. There is also times when I wish I was half my age too.

The BT 3000 has served me very well over the years and does require some tweeking and normal maintaining but I have no complaints and have made some very nice things on it.





Thanks for sticking up for this nice saw because with out it I would not be having half as much fun in my later years or doing my hobby work that I enjoy which keeps me busy and out of trouble. Well, maybe not so much "Out of trouble" but busy for sure.

Gary

[SARGE..g-47]

I recently purchased a Delta X5 Uni-saw with a Biesemeyer fence factory re-conditioned as an up-grade for my "bought in a yard sale BT 3000". Deal I couldn't refuse. I put my BT 3000 up for sale for $200 and that's more than I paid for it as the owner I purchased it from in a drive-way sale had trashed it basically.

The saw carries a "low opinion" in most forums because it has Ryobi on the case. But those opinions are mostly formed by what they have read posted by other members opinions that "post a lot and wood-work little". They know really little about the saw, but they love to post their opinions with the authority of years of experience. A case of the "blind leading the blind", IMO!

My saw didn't sell as I wanted someone that was new and couldn't afford the heavier cabinet saw to have it intact. It did not sell as most (though ignorance) think it to be an inferior saw I am guessing? I could probably part it out under the current circumstances for four times what I paid for it sitting in a drive-way sale as junk.

But... I have decided that won't happen.. It got moved back-stage to my Shop II and I will pick up a set of long rails as I sold my old ones. I'm adding extention tables all around and making it my panel saw. If someone comes along that is new to WW and needs a saw.. I will still offer it for $200.

But after ripping over 30,000 linear feet of hard-wood and most 8/4 at least.. the saw is still going strong but has been retired from ripping! It has now become the Ryobi BT 3000 "panel cutting specialist". It sits with "pride" just chomping at the bit waiting for opportunity. I am positive it will serve me well with it's new duties as it did with it's old. Absolutely positve! :>)

Regards...