Dual-Width Extension Wing

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  • LarryG
    The Full Monte
    • May 2004
    • 6693
    • Off The Back
    • Powermatic PM2000, BT3100-1

    Dual-Width Extension Wing

    One reason I bought my BT3100 is because the building that housed my shop at the time was very small. For most cutting operations, the stock footprint of a BT3100 was about as large a table saw as would comfortably fit. I was also attracted to the space-saving potential of the router mount in the stock accessory table.

    There were times, however, when I needed more rip capacity right of the blade. I got it in the usual way: by removing the SMT and moving the BT's rails as far to the right as they'd go. This worked well enough; but since it left me only about a foot of aisle space between the end of the rails and my workbench, I always had to return the rails to their standard placement when I finished my wider rips.

    Eventually, I grew weary of having to move the rails around -- especially since I am one of those who uses the scale on the front rail; it became a real hassle to constantly recalibrate it. I had also decided that I wanted something a bit more sophisticated than the accessory table router mount, which I was using fairly heavily as a backup to my standalone router table. Lastly, I wanted to have a miter slot right of the blade, to complement the dual-slot table on the left.

    Almost exactly one year ago, on an idle day in the shop and seemingly out of nowhere, I was struck by an idea for a novel solution that would solve all these problems: keep the saw's footprint small most of the time; easily increase the rip capacity when necessary without removing the SMT or moving the saw's rails; improve the router mount; and add a miter slot right of the blade. Within a few hours, I had turned my raw idea into a working prototype, as pictured below.

    As you look at the photos, please bear in mind that this is a rough prototype, designed and built in a quick-and-dirty fashion just to work out the dimensions and prove the concept. Pretty, it ain't. Perfect, neither. Even before I'd finished the prototype, I'd already begun to see things I would change and improve when I built the final, fancier version. Still, this prototype was and is fully functional, and has actually worked well enough that building that final, fancier version is yet another of the many projects I've yet to get around to ...









    Last edited by LarryG; 01-25-2021, 11:24 AM.
    Larry
  • LarryG
    The Full Monte
    • May 2004
    • 6693
    • Off The Back
    • Powermatic PM2000, BT3100-1

    #2









    Larry

    Comment

    • LarryG
      The Full Monte
      • May 2004
      • 6693
      • Off The Back
      • Powermatic PM2000, BT3100-1

      #3




      UPDATE, FEBUARY 1, 2021: I have posted an article in the Jigs & Fixtures section with the basic plans for this design, for those interested in building one.

      Thanks very much for looking!
      Last edited by LarryG; 02-01-2021, 02:16 PM.
      Larry

      Comment

      • cpritchard
        Forum Newbie
        • Oct 2006
        • 70

        #4
        GENIUS!
        That is a great idea!
        Chris

        Comment

        • bmyers
          Veteran Member
          • Jun 2003
          • 1371
          • Fishkill, NY
          • bt 3100

          #5
          Sweet! I like it alot. Give yerself a pat on the back for ingenuity on that one!!



          Bill
          "Why are there Braille codes on drive-up ATM machines?"

          Comment

          • cgallery
            Veteran Member
            • Sep 2004
            • 4503
            • Milwaukee, WI
            • BT3K

            #6
            Now is that clever or what???!!!

            Comment

            • JR
              The Full Monte
              • Feb 2004
              • 5633
              • Eugene, OR
              • BT3000

              #7
              Feeling somewhat nostalgic for our old BT3100, are we?

              Very nice idea, Larry. Very clever.

              JR
              JR

              Comment

              • LCHIEN
                Internet Fact Checker
                • Dec 2002
                • 20914
                • Katy, TX, USA.
                • BT3000 vintage 1999

                #8
                cool.
                How about router access? looks like the undertable side of the router (1617 table base, I see) is a bit hard to get to.
                Loring in Katy, TX USA
                If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
                BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

                Comment

                • RodKirby
                  Veteran Member
                  • Dec 2002
                  • 3136
                  • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
                  • Mao Shan TSC-10RAS

                  #9
                  Very clever solution, Larry!
                  Downunder ... 1" = 25.4mm

                  Comment

                  • Otter
                    Senior Member
                    • Nov 2003
                    • 865
                    • Cumming, GA, USA.
                    • Delta Left Tilt UniSaw

                    #10
                    Diddo
                    All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible

                    T.E. Lawrence

                    Comment

                    • siliconbauhaus
                      Senior Member
                      • Dec 2006
                      • 925
                      • hagerstown, md

                      #11
                      brilliant idea
                      パトリック
                      daiku woodworking
                      ^deshi^
                      neoshed

                      Comment

                      • steve-norrell
                        Veteran Member
                        • Apr 2006
                        • 1001
                        • The Great Land - Alaska
                        • BT3100-1

                        #12
                        Now that is truly cool.

                        Only question would be whether or not you would need legs under the table extension.

                        Really, really nice. Regards, Steve

                        Comment

                        • Ed62
                          The Full Monte
                          • Oct 2006
                          • 6022
                          • NW Indiana
                          • BT3K

                          #13
                          I really like that. Thanks for sharing.

                          Ed
                          Do you know about kickback? Ray has a good writeup here... https://www.sawdustzone.org/articles...mare-explained

                          For a kickback demonstration video http://www.metacafe.com/watch/910584...demonstration/

                          Comment

                          • jziegler
                            Veteran Member
                            • Aug 2005
                            • 1149
                            • Salem, NJ, USA.
                            • Ryobi BT3100

                            #14
                            Wow, that's a great idea! One of the best BT3 extensions that I've seen on here.

                            Jim

                            Comment

                            • big tim
                              Senior Member
                              • Mar 2006
                              • 546
                              • Scarborough, Toronto,Canada
                              • SawStop PCS

                              #15
                              Man, that's so clever!

                              Tim
                              Sometimes my mind wanders. It's always come back though......sofar!

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