Table Saw

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Rick Granick

Rick Granick

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I'm looking to buy my first table saw. Up till now I've been more of a bandsaw kind of guy, but it does have its limitations.
I'm considering a Ryobi BT3100, which has a built-in sliding mitre table (not for cutting my frame mouldings, but it's a feature of this saw).
Apparently this saw is unusual and has its detractors, but enough devoted adherents to warrant a very comprehensive dedicated website http://www.bt3central.com/ .
Any grumblers have any experience with this saw or its predecessor the BT3000?
Any other advice is welcome too.
Thanks.
:cool: Rick
 
Very large thick ear protection.

If you have the room, I would go with a good contractor grade.... Jet or Delta comes to mind.

I would steer clear of Home Depots brand as they have a nasty habit of dropping things then not honoring their "life-time" warrenty.

Delta and Porter Cable are now owned by Black & Decker..... So I wouldn't rate them any higher than Jet.

ryopi may have come a long way with their smaller stuff, but that "trick" sliding off table is trying to make-up for having such a small Table Top..... use it as a toy...

If you get a contractors table, build slide beds.... you'll never regret it.
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I have a Sears 10 inch table saw that is fine for most jobs. The drawback is the extension wing tops that are made with ridges and 1/8 inch acrylic or hardboard can slide under the fence. Your saw has a top with similar ridges. I work around it but its a pain.

A solid flat surface under the fence area would solve my problem

Check out the clearance under the fence.

I think a wall mounted panel saw would be better for most of the work I ask my table saw to do.

Doug
 
Try to find a used Delta Unisaw. Even 15 years old they are great machines. Get a left tilt blade that tilts away from the fence.

These machines are extremely well made. The have the real power to cut through most materials effortlessly. They are very accurate with the appropriate fence (Biesemeyer or Unifence.

The are production machines in every sense of the word.

Jet also makes a good saw and I have seen both goes as cheap as $600.
 
The Delta Unisaw is a great saw but it runs on 220 volts. If you only have access to 110 go for a good contractor saw, i.e. delta or powermatic. Most importantly, get a saw with a good fence.
 
Electric motor is exterior to the machine itself and it can be replaced with a convenient 110V to have a great tool in your shop.
Ryoby makes hoby tools, real toys. Keep away from such grade tools. Let's face it: better get a used and abused real good tool than a brand new toy by Ryobi.
 
What do you want to do with it?

Occasional ripping down of mouldings, or putting a glass groove in, go ahead and a decent hobby grade saw. If you want to make your own mouldings out of 12/4 Hard maple, square up interior doors and do it all day long, get an SCMI or Altendorf sliding table saw with power feeder. Or if you just want a good cabinet saw that will last gracefully as long as you do, get a Delta Unisaw.
 
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