Introduction & first questions

[mfk]

I've been lurking for a few months now. Like others have said - what a great group! I'm a "newbie" to woodworking in terms of hands-on but the desire was definitely seeded some 40 years ago in high school woodshop - especially drawn to the table saw. Now I'm in possession of a lightly used BT3000. After discovering what a unique saw it was I joined this group. My present goal is to build the kitchen cabinets for our new kitchen addition this winter. I've been reading the forum discussions a lot learning all the time. I've been aligning, cleaning & waxing it the table saw as has been mentioned.

First question: I aquired the black 3100 extension rail kit. Have read the FAQ on it, but In attempting to mount the extensions to the original rail, i've noticed, on the front rails, once the back connector is attached flush to both rails, the channels do not align flush. There is just enough horizontal misalignment to stop the movement of the fence or SMT. I've been thinking of filing the channel edges flush. Is this common practice with the extensions?

Second question: will Rockler's T-Nut Kits work with the rip fence slots? I'm not sure what jig I might be making first,so I thought having a variety around would a good idea.

Forum question: Going through the older (2005 & earlier) posts, I noticed the jpegs are missing. Is that normal?

Because of what I've learned on this forum my next purchase is going to be a Shark Guard & probably the Grr-ripper.

Mike

[LCHIEN]

there was a major crash/reinstallation of posts about 2005, many of the older photos were lost.

theres a site called www.t-nuts.com that has all the properly sized t-nuts for the BT3 series fences and rails. If you want your stuff to fit perfectly.
Try this page: http://t-nuts.com/prod.shtml

The rockler t-bolts may fit depending upon which slots - you'll have to measure.

[LinuxRandal]

Second question: will Rockler's T-Nut Kits work with the rip fence slots? I'm not sure what jig I might be making first,so I thought having a variety around would a good idea.

Forum question: Going through the older (2005 & earlier) posts, I noticed the jpegs are missing. Is that normal?

Because of what I've learned on this forum my next purchase is going to be a Shark Guard & probably the Grr-ripper.

Mike

You will get the recommendaion to buy the T nuts through the store linked on a front page. T nuts are a class of nuts, but they don't all swap or fit each others stuff.

As for the older posts, between two? forum upgrades, people cleaning out account, and providers (like Photobucket) cleaning out accounts, old pictures don't always stay around.

While I have no problem with buying either of your two choices (I own both), I would recommend looking in the classifieds, if not buying right away. I also would look at Rod Kirby's posts, if you have a strong stomach, as he tried to get by making small strips, and now had 9 1/2 fingers.

And Welcome!

[LCHIEN]

with regards to the matching up of the silver and black rails (BT3000 and BT3100) if the cause a discontinuity you can either bevel file the joint or perhaps shim the back to make the faces you want to lineup do so. They should be very close.

[mfk]

Thanks for the replies!

[leehljp]

Welcome Mike!

About the jpegs - some were lost when the forum changed to new format back in 2005. And some have been lost over the years due to the link being hosted on another site or two that have gone belly up.

[pelligrini]

First question: I aquired the black 3100 extension rail kit. Have read the FAQ on it, but In attempting to mount the extensions to the original rail, i've noticed, on the front rails, once the back connector is attached flush to both rails, the channels do not align flush. There is just enough horizontal misalignment to stop the movement of the fence or SMT. I've been thinking of filing the channel edges flush. Is this common practice with the extensions?

Second question: will Rockler's T-Nut Kits work with the rip fence slots? I'm not sure what jig I might be making first,so I thought having a variety around would a good idea.

Because of what I've learned on this forum my next purchase is going to be a Shark Guard & probably the Grr-ripper.

Mike

There's some good info on the rails in this thread. http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=45948
I've never noticed any mis aligned slots between BT rails on the 4 1/2 sets I have. There is one hanging spot between the older rails and the newer ones though. The outside corners of the top slot on the front rail are slightly rounded on the later rails. My fence would hang often on the corner that would stick up from my short rails that didn't have the rounded extrusion. A little filing helped a lot.

I just picked a bunch of rockler 5/16 bolts, I'll verify later this morning. Here's the dimensions;
Bottom plates on 5/16''-18 T-bolts measure 9/16'' W x 7/8'' L x 7/64'' H.
Bottom plates on 1/4''-20 T-bolts measure 9/16'' W x 11/16'' L x 7/64'' H.
They don't fit Incra T-Track. http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=47062
I don't think they'll fit any BT slot.

Yep, the shark and the gripper are nice additions. I ended up gettin a pair of grippers for doing longer stock.

[pelligrini]

Nope, rockler t-bolts do not really fit anything BT. The 5/16 bolts do fit the small top slots on the front rail only if it is turned perpendicular to the rail.

[gsmittle]

Because of what I've learned on this forum my next purchase is going to be a Shark Guard & probably the Grr-ripper.

Mike

Hi Mike!

Definitely get the Shark Guard! The stock splitter is OK, but the SG is head and shoulders above. Worth probably twice what it costs.

g.

[mfk]

There's some good info on the rails in this thread. http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=45948
I've never noticed any mis aligned slots between BT rails on the 4 1/2 sets I have. There is one hanging spot between the older rails and the newer ones though. The outside corners of the top slot on the front rail are slightly rounded on the later rails. My fence would hang often on the corner that would stick up from my short rails that didn't have the rounded extrusion. A little filing helped a lot.

I just picked a bunch of rockler 5/16 bolts, I'll verify later this morning. Here's the dimensions;
Bottom plates on 5/16''-18 T-bolts measure 9/16'' W x 7/8'' L x 7/64'' H.
Bottom plates on 1/4''-20 T-bolts measure 9/16'' W x 11/16'' L x 7/64'' H.
They don't fit Incra T-Track. http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=47062
I don't think they'll fit any BT slot.

Yep, the shark and the gripper are nice additions. I ended up gettin a pair of grippers for doing longer stock.

That is the problem with the rail.... so a little filing.......on the order list for the Shark Guard


thanks