Delta TS300 or Ryobi BTS3100 Table Saw?

I think this exact comparison was just made last Friday the 26th on this forum. It's a long thread with plenty of opinions and experiences to help you out.

Bruce Redding, Ca.

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Bruce
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I need to replace my crapsman benchtop TS and I finally convinced SWMBO to let me spend $3-400 on a new TS. Obviously, I can't get a good contractors saw for that price, and after looking around, I've narrowed the field to the Delta TS300 or the Ryobi BTS3100.

Has anyone a good pro/con arguments one way or the other on these two saws?

I don't want to make a decision I'll regret.

Thanks

Reply to
tillius

Reply to
Grandpa

Hi, I have the Delta 36-600, which is the same saw as the TS300, not much of a saw. Had lots of trouble with the motor and the brushes, it's toast now. Buying the Grizz 1023s. Grizzly has some belt drive contractor saws that's not much more expensive, please check them out.

Reply to
Tony

I agree. I have the 36-600 and get mad every time I use it. I also will be going with the Grizzly. The table on my Delta is out of flat by a ton. I never knew what to check for before buying it. Having said that, it was a

300 dollar saw, but I thought I would have had a bit better quality. Basically I bought it on the Delta name after having good luck with their other products.

Paul

Reply to
Paul in MN

My dad bought a BT3100. I tried to talk him into a contractor's saw but he didn't want to spend the money. 8 months later and he wants to sell the BT3100.

I am sure he will sell it for $100.00 if you want to pay shipping.

He is going to buy a contractor's saw.

The problem is that it won't stay square and parts keep breaking on it.

I still think it is the best you can buy for $300 but to get a good saw, you have to spend more.

Rob

Reply to
Rob

Heck, if you are going to sell it, part it out on e-Bay, or on one of the bt3x00 sites. Probably get what you paid for out of it, at least, if you are patient.

Dunno if you or your dad have tried, but there is an *extremely* active support group on the forums at

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Not saying the saws are perfect, but a lot of the time most problems short of plain old defective pieces (that's Ryobi's problem) can be worked out just by talking w/ the guys that have been using the bt3100 and bt3000 for a number of years.

HTH,

nuk

Reply to
nuk
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Smash some pieces off it......write a terrible description, that it keeps blowing up, won't cut square & put it on eBay, he's sure to double his money!

:-)

Reply to
P©WÉ®T©©LMAN

I also have the Delta 36-600 and I have not experienced the problems of the others. In fact is a decent saw. I can't speak for the Ryobi but I've seen it in the store and can point out that the Delta's table top (not the extension wings) is cast steel vs. aluminum. It also have a standard miter slot. Haven't had any issues with uneven tops or problems with the fence, in fact its quite accurate. I put a good Freud blade on it and have cut pt pine, pine, cedar, maple, walnut, and oak in 1" - 3"+ (it only has a 3" cut capacity). No problems.

The spitter/gaurd on this thing sucks and is a definite problem. It does not mount through the insert, just out the back of the saw and is more of a hazard if used.

Hope that helps.

Chuck

Reply to
WoodChuck34

till - In a way, it depends on YOUR shop, and what you intend to do.

I bought the Ryobi SPECIFICALLY because the top & critical alignment parts were of non-rusting material. The tablesaw is most likely the most used piece of power equipment in the typical shop. Also it is most likely use on an 'on and off' basis, rather than run for hours at a time without being shut off. That is, mill a part - or set of parts. Turn it off and fit the part. Or reset the machine for another part{s}, etc.

Keep it clean, use proper regular maintenance, don't use it as a 'coffee stand' or throw it in the back of a truck, and there should be minimal problems.

Regards & Good Luck, Ron Magen Backyard Boatshop {PS - first boat was built with an 8-inch, 'made out of tin', POS, Black & Decker 'benchtop'}

SNIP

Reply to
Ron Magen

I've made 3 boats and a 36 position document sorting cabinet and numerous shop shelfs tables and jigs with my crapsman 10" bench top. It worked but it was a MAJOR pain getting square repeatable cuts. Since SWMBO gave me the budget (originally $3-400 but upped to $6-700 for a new saw, I was looking at what I was going to get. THEN I found the Delta 36-444 and the 12" bandsaw (crapsman) together for $300 - couldn't pass it up - love the new saw AND I've got $3-400 left over).

Found a Delta 2 spd 13" planer and Delta 6" joiner for $375 together, so I'm going to go over a look at them this afternoon (I've got enough left in the budget - whoohoo)

Tillman

Reply to
tillius

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