I scored big, now I'm a BT3000 owner!

[JimDantin]

Scored a BT3000 for $100 off Craigslist (Louisville). I'm just starting to plan a shop in a new house, so the BT3000 was a great find. My interests are more towards the utility end rather than fine woodworking, but who knows where I'll end up.

This started with me needing to set up a METALWORKING shop -- I just needed some woodworking tools to build benches, tables, etc., and I will also be doing some DIY remodeling on the house. I've been checking out the Craigslist ads and already scored a 12" DeWalt DW716 miter saw. Couldn't pass up the BT3000.

I tore it down, cleaned it up, adjusted everything, and replaced the shims. This is an amazingly well-designed machine that is easily tuned. The only thing missing is the saw guard. Do they shop up used? Or, should I just go ahead and buy one now before I'm temped to start using the saw without it?

I'm interested in getting the router mount and found the 8 piece accessory kit at Home Depot that seems to be a reasonable price for what you get. Comments/recommendations?

I've been reading all the postings and following the threads to other sites. I appreciate all the articles and tips that you all have written.

I'm going to build a 3' x 4' benchtop for the BT3000 -- it will provide a nice work surface and a place for my miter saw during construction of my shop.

[LCHIEN]

welcome to the forum.

you will find the answers to the questions you asked in my BT3 FAQ. See my sig line below.

p.s. the FAQ discusses the utility of the accessory kit and stytooners excellent blade guard replacement.

[Pappy]

Welcome to the Asylum, Jim! Any questions about the saw or woodworking in general you can come up with someone will be able to answer. (Also legal, psyphological, medical, cars/trucks/motorcycles....)

Rather than look for a stock guard, by a Shark Guard. Stytooner, a long time member, makes and sells them. Far superior to, and safer than, the stock guard.

Also email Lchein for a copy of the BT3 FAQ's.

Edit: You snuck in on me, Loring!

[chopnhack]

Nice find and welcome to the hands down best forum of its kind!

[leehljp]

Welcome Jim. Great find. Join in the fun here - metal or wood discussion as well as other things!

[natausch]

Welcome aboard.

LarrryG posted a dual purpose extension wing/router mount very recently. Details at the link below. I'll start working on my version in a few weeks, but very excited to see it in action.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=29738

The accessory kit from Home Depot, lots of good and bad in it.

Miter Clamp - very good
Dual Miter Slot Table - very good

Casters - very bad - The rails are aluminum so you have to be very careful using them in a wheelbarrel situation
Dust Bag - Bad, unless you're only using passive dust collection. The 90 degree turn is useful for hooking up DC, especially if you have the folding outfeed table (love mine!)

Router Accessory Kit - good and bad. Using the fence kit requires lots of set-up. It does make the accessory table more useful than just additional workpiece support

[pelligrini]

Welcome!

The shark guard is a very nice add on, highly reccomended. I usually left my OEM guard off. The riving knife and easily removable guard part of the shark is always on my saw now. It can really improve dust collection too.

[Garasaki]

Congrats!

I have found that dust collection greatly improves the "enjoyability" factor in woodworking for me. Consider addressing that problem. Even a shop vac equipped with a drywall bag and good filter is a step in the right direction.

I echo what others have said about the shark guard. There are 2 downsides to it: Price (I'm not saying it isn't worth it, it's just expensive), and the waiting period.

Many people work w/o the blade guard. I try to work with it on but it is a huge hassle to constantly be installing/uninstalling. Not only is it safe (the BT3k bladeguard actually is one of the best available, with a splitter and prawls) but it aids in dust collection (even though there is no connection to the guard itself).

If you are interested, I believe I've scored a good deal on a shark guard - I would send you my stock guard for the cost of shipping when my shark arrives.

[JimDantin]

Thanks to all of you for the quick replies. Sharing and helping others -- you can't go wrong in that environment!

One of the forum members already offered me a stock guard -- I looked at the Shark Guard and agree it is a great improvement. I'll probably get one in the future, but it will have to wait until I acquire other necessities first.

I picked up some casters at Lowes today -- I will add a proper handle and promise not to use my rails as wheelbarrow handles!

FYI, the caster is Waxman model #0400 4 in. gray rubber. The mounting holes are a perfect match and the ball bearings allow for smooth rolling.

[tjr]

Welcome - am also in Louisville for what it's worth, as are I think a few others here. Also did well off craigslist - one for $100 and another for $75.

Might I ask where you got the shims? Now that the Sears parts store is closed, there doesn't seem to be a good choice other than paying shipping.

[jabe]

Welcome Jim. I agree the shark guard is great. I bought it with everything, anti kickback pawls, blade guard , riving knife and push stick, well made, quality product. But I find myself just using only the riving knife 99% of the time.

[JimDantin]

I got the shims at my neighborhood hardware store! Doesn't your hardware store stock them? :-)

All I did was buy a strip of polished stainless steel out of their hobby supply display -- they stock a range of aluminum, brass, and stainless pieces like tubing, bar stock and sheet. It is branded K&S Engineering. The stainless was about 3/4" wide by a foot long and .010" thick. Not an exact match, but close enough. 1" wide would be better.

I trimmed it to length with a pair of tin snips, clamped it into a vise, bent it in half. Then snipped the corners and bent over the ears. A bit of adjusting with a small hammer and pliers, and it fit great. No binding, no wobble, smooth blade adjustment.

Check your local hobby stores if you don't have a hardware store -- the big box stores typically don't carry anything like this. Here is a mailorder source
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/k+s/k+s7155.htm
That pack of 8 pieces would be a lifetime supply for you and a few friends for only $5.79! Shipping will add to the cost, of course, so now the lifetime supply costs a whopping $11.74!

I was going to add the shim support mod, but got lazy.

[leehljp]

I got the shims at my neighborhood hardware store! Doesn't your hardware store stock them? :-)

All I did was buy a strip of polished stainless steel out of their hobby supply display -- they stock a range of aluminum, brass, and stainless pieces like tubing, bar stock and sheet. It is branded K&S Engineering. The stainless was about 3/4" wide by a foot long and .010" thick. Not an exact match, but close enough. 1" wide would be better.

I trimmed it to length with a pair of tin snips, clamped it into a vise, bent it in half. Then snipped the corners and bent over the ears. A bit of adjusting with a small hammer and pliers, and it fit great. No binding, no wobble, smooth blade adjustment.

Check your local hobby stores if you don't have a hardware store -- the big box stores typically don't carry anything like this. Here is a mailorder source
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/k+s/k+s7155.htm
That pack of 8 pieces would be a lifetime supply for you and a few friends for only $5.79! Shipping will add to the cost, of course, so now the lifetime supply costs a whopping $11.74!

I was going to add the shim support mod, but got lazy.

I like your style! Congratulations!