Do the Fixture Blocks work on the BT3000 and the BT3100?
Yes. The rip fence extrusion is the same for the 3100 and the 3000. The blocks also work with the Sears version of the saw (Sears Item #00922811000).
There seems to be excessive slop in the block when placed in the rip fence. Is that normal?
Yes, that is fine. The slop or play was actually designed into the block. This is because the first
generation of fixture blocks were machined with tight tolerances, but that led to many problems. The first of which was that the
black plastic end cap at the end of the rip fence varies in size and shape from the manufacturing process, so some people couldn't get their blocks into the t-slots past the end caps at all.
The second reason is that a tight fitting block + sawdust = 1 jammed block. It seems obvious enough, especially
for router operations, that chips will get into the track and possibly jam the blocks. This issue seems to be resolved with the loose fitting blocks.
Finally, the loose fitting blocks mean that the jigs you make can have some flexibility. When building a jig you don't have to nail it down to the 0.001".
If your design is a little off, it doesn't matter. The block allows for compensation.
Here is how it works:
Let's say you made a sacrificial fence, and you want it flush against the rip fence. First, slide the block
into the rip fence and leave it loose. Then tighten the sacrificial fence to the block. With the block still loose in the fence, push the sacrificial
fence against the rip fence so the two are perfectly parallel, then tighten down the block to the rip fence. The result is a perfectly flush fence. If your fence
was a little weird and the fixture block ends up a little skewed in the track, who cares? The important thing is that the fence is where it should be in the end.
Why are nylon tipped set screws used?
The nylon tips prevent damage to the extruded aluminum fence slot. Normal use will cause the nylon part to 'mushroom' out a little, but that is not a problem.
You can use normal set screws but that may damage the fence slot.
I can see the green nylon tips, but I can't push them through?
Sometimes the set screw tops are hard to see in poor light. If you stick an 1/8th allen wrench into the top holes you will be able to turn those set screws.
Pushing on them probably won't do the trick. |
