First Table Saw

[John Hunter]

My first was a BT3000, I still have it and added a BT3100

[jabe]

First table saw

I've always used Delta Uni-Saws and think they're great. I got an old Delta Milwaukee 10" tilting table saw as my 1st TS, it runs on 220V and has the torque to cut through any hard wood. When I saw the BT3000, I thought it was a toy and would never buy one. Then last year I got a broken BT3000 for free, so I rebuilt it, readjusted everything and now it has made me rethink my opinion of it. It's a good saw and can do the job for most hobbyist, it's not for a production shop that'll run it 8 hrs. a day. It has the most features for the buck and is accurate if adjusted correctly. I use mine as a job site saw as it is small enough & light to carry. I cut all of my sheet goods with my panel saw and use the BT3000 for some of the finish cuts. I'm satisfied with it's performance especially the dust collection port. It'll make a good 1st saw for the hobbyist or for someone who has a limited amount of space. If money and space was not an issue, I would buy a good quality cabinet saw like a powermatic or unisaw.

[Ken Massingale]

SteveJ,
Yep, you're one of us!
ken

Owner of a Ridgid TS3650, with heavy cast iron wings, Jeffrey! ;-D

[Stytooner]

I differ from Steve in the fact that I think the BT is a great starter saw. It is not only as accurate as you want it to be, is is highly versatile and has the best safety feaature a table saw can come with. The riving knife.
I too may get another saw one day if space permits, but I won't be relinquishing the BT as some of thee Darksiders have.
Regardless of which saw you choose, Guys here will be able to answer any questions you may have. Welcome aboard.

[Roger on the Rock]

Wow!! Thanks for the feedback, guys!! Lots of good stuff here and it's good to have a frank and concise non-recommendation to ponder too.

The BT 3100 is right up there on my choices. The others being the Ridgid 3650 and the King KC-10CCX. http://www.kingcanada.com/Products.htm?CD=82&ID=2526

Both are $799 Cdn and both have pros & cons. The BT-3100 seems to be better value for money...especially for a beginner to learn on without forking out bigger cash that could be used for other tools. From what I've heard here, there are a number of people that don't need to upgrade from the BT and others that would keep the BT even if they did upgrade.

All great info. Thanks again and I'll let you know which way I go. (More comments welcome, if anyone is inclined.)

Roger

[Bruce Cohen]

Roger,

See my post in the thread "BT3100 Tolerances". I hope that will help you decide.

Bruce

[Roger on the Rock]

Thanks Bruce. Very convincing indeed.

[LinuxRandal]

My first tablesaw, barely counts. It was earned by doing a bunch of work for a neighbor. Long story shortened, it was in a house fire.
The BT was technically my third (second was an $87 tablesaw that was a gift, if you can call it that). Now that the BT's pricepoint is this low, I think it's the best value, but if I had a decent sized shop (and more importantly decent access) I probably would have bought that old Unisaw, that was for sale locally, last year for $500. If the right bargin comes along, you just have to go for it.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

SteveJ,
Yep, you're one of us!
ken

Owner of a Ridgid TS3650, with heavy cast iron wings, Jeffrey! ;-D

Blaaaaaaa!

I stand very corrected! Looking at the website I see that the Ridgid TS3650 does in fact have solid, flat, heavy wings.
Why am I so confused on this? Was there another Ridgid model that had funky wings? I think they were cast iron, but they had holes in them, like a honeycomb or something. I swear that is what I remember from seeing that saw in person. Do you guys every get a discount off that $550?

Rodger,
On the King KC-10CCX, does the $799C price include a fence? Looking at your link it advises that the fence is optional, but I can't find any prices for the saw or the fence? This looks like and incrediable amount of saw for $799C. It does appear to be right tilt if that makes any difference to you (I personally have had lift and right tilt saws and don;t care either way).

[scorrpio]

Before I moved, I had access to a pro-level workshop, where I mostly used a Powermatic - one of those 500+lb, 7 feet wide, $2,500 saws. Now that I am tooling up my own workshop, where space is very limited, and the budget is also not very large, I got a BT3100 after some extensive research. (Which, incidentally, did NOT involve this forum. I found it after I made the decision to buy a BT, and it simply confirmed my other findings)

I love working with the BT. It has accuracy on par with Powermatic - though I imagine that being much lighter, it might not fare as well cutting large heavy stuff - but that is something I just don't do. I miss the 'real estate' of a large saw's table, but there is no way I could fit that 'estate' in my present shop. A fold-down outfeed table, though, addresses most of my concerns. And I really like the sliding table - I find that I am not missing the miter gauge and miter slots at all.

I have plans for expanding my shop - it is a detached building, and there is space to enlarge it - and then I might upgrade. My present top candidate is Grizzly 1023SLX, (~$1100), but until then, I am sure that BT will server admirably.

[Roger on the Rock]

Jeffrey;

Yes, the price of $799 Cdn does include the fence shown at this link....

http://www.kingcanada.com/Products.htm?ID=166

The site I posted was the King main site and did not include prices or accessories. The local dealer includes the 30" fence system.

Roger

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Jeffrey;

Yes, the price of $799 Cdn does include the fence shown at this link....

http://www.kingcanada.com/Products.htm?ID=166

The site I posted was the King main site and did not include prices or accessories. The local dealer includes the 30" fence system.

Roger

I don't think there is a real question between King and Ridgid here is there? King seems like much, much more saw. I like dual belt drive on King, that is nice. Funny, I would have sworn I never heard of King before until I was just in my shop and noticed that my DP is a KING! Lol! Same emblem and everything. It is my father in laws who brought it along when he sold his farm. That thing as been pounded on and it still works like a charm and is ultra smooth (after v belts).

[Roger on the Rock]

Jeffrey;

Portability, lifetime service, & 36" rip capacity are what's drawing me to the Ridgid. The King is an impressive machine, however, the BT 3100 does seem like the better value for the money....especially considering my experience level. The $400 difference spells something like a jointer for me.

Still debating...

Thanks,

Roger

[RayintheUK]

I don't think we're "biased" Roger, just "very interested" (and honest).

I bought my BT used and without knowing of this Forum, so I purchased it "blind." Having got it home, stripped and cleaned it, I then went looking for info and arrived here. From reading the manual, I had no real idea of what I could attempt with it, but after a short while I was confident of it and pleased with it enough to try anything. One example is here

Good luck with your debating!

Ray.

[Roger on the Rock]

Thanks Ray, et al;

Still debating, however I really appreciate the candid comments you have all provided.

Roger