New to the bt3100

**Ken Weaver** · 03-14-2006, 04:56 AM

Welcome Don! Watch for gmack's post of helpful tips. I think you'll enjoy getting back into things and you got some good stuff to get you started. Have fun, make sawdust and be safe!

**Raymonator** · 03-14-2006, 04:59 AM

From one newbie to another, welcome aboard Don. I wish I were living in the states right now, hard to believe you can get a Ryobi BT3100 for $249.00 ($400.00 here in Canada) I haven't purchased my BT3100 yet, but it won't be long I can assure you. Just waiting for the weater to warm up a bit.
I think it's great that you had the privilege to learn from the mennonites, as they do things the old fashion way, but do it very well. I think anyone who doesn't know anything about wook working could learn a lot in a mennoite 101 wood shop course. Good luck with all your new toys, and hopefully we'll bump into each other here on the forum and share some ideas.
Later
Ray

**monte** · 03-14-2006, 05:43 AM

Welcome to the group Don. Be safe and enjoy your new tools.

**Pappy** · 03-14-2006, 06:40 AM

Welcome to the Asylum, Don!

**gfrenzel** · 03-14-2006, 07:16 AM

Welcome Don. You'll enjoy your BT3100 and also this site. Have fun.

**gmack5** · 03-14-2006, 11:57 PM

Welcome Aboard!

Welcome Don,

Congratulations on the acquisition of your BT3100 and welcome to the "family".

One of the first things you need to do, after you get your BT3100 Saw assembled is, following your Owner's Manual, go thru the entire set-up proceedure, step by step, in the sequence laid out in the Manual. Each set up proceedure builds on the one before it, so you MUST keep them in sequence.

Usually the Saw is set up properly, right out of the box, but you should still check it as this gets you familiar with all the adjustments on the saw and assures you that everything is as it should be.

Here's some free plans that'll keep you busy for a while. http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/r...ex.php?cat=102

And here's some additional information about your Saw that you may find useful.

Regardless of what you've read or others have told you, NEVER NEVER use any wax or lubricant on your saw that contains Silicone, this includes all automobile waxes and polishes and most spray-on furniture polishes.
The reason is simple, most of them contain Silicones and they will make your projects difficult to finish.
Silicones repell liquid, making "fish eyes" in your finishes, this will force you to remove the Silicones from your project and start over. That stuff (Silicone) migrates all over every where, don't ask me how, it just does.
If you put it in one place, eventually it will be all over the entire saw.

Your best bet is to use a "dry" lubricant, such as Teflon (PTFE), Powdered Graphite, or Candle Wax for the Raising/Lowering and Tilt mechanisms below the table top.
Then use either Johnson's Paste Wax, Minwax's "Finishing Wax" or Butcher's Wax on the working surfaces, table tops (All three of them) and the Rip Fence.
Do NOT Wax the Front and Rear rails or the Miter Fence. As a mater of fact, you may want to glue 220 grit sand-paper to the front face of the Miter Fence, cause you don't WANT things to slide on there.

You might also want to check out the "Articles" section on the www.BT3central.com site. Lots of good maintenance information on your saw and some of the Jigs and Fixtures that BT3Central members and others have designed for it. Located here: http://www.bt3central.com/index.php?page=articles
The only thing you'll need to access the information is a recent copy of the Adobe Reader (It can be downloaded from the BTcentral site).

One of the Articles mentioned is a "Check List", written by Jim Frye. You can find it here: https://www.sawdustzone.org/articles...nce-check-list

This list contains all the different areas on your saw that need to be periodically inspected or given some sort of special attention. In other words, a "Preventative Maintanence Check List" or PM.

Performing this PM on a monthly basis would be a good idea.

One of the other things you'll find there is an on-line copy of the User's Manual in downloadable pdf format (a handy thing to have).

Something you might think about is the use of a set of Draftsman's Triangles instead of the Carpenter's Square that they show in the Owner's Manual for setting up your saw.

An accurate Carpenter's Square is almost a myth!

A good one will cost you quite a bit of money, $40 - $75, or more. I would recommend that you consider using a pair of Draftsman's 30 -60 and 45 degree triangles instead. You'll find they're not near as expensive and are far more accurate than a run-of-the-mill Carpenter's Square. The 30-60 triangle should have one 12" leg and the other leg would be 9" long. The 45 degree triangle should have at least 8" legs on either side of the 90 degree corner.

That way either one can be put up against the side of the Saw Blade without touching the saw teeth.

Just remember, regardless of which measuring instrument you choose to use, check it(them) to be sure they're accurate. When checking the Miter Fence for Square to the Blade with a triangle, use the 12" 30-60, if possible.

One of the other "tricks" that I've discovered is to take a piece of "Wax" paper, fold it several times and rub it in the grooves that the "T" nuts that lock your Rails in place ride in. Makes the Rails move smooth as Butter.

You might also want to check out the "FAQ" in a "sticky" in the Getting Started Forum:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=1699
It'll answer a lot of your questions.

Last, but not least, don't forget to paint the RED line!
It's a line that extends the line-of-sight from the saw blade to the front edge of the table to remind you NOT to let your Miter Fence or your FINGERS get in the way of the saw blade. Just put red paint, nail polish, or what ever, in the grove that extends towards the operator from the front edge of the saw blade.

**doncook7** · 03-15-2006, 02:07 AM

dead link...

Thanks to all who've welcomed me! Just a quick question to gmack5...

Is there any other place to get the "quick checklist"? The link seems to be dead, and i can't seem to find it.

Again, thanks.

don

**John Hunter** · 03-15-2006, 11:40 AM

Welcome aboard.

**RmeDad** · 03-15-2006, 11:50 AM

Check List Location

Originally posted by doncook7

Thanks to all who've welcomed me! Just a quick question to gmack5...

Is there any other place to get the "quick checklist"? The link seems to be dead, and i can't seem to find it.

Again, thanks.

don

Go here http://www.bt3central.com/index.php?page=articles and look under BT3 Maintenance & Repair.

WELCOME ABOARD!

**doncook7** · 03-15-2006, 06:21 PM

staring me right in the face....

Thank you! I have a looked at the page several times and somehow read right over that...

I'll catch on.

Thanks again,
don

**gmack5** · 03-15-2006, 10:03 PM

Originally posted by doncook7

Thanks to all who've welcomed me! Just a quick question to gmack5...
Is there any other place to get the "quick checklist"? The link seems to be dead, and i can't seem to find it.
Again, thanks.don

Don,
If you hadn't blocked "recieving" Emails, you'd have the information that you wanted by now.

I have a copy of the file (PM checklist) that you'd like to have but as things stand, I have no way to get it to you.

Since "Emails" from this forum are only sent between members (normally), blocking Emails is not very smart.

Sorry, my link was screwed up! Try this one instead.
https://www.sawdustzone.org/articles...nce-check-list

**doncook7** · 03-16-2006, 01:33 AM

my apologies...

I have to say i'm sorry. I didn't realize I was blocking emails. I am now on my way to find change that setting. I didn't know it was a default setting.

Thank you!

don

New to the bt3100

New to the bt3100

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