Replies

1. 
   Dan019 | Oct 29, 2004 03:08pm | #1

   Very nice saw for the money for a home owner.

   Apparrently some questions about durability if used as an everyday portable contractor saw on a jobsite.

   Dan

    

1. 
   user-7009022 | Oct 29, 2004 10:24pm | #2

   I have found about 98% favourable reviews on this saw.  Most complaints were as you said....not durable enough.  But the price is right.

   thank you for your response.  It has been helpful.

   quikstak

2. 
   Stever | Nov 01, 2004 10:17am | #3

   I've had one for twenty three months. I used it fairly regularly.

   I did get a lot of tips etc from the groups of rabid fans of the saw, but I did take them with a grain of salt (the tips and the people).

   The cheap plastic blade raising handle/knob finally gave up the ghost right before the warranty expired.  Other cheap sub-standard parts had been failing as well and even more , I'm sure, are on the way to failure.

   It's also not all that accurate as the loyalists will insist. Now I am not saying it's bad by any means. As long as you remain a very occassional user and take very good care of the saw ( and make sure that you've stored it in a reasonably well controlled temperature environment) you might have a chance of enjoying it for a long time. 

   Many complaints about the saws include burnt motors. Other numerous complaints concern fried drive belts -- but those get praise as having protected the universal motor from damage).

   The sliding miter table isn't all that big of a deal.  Ryobi loyalists really get off by bragging about it, but it's just a piece of aluminum that's fixed by screws in plastic. The guides arean't what they're cracked up to be, either.  In short, the SMT thing is just another component marking time until parts failure.  In the meantime (while it's actually "working") it'll delude you into thinking that you've made a setting and it's gonna keep it for you. (SURPRISE!)

   The thing is noisy. It's super light weight and the plastic in it just won't stand up to a real-world environment. On the other hand, IF you really need a whole lot of peer support, you can indeed find that simply by babbling the cultish codes at btcentral .com  As long as you don't say anything real about the saw, the group will embrace you from here to eternity.

   It's your money. Are you planning on USING a table saw, or LOOKING at a "table saw" while basking in group support ?

   Steve

   Penury is the Mother of Invention

   http://www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/

   Mesa, Arizona

1. 
   user-7009022 | Nov 03, 2004 06:58am | #4

   I may have seen your review before, Unless some one else mentioned the cheap plastic blade raising handle.

   I want to use the saw a little more than just occasionally.

   I have  a Black and Decker I bought at Wal Mart about 96.  Very small, not accurate all the time.  I keep expecting perfect cuts and I get them about half the time.

   I will probably consider a slightly more expensive saw.

   thank you for your input.

   quikstak

1. 
   Ribeye | Nov 04, 2004 10:25am | #5

   Of course I have no idea about your local conditions and how you'll be able to use a saw to do "whatever".  It's bound to be different than mine.

   My shop is outdoors and it's virtually uninhabitable from mid June through mid October; with daytime average temps hovering at 110F, it's just too damned HOT to work. (The rest of the year is COLD: it's in the 70s and 80s!)

   You might have to move cars out of a garage and set tools up in position... this takes (enormous lumps of) time!  So think about that time... and all you have to spend on a project is what? Six hours out of a whole weekend? 

   IF so, then golly... I know the feeling!  I've been there.  You pull that darned TS out and set it up to make your (not so cleverly) pre-planned cuts and ... Oh ####! Gotta go get the kids!  Then you get back after dinner and ... HEY! Who parked the minivan on my outfeed table?!?!?

   You don't want a BT 3100.  Even When it's in perfect trim, it can take more time to double check and set that thing up for that crucial cut than you have time left to turn it on -- much less make the cut.  (Assuming that it hasn't broken in the meantime.)

   And it's too damned LOUD to run after the kids are tucked away! -- trust me; I used to get "Complaints" from the apartment complex behind my house when I let that sucker wail past 10 pm!  (Sheesh... you would of thought I was BBQing Great Danes or something!)

1. 
   user-7009022 | Nov 04, 2004 07:52pm | #6

   Thanks for the input.  Someone is watching out for me.  I just couldn't get the money together.  Now I won't worry about it.  I will keep looking for just the right one.

   I'm glad I got on this.  Ihave had very different reports than I  could find elsewhere.

   luck to you

   quikstak