Joined the Club

[MikeH49]

After several years of lurking and wrestling with what to get (BT3K or Bosch 4100) I finally picked up a BT3100 for $70. It needs a little work. Here are the issues and a few questions:

• The miter fence and blade guard/riving knife assembly are missing.
• The "bottom" (?) half of two of the miter table slides are missing.
• The elevation is not real smooth (it takes higher effort than I expected), even after cleaning and lubing the mechanism with a silicone spray. The shims and their sliding surfaces look OK, no galling. The elevation lead screw looks OK also. Can't see the threaded bushing on the motor. The bevel gears seem kind of sloppy.
• The throat plate has about a 1/2" wide slot and mounts with one screw and two fingers that slide under capture screws. Is this the stock version?

Here are the questions:

• Will the Sears 21829 miter fence asssembly work on the BT3100? It's available as an assembly for the 21829 at a better price versus the individual parts for the 22811.
• Should I get a complete set of 4 miter table slides? Two appear to be OK.
• Any suggestions for the elevation mechanism? Alternate lubricants?
• Any throat plate recommendations to get started? I just need something basic.

Thanks for the help. This is a great forum and one of the reasons I went for the BT3K.

Mike

[pelligrini]

The 21829 miter fence assembly will work. The only difference is two black indicator tabs instead of a single red one.

I've been using just paste wax on for lubrication. Did you also lubricate the area where the shims slide?

The Leeway Workshop has started selling ZCTPs again. There's also plans for making your own there too. http://www.leestyron.com/zctp.php
I recently did several out of some maple flooring scraps.

[Uncle Cracker]

Contact "LCHIEN" through the PM feature here. Give him your e-mail addy and ask for his outstanding "BT3 FAQ". Most of your questions will be answered there, and those that aren't, well... they just ain't worth worryin' about...

[Ed62]

Welcome aboard. Do get the FAQ mentioned above.

Ed

[natausch]

After several years of lurking and wrestling with what to get (BT3K or Bosch 4100) I finally picked up a BT3100 for $70. It needs a little work. Here are the issues and a few questions:

• Will the Sears 21829 miter fence asssembly work on the BT3100? It's available as an assembly for the 21829 at a better price versus the individual parts for the 22811.
• Should I get a complete set of 4 miter table slides? Two appear to be OK.
• Any suggestions for the elevation mechanism? Alternate lubricants?
• Any throat plate recommendations to get started? I just need something basic.

Also check on eBay, it looks like a complete bt3k is being parted out over the next couple days. Unless you'll be replacing the blade guard/riving knives with an upgraded version you might be able to replace it cheaper than ordering from a replacement part.

[dbhost]

After several years of lurking and wrestling with what to get (BT3K or Bosch 4100) I finally picked up a BT3100 for $70. It needs a little work. Here are the issues and a few questions:

• The miter fence and blade guard/riving knife assembly are missing.
  

• You can go back with a stock blade guard / riving knife, but I wouldn't. It takes some time for him to get them done, but the Shark Guard is a HUGE improvement in protection, and dust collection compared to the flimsy stock guard. http://www.leestyron.com/.
  
  The 21829 miter fence is compatible. You can find them from saws being parted out as well.
  

• The "bottom" (?) half of two of the miter table slides are missing.