Broke it? I think I bent it.

[billwheaton]

While putting in a new door on my shed it slipped and fell inward into my shed and landed on one of the rails of my BT3000.

Winding sticks (as if I needed them) on the rails reveal a 2" twist between the rails now.

But the rails are not bent, so the only thing I can assume is that the carcass is bent.

I've tried to unbend coat hangers before... never works.

Am I in the same boat with this?

[dbhost]

Bill,
Unbending sheet metal, or more appropriately bending into proper shape is far easier than straighteneing a coat hanger. But it does take some skill

You will want to use a hammer / dolly arrangement and adjust the sheet metal pieces into proper alignment. Basically what you are doing is the same thing as Auto Body repair work...

If worse comes to worse, I have seen carcasses for these saws on Ebay from time to time, or keep watching here for somebody that has a saw with a burnt up motor willing to sell the entire thing...

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, and the best of luck getting it working!

Your user name is a bit curious. Even if you aren't Wil Wheaton welcome to BT3Central. You have a good name sake.

[LCHIEN]

2" would be a lot. Does the center fixed top show any warpage if you use winding sticks on the far ends (not including the aux table an SMT which would be affected by the rails)?

If the top is still flat, I'd loosen the levers that hold the rails and reseat them, see if they aren't just twisted a bit by the forces.

[cgallery]

The rails attach to the cast aluminum top. I'd think that it would crack before bending to the degree that the rails would be out 2"?

I'd take the two rails off and lay them next to each other. As you spin them around you'll be able to see if one or both are bent.

[billwheaton]

Bill,
Unbending sheet metal, or more appropriately bending into proper shape is far easier than straighteneing a coat hanger. But it does take some skill
[snip]
Your user name is a bit curious. Even if you aren't Wil Wheaton welcome to BT3Central. You have a good name sake.

Not the sheet metal though... the casting.

Wil has a good name sake... I have several years on him. Nice guy though. We follow each other on twitter. I'm a geek, but not half the geek he is. (and thats a good thing... being a geek that is )

[billwheaton]

2" would be a lot. Does the center fixed top show any warpage if you use winding sticks on the far ends (not including the aux table an SMT which would be affected by the rails)?

If the top is still flat, I'd loosen the levers that hold the rails and reseat them, see if they aren't just twisted a bit by the forces.

Tried reseating, no go. flipped the aux table on top of it... it totally rocks (and not the good way )

So I found a hulk for $100 on craigs list not 7 miles away and bought it today. Belts are broken and the miter table tab clamps on the back are busted, but other than that it looks good. I'll scavange off my old one and repair the newer one.

I can't live without this saw. Every time I look at the dark side I go "my Ryobi already does that".

[billwheaton]

The rails attach to the cast aluminum top. I'd think that it would crack before bending to the degree that the rails would be out 2"?

I'd take the two rails off and lay them next to each other. As you spin them around you'll be able to see if one or both are bent.

Nope. Straight as an arrow. That really surprised me. I expected that all I would need was a new rail. I even put them on my known straight edge. Those rails are TOUGH.

[dbhost]

Not the sheet metal though... the casting.

Wil has a good name sake... I have several years on him. Nice guy though. We follow each other on twitter. I'm a geek, but not half the geek he is. (and thats a good thing... being a geek that is )

LOL...

Yeah, Wil is in my age bracket, and as a Linux admin, I think he's more famous for being a computer geek than a Trek guy...

Heck of a guy though. Too bad he got typecast in that role...

On the saw thing. Yeah, do all you can to keep your BT alive. A great saw that Ryobi did not see fit to keep offering in the U.S.