Were it green and labeled FESTOOL, easily $thousands and people would lust over it

[Fried Chicken]

And i'm not even being hyperbolic here.

I "collect" useful tools; I'm always scanning the market and will acquire things in anticipation of their future use.
For me and my Craftsman Ryobi BT3000 that time has come now, and I've finally gotten around to using both the router and the table saw.

I am floored. This thing is amazing, and were it green with FESTOOL stamped on it... $thousands, easily...

I still need to finish accsesorizing it and setting it up as I'd like it.

[leehljp]

Yet there are those who are ignorant of its ability and argue vehemently that it is only a toy. Ignorance is bliss for them.

[Jim Frye]

Blowing the BT3x00's horn, not mine.
https://www.sawdustzone.org/articles...y-buy-a-bt3000

[tfischer]

I've been making dust with mine for over 20 years now. While there are times I wish the build quality were higher, and more times that I wish replacement parts were available (I'm probably one broken belt or fried motor from having to get a new saw... and I'm on my second motor) I love this saw and plan on keeping it as long as I can.

[Jim Frye]

Ryobi sold over 600,000 of the BT3x00 saws. Parts are available if you ask here where to find them. I bought spare belts when I burned mine up shortly after buying the saw. I swear having a spare set is insurance. I also bought a spare set of SMT slides which have never been needed. I also have an unused BT3100 sitting under the BT3000 to use for parts if needed..

[LCHIEN]

I've been making dust with mine for over 20 years now. While there are times I wish the build quality were higher, and more times that I wish replacement parts were available (I'm probably one broken belt or fried motor from having to get a new saw... and I'm on my second motor) I love this saw and plan on keeping it as long as I can.

Keep browsing eBay and yes even Amazon for BT3000 and you will find a surprising endless stream of replacement parts that ebbs and flows. I've been stocking up on the critical plastic and rubber parts so if anything breaks I have spares. $5 -30 bucks here and there a few times a year is cheap insurance.
Here's what I think I have off the top of my head.
belts (set of 2)
SMT slides
SMT table
aux table
Miter fence
arbor nut, washers and bushings(2)
handwheel
I replaced the rear rip fence roller bracket with a metal one when mine cracked, I've since sold the plastic spare I had
rear rip fence roller wheel

[othermeans]

I love my Ryobi BT3000. Wait for it...sorry no but from me. I have a small garage and it works perfectly for me. All the accessories you can add or make for it make me love it more. When I had a VW bug in my younger days a saying I heard alot was "I'll never sell my Vdub it needs me and I need it!" That's how I feel about my Ryobi.

[dbhost]

Aside from certain parts being discontinued, my only real issue with the saw is the aluminum top instead of cast iron, but that would have made the saw a LOT more expensive... so there is that...

[Jim Frye]

Aside from certain parts being discontinued, my only real issue with the saw is the aluminum top instead of cast iron, but that would have made the saw a LOT more expensive... so there is that...

I've never had any issue with the aluminum table tops on the saw, nor any aluminum table on any tool. The bare aluminum can mark some woods, but I've waxed mine with a liquified paste wax and never had a problem. A cast iron top would also have made the saw a lot heavier and thus less portable.

[dbhost]

True enough, but VERY hard to use magnetic accessories on the aluminum tops...

[LCHIEN]

Aluminum has its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros: Its light and inexpensive and doesn't rust; It is fairly easy to machine
Cons: it is softer than steel or iron and it doesn't have the heft which is useful if you have a machine that vibrates any; the weight of cast iron dampens out the vibration. It can leave marks but paste wax has made that a non issue.

On the whole I never miss a cast iron top or stamped steel wings on the BT3000.

[dirtmover]

I've had my bt3000 since 1999 and still use it regularly. There was a high level of innovation in that saw but they really needed to raise the execution up a couple of notches. Too many weak design choices and easily breakable plastic parts. I've always felt I've had to baby it rather than being able to work it hard. Regardless it has been a great saw and coped well with most of what I've thrown at it.

The BT3x00 has a lot of design deficiencies that need to be addressed before it could wear the green badge of honour.

[Jim Frye]

I bought my BT3000 in February of 1993 at Home Base for $500. It has been the best tool money I ever spent. It has never failed to do exactly what it was designed to do and with the jigs and fixtures I've made for it (articles), it goes beyond what many table saws can do. It can resaw 3 1/2" stock while my BIL's big 3 hp PM 66 can only do 3" stock. I burned up a set of belts a few months after buying it by trying to start the saw with the blade jammed into a new blank throat plate. The one and only fail for the saw. They will have to pry it from my cold, dead hands before I will part with it.