Bts21

[gerti]

Nice car...

[Kraw]

Looks like that ought to work nicely.

You might consider adding a t-track to the top of the fence for feather boards and such. The router fence I made for my 21829 didn't have one at first. It didn't take me too long before I found the need for one.

I was thinking the same thing. We have a Rockler in the area and I need to go there sometime. I figured, for now, I could just use clamps if needed

Nice car...

Thanks, which one? One is hidden Well, I say hidden. I keep a cover on it so it won't get coated in MDF Dust

[dbhost]

I have the BTS-21 and it's not nearly as BAD of a saw as it seems some folks have the opinion. HOWEVER, it isn't a good / great saw by any measure.

It cuts nice, accurate cuts. The fence is kind of short, and the inability to have any sort of miter slot is infuriating... But it has done every single task I have asked of it in the 6 months I have had mine...

Is it in the same league as the BT / 21829? Not even close? Is it in the same league as the BTS10 or other benchtop saws? Nope, it is way better than that!

I did not know about the BT3100 / 21829 when I bought my saw. I needed a good saw that would not take up much space when stored. The BTS-21 fit the bill...

I like the router table addition that you guys have set up. I would love to see more folks actually using these saws for doing more than just slicing off 2x4s...

[DVDVampire]

So is the insert that unclecritic created the best method for extending the BTS21's rip capacity passed the delivered 30" mark?

Are there any other types of table/fence extensions that can be used with this saw?

[dbhost]

Nope. Unlike the BT3x00 the BTS21 does not have any extension rails available for it. Assuming some creativity, you can cut your own / build an extension table...

I own the BTS-21 and wish like heck I had a BT...

[DVDVampire]

Nope. Unlike the BT3x00 the BTS21 does not have any extension rails available for it. Assuming some creativity, you can cut your own / build an extension table...

I own the BTS-21 and wish like heck I had a BT...

I assume I'll have to build my own outfeed table as well.

Basically, I'm trying to use the BTS21 to cut plywood sheets to about 36" x 22". I was hoping to find some type of railing kit to assist me with the process.

[unclecritic]

I didnt change the rip capacity at all... just took advantage of the space once the "wing" was all the way extended.

I can't remember how the rails were on the -21 but im pretty sure they cant be easily extended. I'm sure someone could figure out a way to make an extension table with a fence but i'm not sure how well it would work given the portable nature of the saw.

All in all, its not a bad saw... in some ways I miss it because it was alot lighter than the 21829 I have now. I'm now at a new place that I don't have any real shop space so I'm storing everything in a shed and taking it out and putting it away as necessary and working in the driveway... kind of a pain and not sure how thats going to work in a michigan winter...

[dbhost]

Heya Unclecritic,

I'll happily trade ya the 21829 for my BTS-21... What do you say?

[dbhost]

Ah... Well... I sized my sawhorses to be level with my saw table, set them up on the left, compensate by 1/16" for blade kerf, and cut to the left of the blade for just such a situation...

Another solution is a straight edge and circular saw with a good blade. Just make sure you support the work piece with 2x4s, and limit your depth of cut properly...

If I recall correctly, the right rip capacity on the BTS-21 is 32" (16"+16" for the tape...)

[unclecritic]

Heya Unclecritic,

I'll happily trade ya the 21829 for my BTS-21... What do you say?

that would give me an excuse to come to texas lol

[joecue]

pleased owner.

I recently purchased a BTS-21 myself. I was in the same position as many here, needed a table saw, but have to store all tools in a small shed. My shed would be large enough to set the saw up in, if I didn't have so much to store.

The first project I used it on I was replacing part of my living room floor, I ripped 5/8 plywood as well as 1/4 luan to build-up the subfloor before adding roll linoleum. I know not exactly the correct thickness for the floor, but the previous owner was not a carpenter, I like to think of him as a "shade-tree carpenter", much like a "shade-tree mechanic" *yikes!!*

The saw was perfect, matter-of-fact I pulled it from the box put the accessories on and the few needed parts and I was off and cutting. Then I realized I needed to check the blade for trueness, but after my first few plywood cuts, realized I didn't need to.

The next project was the rebuild of the front inside half of our camper. We needed to rip 2x6 pressure treated boards down to 2x2.5 in order to get our floor members, as well as rip 5/8 plywood for the sub-floor, and 1/4 luan for the walls.

Again the saw ran beautifully, I was using it all day, was able to setup right next to the camper in the driveway, was even ripping boards down in full July sun, of course I am in northern Ohio, but still July get's hot!

I couldn't be more happy with my BTS-21. Yeah I would have liked a saw with a miter slot, but the sliding miter table isn't too bad to use, it's kinda like a built-in cross cut sled. Of course I'm no where near a professional or semi-professional wood worker, and this is my first table saw I've owned. I've used other's in the past but not for much more than just simple ripping of 2x6 or 2x4 into thinner stock.

I'm glad I found this post the images have inspired me to build a router table now that I can mount into my table saw, and have one more use for my harbor freight router as well.