Well, I've had the saw a week and already grabbing another one...

[Timmymacnj]

I sent a woodworker buddy of mine a picture of my new (used) saw, and how much I liked it. He told me that was funny because he has one like that with the sliding miter table that he's been meaning to put on marketplace.

I asked him how much he was asking for it, and said it was mine if I want to grab it, so I'm heading there Friday to pickup. He said he didnt have all the pieces to the miter fence, but ai guess we'll see friday!

[LCHIEN]

you have to look up "Frankensaw" here on the SDZ forum.

Several users have put together two saws by joining the rails at the ends.
THat gives them an 82 inch wide saw table area, and they can leave one saw set up for cuts and the other for dados or whatever they want.

[leehljp]

There are a few cautions that if noted can save some problems down the road.

1. Do NOT pick up the Sliding Miter table (SMT) and set it down instinctively in a standing UP position. Keep it Level, OR make dog gone sure that the small vertical lock on the end of the sliding table part is in the lock down hole. WHY? just instinctively standing it up withOUT the lock in place will cause gravity to take over and make the sliding table part slam to the end and break the plastic slides that hold the SMT to the aluminum track.

2. Over time and sometimes through negligence, the Rip Fence back end plastic body block will break. Occasionally on eBay, there will be someone selling a milled aluminum version at around $50. Truthfully, That is not bad for getting one that will not break. I have broken 2 in 20 years of using my BT, and both at the wrong time. IF YOU can fine a plastic one as a backup now, - it is good to have a backup.

3. The plastic locking block on the sliding Miter Table's Miter FENCE is something that also may break over 20 years of use. There is an aluminum one also occasionally offered on eBay.

4. If you can find two or three or 4 sets of "slides" for the SMT on eBay, get them! They are great to have when one or two are broken. Be sure to put them in a place that you KNOW where they are at all times, or they won't help you at all when you need them DAMHIKT !!!

Anyone else have a known caution? Please add it below.

[Timmymacnj]

Ok so I went and grabbed the saw from my friend. Mine is a bt3100, his is the bt3000. Unfortunately his was missing quite a few pieces (miter fence, router table mounting plate, etc, ) but mine had all of that so not a major disappointment there. Was hoping he'd have some hold down clamps or t nuts, but still nice to have a spare full saw.

Interesting note: his saw has a metal handwheel. Is that an aftermarket or craftsman swap? I thought I read that all the ryobi were plastic?

[LCHIEN]

The bt3100 all had that plastic blue and yellow handle.
Some of the Craftsman versions had metal handles and came with an adaptor for the Ryobi nonstandard shaft. Its possible he got one of those.

[Timmymacnj]

The bt3100 all had that plastic blue and yellow handle.
Some of the Craftsman versions had metal handles and came with an adaptor for the Ryobi nonstandard shaft. Its possible he got one of those.

I asked him about it and he wasn't sure, so it would have been a previous owner. He said he bought it from marketplace fairly cheap, used it for a year or two, then saw a great deal on a delta table saw that he jumped on so it's just been sitting around since