BT3 wide table

[Carpenter96]

Hi I have a BT3000 from new since 1997. I have a wide rail kit and was wondering if any one could tell me the exact dimensions of actual wide tale top. I would like to build one. Regards Bob mcDermid

[JimD]

Bob,

I can't tell you but I can tell you how you can figure it out. The rails of the wide table kit are just like the rails of your saw. That is not exactly true if you do what I did and use a BT3000 wide table kit on a BT3100 but there is really no functional difference and it won't affect what I am about to suggest. I did not use them but the wide table kit includes L shaped brackets that clamp to the rails and screw to the wide table. If you put these brackets on your existing rails in the position they will be in to support the top, and then measure between them, you will get the width you want for the table. The other dimension can be the length of the rails or something less than that, depending on what you want.

I recommend Melamine particle board with some plywood ribs under it to help it stay flat.

This older thread illustrates how I support extension tables. On my main extension table, it works the same way but the "nut" for the clamping arrangement is a piece of 1/8 thick flat stock in the inner slot of the rail and I used knobs with studs instead of little bolts.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=35881&page=2

Jim

[dbhost]

IF I recall correctly from when I built mine, it is 24.5 or whatever the depth of the table is on these saws (sorry brain not pulling that data up right now...) x 72". I made mine out of 2 layers 3/4" BB ply and a 3/16" tempered hardboard top.

[wbsettle]

Hi I have a BT3000 from new since 1997. I have a wide rail kit and was wondering if any one could tell me the exact dimensions of actual wide tale top. I would like to build one. Regards Bob mcDermid

I think what you're calling the "wide rail kit" is usually called the "wide table kit". The kit consists of the extra rails, connecting hardware to join the rails, hardware to mount a shop made aux table, and hardware to install shop made legs if you don't by the leg kit that was sold separately. The manual for both the BT3000 and BT3100 WTK recommends 22"x44"x.75" if you're using the included aux table hardware. As Jim mentioned, the 44" dimension can really be anything up to the length of the rails.

-Brent

[dbhost]

Okay I just measured. It is 22" deep, and 48" wide. My top is 1.5" of ply with 3/16 of hardboard, and I cut rabbets 3/4" wide so that the lip is 3/4" thick. (15/16" deep I guess and 3/4" wide....). I made mine thick, probably too thick. If I had it to do over again, I would use a single layer of ply with ribs...

[Carpenter96]

Thanks

Hi thank you for the info, I should be able to figure out the rest. regards Bob McDermid

[dbhost]

Great. Remember, you are going to need to either buy legs for the setup, or make a set of shop built legs. I got mine from Sears for the 22811, but they finally seemed to have dropped them from the catalog... Might try Ebay...

[Carpenter96]

Table

Yes I am going to finially make a rolling cart with storage under neath. Once again thank you for the input. Regards Bob McDermid