Just picked up a BT3100 today

[HackSaw]

Hello everyone. I stumbled onto this forum as was looking for my first table saw to use for some projects. The BT3 saw seems like a good one for beginners and will also be flexible enough for future stuff as I gain more knowledge.

As luck would have it, I found one today for sale for $130 and it seems to have all the accessories. That seems like a good deal. I hope it was! I haven't done a full inventory yet but I've printed out the users manual and requested a copy of the FAQ.

So I have a couple of questions. First is what should I do to get my saw ready to use? I will clean the table and get rid of all the sawdust but is there anything else I should do? Lubricate? Should I take the saw completely apart and assemble it from scratch? There is some rust on the bolts and a little corrosion and Gorilla glue on the table.

Also I just read about the belts and other parts being harder to get now so I'm a bit less excited than when I got home. But still pretty excited.

Thanks and cheers, all.

[Black wallnut]

Howdy HackSaw, welcome to BT3Central! First blow all the sawdust out and check the up/down and bevel functions. Use mineral spirits to clean off the main table and rails. Paint a RED line in the groove in front of the blade as a reminder that if the SMT fence crosses this line you will be "joining the club" Once that drys give all surfaces other than the SMT fence and rails a coat of Johnsons paste wax or Minwax wood finishing wax. Read and understand how the SMT works, then adjust it for parrallesim to blade and lastly square the SMT fence to blade and adjust the quick stop. Check and adjust the rip fence to the blade. Mount the riving knife and guard and make some test cuts. If your saw does not have a riving knife and guard seriously consider contacting our in-house funny man Stytooner for a slick aftermarket Sharkguard.

[HackSaw]

Thank you, Black wallnut. Great info! Looks like I've got some learnin' to do. Cheers.

[figmentj13]

I too just picked up a saw from craigslist. I have the extension rails but it is missing hardware and legs... is there anyway I can find the legs and hardware?

[Black wallnut]

For hardware try T-nuts.com. Most users make their own legs or a saw cart with built-in wide table. T-nuts as sold by T-nuts.com are an improved design over the OEM supplied ones. To join the rails you will need several and you can make your own brackets with angle iron if you have the ability to drill carefully placed holes.

Welcome to BT3Central!

[tfischer]

Follow the procedures in the manual (or the FAQ here) to square up/adjust everything. Once that's done the saw is very precise, and will remain that way if you don't bounce it around.

Personally i think the saw is worthless without a Shark Guard. The stock blade guard is far to difficult/time consuming to remove when necessary so you'll just leave it off which isn't safe.