I think I can... I think I can...

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  • Howard
    Established Member
    • Jan 2006
    • 176
    • Plano, Tx.
    • Laguna Platinum Series - sold my BT!
    #1

    I think I can... I think I can...

    I'm about half way through my Veritas workbench project. Bought the plans and hardware and went to the Austin Hardwoods dealer to get some maple. Now for the fun part. After I planed the maple to smooth it out (it's 8/4 so I wasn't worried about the planer flattening the wood with a jointer first - I don't have one yet ) I knew it was time to test the mettle of my BT3100. I needed to rip 2" strips out of the roughly 2" thick boards for my top. First off, I didn't realize just how heavy and dense hard maple is. Holy cow! That stuff weighs a ton! I was worried about how the 3100 would be able to handle this kind of wood. I have a new Forrest WWII blade that should help some. I discovered that the BT CAN handle it, albeit slooooowwwwwwlllllyyyyyyy. I was wishing I had a PM 2000 about now, though. It would make short work out of hard maple. I will probably take me a couple of hours to rip the boards I need. I may make up a tall fence so I can use my grripper as an edge tool. I'm not too concerned because the rip cuts will be turned 90 degrees and once they are glued up, I'll run them through the planer again to smooth them out. I'll post pics when I'm done. It's been a heck of a day in the shop!
    Howard, the Plano BT3'r.

    Confucious say, "Man who get too big for britches will be exposed in the end."

    I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."
    - Mark Twain
    Tags: None
    • drumpriest
      Veteran Member
      • Feb 2004
      • 3338
      • Pittsburgh, Pa, USA.
      • Powermatic PM 2000
      #2
      Howard, I'll be the first this time to point out that a 24T ripping blade would have been a better choice. The gullets of the WWII just arn't big enough for ripping 2" thick material, thus clogging the rip and slowing it down. A new and fairly inexpensive Freud 24T rip blade probably would have make your life easier.

      Now don't let that stop you from buying a PM2000! ;-)
      Keith Z. Leonard
      Go Steelers!

        Comment

        • bigsteel15
          Veteran Member
          • Feb 2006
          • 1079
          • Edmonton, AB
          • Ryobi BT3100
          #3
          Originally posted by drumpriest
          Howard, I'll be the first this time to point out that a 24T ripping blade would have been a better choice. The gullets of the WWII just arn't big enough for ripping 2" thick material, thus clogging the rip and slowing it down. A new and fairly inexpensive Freud 24T rip blade probably would have make your life easier.

          Now don't let that stop you from buying a PM2000! ;-)
          Now you tell him!!!
          Brian

          Welcome to the school of life
          Where corporal punishment is alive and well.

            Comment

            • Howard
              Established Member
              • Jan 2006
              • 176
              • Plano, Tx.
              • Laguna Platinum Series - sold my BT!
              #4
              I appreciate the tip! Just another tool for the ole collection. I didn't think that would be an issue but I was getting concerned. The right tool for every job...
              Howard, the Plano BT3'r.

              Confucious say, "Man who get too big for britches will be exposed in the end."

              I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."
              - Mark Twain

                Comment

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