21829 Differences

[dkerfoot]

I just realized while looking at a picture of the BT3100 that the rails are shorter than on my 21829.

What is the actual Rail Length of the BT3000/BT3100? 21829 is 47" not counting the end caps.

Also, I bought a BT3000 accessory table and it rides a bit higher than the stock one for the 21829. Is the BT3100 the same or would it match the 21829 height better?

[eezlock]

21829 vs. Bt3000 0r 3100

I don't know the exact length of the Bt3 rails...I sold mine last year when I
installed diffferent ones on my saw. As for the sliding miter table...it is suppost to be slightly higher than the main saw table, so when you are
crosscutting your stock it will not bind it up before it gets to the blade to be cut. The difference in height of the sliding table and main saw table is negligable ( very minor amount). eezlock

[LCHIEN]

I believe the actual length of the BT3x rails are 42" as are the extension rails.
Very interesting that the 21829 rails would be 47" long.
Don't know why the BT3000 aux/router table would sit a bit higher. I would have guessed that the same height was used in the castings for the main table which has the bosses for the rails.
I think for all practical purposes the height of the BT3000 and BT3100 aux tables and SMT are identical.

[gwyneth]

I believe the actual length of the BT3x rails are 42" as are the extension rails.
Very interesting that the 21829 rails would be 47" long.

Especially because that's about the amount the rails usually have to be scootched to the right so they don't hit the floor when the cart folds up. The slightly shorter ones would work much better with the folding cart, IMO.

One indication that the length is a real orphan strand of the design: the measuring scale tape stops five inches short of the right end of the rail--almost undoubtedly the same as on the BT3100.

[cgallery]

Especially because that's about the amount the rails usually have to be scootched to the right so they don't hit the floor when the cart folds up. The slightly shorter ones would work much better with the folding cart, IMO.

One indication that the length is a real orphan strand of the design: the measuring scale tape stops five inches short of the right end of the rail--almost undoubtedly the same as on the BT3100.

So the rails in the normal 21829 config extend further to the left than those on a BT3K?

[dkerfoot]

So the rails in the normal 21829 config extend further to the left than those on a BT3K?

They extend whichever way you want them to.

Personally, I love the ability to slide them to either side of the blade. This was a huge help when I was having to cross-cut 7' long engineered wood flooring.

[DonHo]

I'm pretty sure the BT3100 rails are 41" long. I had bought a set of 1/2 rails for my BT3100 because I wanted a longer extension for my router table. When I bought the 21289 and found the rails were longer I decided their extra length were enough so I sold my 3100 rails and the 1/2 rails. At first I was going to use the 3100 rails and the extension and I didn't notice a difference with either SMT on the 3100 rails. When I decided to keep the 21289 rails I didn't try the 3100 SMT on the new rails so I can't say for sure but I don't think there is much if any difference.

DonHo

[cgallery]

They extend whichever way you want them to.

Personally, I love the ability to slide them to either side of the blade. This was a huge help when I was having to cross-cut 7' long engineered wood flooring.

I guess my Q is relative to the scale. Do they have more aluminum to the right of the scale (and does the scale go above 24"), or to the left?

[LinuxRandal]

I believe the actual length of the BT3x rails are 42" as are the extension rails.
Very interesting that the 21829 rails would be 47" long.
Don't know why the BT3000 aux/router table would sit a bit higher. I would have guessed that the same height was used in the castings for the main table which has the bosses for the rails.
I think for all practical purposes the height of the BT3000 and BT3100 aux tables and SMT are identical.

Komatoast would probably be the man to answer on the tables. I believe the height difference is the height of the ribs.
The rails I knew were slightly longer, but I still don't know if the profiles are the same. I seem to remember a discussion on that, but I lost it.

[gwyneth]

I guess my Q is relative to the scale. Do they have more aluminum to the right of the scale (and does the scale go above 24"), or to the left?

They have about five and a half inches of plain aluminum to the right of the scale. What I meant was that the scale itself it probably the one from the BT3100, because the scale tape just stops.

[dkerfoot]

They have about five and a half inches of plain aluminum to the right of the scale. What I meant was that the scale itself it probably the one from the BT3100, because the scale tape just stops.

Here is a picture of what Gwyneth is describing:

[dkerfoot]

Is it possible to snug the accessory table all the way up on the left side of the saw on the BT3s? I can't do it with the accessory table from the BT3000 because of the mounts for the optional left miter table, but it is no problem with the one from the 21829.

The difference in height does indeed seem to be the grooves. This hasn't been a problem since I use the extra table exclusively for mounting a router. But, now I am wondering if the two dual miter tables that are being delivered today will ride too high... I'll post an update when I find out.

Because of the built-in miter slots, the accessory table on the 21829 is considerably wider. In practice, this makes it much easier to slide up and down the rails without binding.

Here a few more pictures to illustrate:

[dkerfoot]

But, now I am wondering if the two dual miter tables that are being delivered today will ride too high... I'll post an update when I find out.

The dual miter tables arrived today and they will work fine. In fact, it looks like I'll need to use all four supplied shims (2 per side) and if there were more, I'd consider adding a 3rd one per side.


No answers for this question?

Is it possible to snug the accessory table all the way up on the left side of the saw on the BT3s?

[LinuxRandal]

I got the dual miter slot table very soon after I assembling the saw. A local damaged freight store had a kit, cheap, then Sears had them on the closeout table.

Extra shims (thanks to reading it here) can be made of tape and aluminum (cans, flashing, etc), and brass.

Since I got it so quick, I didn't have the table over. Now at the store, (Sears), they did have it all the way over, but I didn't see how it was adjusted, as they don't assemble things well.