bt3x000 vs craftman 21829

[scott710]

If this has been hashed out before, please ignore and I will dig it out of the thread histories. But, price aside AND contractor saw issues aside, does the 21829 stack up to bt3x000 as a table saw?
TIA, Scott

[Knottscott]

There should be some info here about the difference, as it's been discussed before. The 21829 is made by Ryobi, and many of the parts are interchangeable. Someone else will be able to tell you the more subtle differences.

[LCHIEN]

From my BT3 FAQ


There now (August 2005) appears to be a new Sears US BT3-derived model in the catalog designated 21829. Differences from the BT3100:

• Flat, not ribbed top
• 36-T Sears blade (a Chinese-made blade, not the Freud-made blade)
• Silver rails that are 47" long, not 42" like the other saws in the BT3 series.
• SMT has additional pivot holes to allow the miter fence to operate with wider workpieces when making 90° crosscuts
• Wider Auxiliary table has two miter slots and locks front and rear, router mounts directly to table, not adapter plate, with Craftsman router hole pattern, only (?) Note: many people think the miter slots in the Auxiliary table are replacements for the Miter Slot Table accessory but they cannot be aligned to the blade so they are useful for router work only.
• Looks like a miter gage is included as well
• Yellow mark-on circle before blade for noting kerf locations, yellow throat plate
• Different (metal? But looks more like Plastic?) elevation and bevel crank

• Red painted cabinet with black accents.
• Fold-up, rollaway stand (this gets a lot of positive comments, one of the really good improvements/features)
• New accessory hangers
• Comes with router mounting kit – but no adapter plate, the router mounts directly to bosses on the auxiliary table, so it may be harder to mount non-Craftsman/Ryobi routers.
• Front panel says "Craftsman Professional"
• Priced around $449, often on sale for $399-425. Sometimes less.
• Presumably, since it post-dates the BT3100, it has the improved shim system.

All the various versions of the BT3 (BT3000, BT3100, BT3100-1, Sears 22811, Sears 21829, Sears 22185, Sears 27413) discussed above share the main motor housing, universal motor, belts, sliding rail, rip fence design, Auxiliary table and SMT. Most all accessories and parts will interchange (except those attaching to the base) – especially the ones attaching to the rail, although there are some differences in appearance which are cosmetic. SMT, rip fence, and auxiliary table should all interchange. Some motor elevation parts beginning with the BT3100 are improved and can be interchanged as a set (see the section on shims).

[scott710]

Thanks for the FAQ - that's good enough for me! Scott

[LCHIEN]

If you didn't read thru all the detail,
under all the cosmetic and cabinet dress and stand differences, its the same saw at heart.

[scott710]

With a 2 day sale and another discount added in, I bought the Craftsman 21829 for 359.99 + tax and store pickup. Scott

[Bill in Buena Park]

Scott,
I'm sure all the 21829 owners here, including myself, congratulate you on a good buy for a great saw. I've had mine about 2 years now, for approximately the same deal, and am as happy as the proverbial "pig in mud".

[scott710]

Yes Bill, it was your post about the 21829 price that got me (patiently) waiting for the sale price to materialize. I am new to Craftsman Club and their 'deal' after the 2-day sale was more than the 2day plus another discount. Can't wait to start my firewood collection...