The Shopsmith BT3000

[Ed in Tampa]

The Incra equipment is very nice. If you need to make high accuracy cuts, it looks like their product will save you time and give repeatability. When I designed the interface hardware to adapt BT3000 parts to the 510 (what I call my Shopsmith 3000) I wasn't trying to duplicate what Incra has, instead my intention was to make the 510 a much more versatile saw. Having spent many years using the BT3000 I grew very accustomed to its unique features. When I acquired a Shopsmith 510 and began using the table saw function I felt I was going backwards. Don't get me wrong, the Shopsmith indeed has lots of desirable features and is versatile, that is why I got it in the first place, however, the table saw I felt left a lot to be desired. I missed what I had with the BT3000. This is what motivated me to adapt the BT3000 components to the SS. I knew that if I could adapt the rails to the SS table I could carry over many of the other desirable features such as]19496[/ATTACH]

What a fabulous idea. I use to covet a BT3000 but I never bought one, came close many times but no cigar.
As I remember one of the weak links of the BT3000 was the guides of the slidding table. The wore or got sloppy and were hard to adjust. Guys were always breaking the bolts or something. Is this a problem on your set up?

How hard was it to connect the BT3000 rails to the shopsmith?

You guys keep talking about this and I may get on craigslist and see if I can find an old Bt3000 myself.

I wonder if the parts off the saw Sears now sells would work they look at lot like the BT3000 rails of old.

[worknhard]

Ed -- I suppose you could consider the nylon slides a weak link, but that is not necessarily bad thing. What I mean is, in order to have a smooth sliding table and offer fine tune adjusting, and be affordable, nylon was the material of choice for Ryobi. The slides are replaceable and inexpensive (about $1 ea.), and are not that difficult to replace and adjust, IF YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. In my opinion, the bigger problem with the nylon slides is breaking them thru mishandling. If you pull up on the sliding miter table base trying to lift the saw, or toss the sliding miter table around when it is off the saw, you risk breaking one or more slides. One thing I can say however, is once the slides are adjusted properly they usually stay that way. My BT3000 is about 18/19 years old and I have not had to replace the slides yet.

As far as difficulty in fabricating the brackets to adapt the rails to the SS table, it took me a couple attempts thru building prototypes to finally get it right. Pretty tight tolerances need to be determined and maintained in the fabrication process. This was very difficult because I had to account for manufacturing variance (at least the best I could determine) in both the BT3000 parts and the SS table. I spent a couple years playing around with the design before I finally got it the way I wanted.

Yes, the parts off the Sears saw, both the new and older versions that mimic the BT3000 will work.

Ron

[dusty]

What a fabulous idea. I use to covet a BT3000 but I never bought one, came close many times but no cigar.
As I remember one of the weak links of the BT3000 was the guides of the slidding table. The wore or got sloppy and were hard to adjust. Guys were always breaking the bolts or something. Is this a problem on your set up?

How hard was it to connect the BT3000 rails to the shopsmith?

You guys keep talking about this and I may get on craigslist and see if I can find an old Bt3000 myself.

I wonder if the parts off the saw Sears now sells would work they look at lot like the BT3000 rails of old.

There is an adapter plate that Ron designed and has produced that bolts to the Shopsmith 505/510/520 tables using the holes that would be used for Shopsmith rails.

The Ryobi rails fit on and bolts to that adapter plate. The rails are attached to the adapter plate using the same style t-nuts as does the BT3000. This mounting method allows the Ryobi rail to be positioned (left/right) on the table.

With regard to the Sears version of the BT3000; I believe they are interchangeable. I come to that conclusion by reading posts from users on the btcentral user site (a forum for BT3000 users).

[imeasyjones]

A year ago, I faced a decision upon moving to a smaller shop...keep my shopsmith, or keep my Ryobi bt3000, with its incredible sliding table...I could've combined them- who knew! Now I'll be looking for another bt3000!

[dusty]

I too parted with my BT3000 and seriously regret it. The rail system was/is incredible and the rip fence was as good as any I have used on a small table saw.

[Ed in Tampa]

About 10 years ago Dewalt offered a siding table, table Saw. I wonder if anyone ever adapted the sliding table to a shopsmith? I think the Saw was DW746. The sliding table accessory was DW7461

[dgreen810]

worknhard

How much are your mounting plates to use the BT3000 with A SS 510?

Don G

[thunderbirdbat]

Shop Notes (issue 138) had a plan to make a sliding table for a table saw. I wonder how hard it would be to adapt it to a SS. It is designed to mount to the table saw cabinet side. It may be able to use the connector tubes for the 520 since they are lower than the 510's depending on how thick you make it or maybe use a set of extension table legs and a way to clamp it to the main table. Something to play around with if I ever reach the end of my to do list.

[dgreen810]

I have an opportunity to buy this saw for $250.00. What do you guys think??
unfortunately its about 200 miles away and I am not sure I could get in my van with a "Joey" in the back. Any thoughts?

Don G

[thunderbirdbat]

I would buy it, especially at that price. It looks like the saw will break down into components, saw, stand, and extensions. Not sure how far the they break down. As far as hauling it, it depends on how far it will break down. If nothing else, maybe rent a trailer, cargo van or truck. Or do you have a buddy with one? Too far for me to help.