Replies

1. 
   DougU | May 13, 2006 07:11am | #1

   Yea, skip both of them and get the Bosch 4000.

   I havent used the DeWalt but others say good things about it, also the Rigid.

   Go to "Tools" column, you'll see several threads on this subject.

   Doug

    

2. 
   JBanyan | May 14, 2006 06:06pm | #2

   spend the extra cash and get the Bosch 4000-09 with folding stand and wheels. Great machine and stores in a small footprint.

    

    

1. 
   IMERC | May 14, 2006 06:26pm | #3

   careful pulling that wheeled stand up a 14 thread black walnut staircase with an extended bullnose...

   scores / tears up every one...

   it was expensive....

   that stair case was mentioned in the reviews...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->

   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

1. 
   rez | May 14, 2006 09:06pm | #7

   Someone should have tried an eas-ier way.

    

   be

   half of good living is staying out of bad situations

3. 
   tmaxxx | May 14, 2006 06:33pm | #4

   ryobi is one of the best tools on the market........... to use as a boat anchor.

   my ridgid is alot better than i expected.

   Tmaxxx

   Urban Workshop Ltd

   Vancouver B.C.

   cheers.  Ill buy.

4. 
   Danno | May 14, 2006 08:22pm | #5

   The guy I work with tried to use a homeowner's Ryobi once and found that the miter was broken and couldn't be repaired because it was potmetal. If the one you're considering doesn't have any potmetal parts, maybe it'd be okay.

5. 
   BobS | May 14, 2006 08:56pm | #6

   Mike,

   Don't know if you are looking at this for your work and will use it everyday, as a hobby, or for just a few household project. Without that info, I'm not sure how anyone can give an answer.

   I've got a BT3100 and am very happy with it - but I'm just getting into woodworking and mainly using it for projects around the house. The 3100 is likely going to be discontinued but has a good user community at bt3central.com - you can check out some projects people have made with their ryobis. The sears version of the same saw has the gravity rise stand that the bosch has.

   You'll note most people here dismiss Ryobi tools completely, some based only on name. That said most people here do this for a living and need a saw they can beat the $#@!* out of and you can't generally do that to a ryobi. But they do have their place.

   Best of luck to you and welcome to Breaktime.

6. 
   torn | May 14, 2006 09:20pm | #8

   agree with BobS's comments. I also have the 3100, and it's done everything I've asked it too. I can tell that I wouldn't be able to push it real hard, but I've never had to (yet).

   I was also going to mention the forum at bt3central.com. Lots of good tips, suggestions, etc.

   I don't think anyone will try to convince you that the 3000/3100 is a production-quality saw, but for light-to-medium duty woodworking/carpentry, I think it's a decent value. Not sure if I'd buy it again, but I wouldn't rule it out.

7. 
   trout | May 15, 2006 04:34am | #9

   For light duty use the Ryobi has lots of good features, but it isn't made sturdy nor is it durable enough for most carpentry.  The fence is light duty, the motor is light duty, and the angle and lift mechanisms are light duty.  Over time (6 months of moderate use) I've seen one nickel and dime it's owner with small problems and misalignments.  With 10 minute problems here and 10 minutes there, the saw was more expensive than a good saw.

   I have yet to see a 15 amp Ryobi table saw that can come close in cutting speed to the little 15 amp Makita.  Besides, the smoke that Ryobi tools let out on their last legs smells real bad.  :-)

    

8. 
   MSA1 | May 15, 2006 05:22am | #10

   I have a BT3100 and a Bosch 4000-7. The ryobi has a good fence. its now set up with a dado blade.

    

    

    

    

    

    

   Oh,

    

    

    

    

   why two table saws?

    

    

    

   I had the ryobi first and it broke under warranty (blade would no longer go up and down).........Took almost two months to get back.

    

    

   It doesnt matter how good the saw may be if its in the shop all the time.

9. 
   furnie | May 15, 2006 06:09am | #11

   Over the holiday had employer buy a saw. The University gave me the money for a new saw and for the same $1500 Can. got a reconditioned General over new Delta and King hybrids. The old DeWalt grunted through ply now were resawing oak.

   Wrong mindset but always go for 'heft' (unless you have to carry it).

   And carry a sharp worm drive.

10. 
    gordsco | May 15, 2006 07:15am | #12

    I still have a old Ryobi BT 2000 and I love it. Portable, sliding miter table, excellent fence and a cutting capacity of 30". As a finish contractor I was suprised just how well it has held up over the years. I think I bought it in 98. I did replace the motor after 3 years but that was after I'd run several hundred sheets of ply through it.

    To this day the fence is bang on.

    There has been alot of up talk about the Bosch here but after using one for several months last summer I can tell you I didn't like it. The fence is not accurate. The slightest amount of sawdust in the back rail throws the fence out of alignment. This can really screw up a cabinet and turn a precision job into a hack job in a hurry. The wheeled gravity stand also sucks because you can rock the saw back and forth after it is set up. Running full sheets of ply through a $500 saw on a wobbly stand is BS. Find one in a store and check it out.

    May your neighbors respect You, and troubles neglect You.