Do you use ts blade guard?

[Keith Christopher]

I took the guard off for making dado cuts and never put it back on. I am a "nervous nelly" when it comes to the TS, so like Mark I tend to be more cautious on the TS than any other tool in the shop. I have a splitter installed after ripping a 8/4 piece of white ash and it clamped my blade and stopped my saw dead in it's tracks. I had installed a kick switch on my saw so I can simply tap with my foot and it's 0 power to the saw.

[Carl Eyman]

Can someone explain what is a riving knife. It sounds like it might be something that prescores the wood before sawing, but I can't see how that would be a safety aid. We non-Euoropean types need to know.

[Keith Christopher]

Stolen link but has a good pic and a link of some kickback (to those who have never seen it. ) -BTW this was a result of a google search "What is a riving knife"-


Keith

[Marshall Harrison]

Yes. I use it for every vut that I can only leaving it off for dado/rabbit cuts.
I sometimes lift the clear plastic guard but other than that the splitter and anti-kickback pawls are there. I'm still new enough (and hopefully will always be new enough) to have a healthy fear of what the blade can do. Once you start geting commfortable you get into trouble.

[Carl Eyman]

Sorry I was so lazy that I didn't look it up. I've got one, and it makes me feel much safer. I've taken one hit from kick-back and I have the scar to prove it. Don't want another.

[mike lucas]

I have always used both the splitter and the blade guard when ever it is possible. There are always going to be situations where one or both just can't be used. It is important to use them all other times.

Maybe this is a big part of me still having all my hands, and fingers after nearly 25 years of this.

[Terry Hatfield]

Everett,

I agree that the stock guards and spliters can be a pain but there are other options out there that are more user friendly. I have the MJ splitter and I made a overhead guard for my saw. I use both of them religously now. I have more information on both on my site if you would like to check it out further.

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[Jeff Sudmeier]

Yep, I always use the splitter and guard on any cut that I can. I value my fingers.

[Keith Christopher]

Sorry I was so lazy that I didn't look it up. I've got one, and it makes me feel much safer. I've taken one hit from kick-back and I have the scar to prove it. Don't want another.

Carl,

No worries the googole search thing was only as a disclaimer to the link. More a "I don't endorse this msg board" thing.


Keith

[Carl Eyman]

With a little time on my hands this AM I looked to see what the catalogs had to offer for splitters. I found no after market splitters in Rockler, Woodcraft, Woodwkr Supply, or Highland Hardware. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't already have one. I tried to homebrew one before I bought this, but never came up with a design I thought rugged enough. I don't believe I'd operate a saw without one any more.

[Carole Valentine]

I use a Delta Uniguard and a Delta removable splitter. Five hours in the ER with my friend who made this staement the day before: "I've made this cut a thousand times. Haven't used one of those guards or splitter things in 40 years. Not gonna use one now!" plus looking at the woodworking accident report site, plus reading about the gory accidents both here and on other woodworking sites convinced me pretty quickly. I'm like Tyler...you don't have to hit me in the head with a 2x4 to make a point. The few minutes saved by not having a guard to flip up or a splitter to pull out doesn't even compare to the time, pain and $$$$ spent in recovery after an accident.

[Sam Chambers]

I have a Delta contractor's saw with the stock guard/splitter. I'm not thrilled with it, but I always use it unless I'm making a non-through cut. My thinking is that poor, inconvenient safety equipment is better than non at all.

As far as "being careful" goes, we can be as careful as we want, but if we don't take appropriate precautions, there's no way we can be safe. The best we can do is be lucky. I can't remember name of the web site with a database of workshop accidents, but when I read through it I noticed several common threads. It seemed that the people who got hurt had years of experience, had removed the safety equipment, and had been lulled into a false sense of security because they'd been lucky.

Personally, I'm not willing to take unnecessary risks that would cost me a finger, or a hand, or broken ribs, or perhaps worse. I enjoy woodworking, but there's just no sense in being unsafe.

[Scott Parks]

First, Keith, that's quite a picture of the link with a 1/4 peice shot through 2 hollow core doors!

Second, I've never, ever used a splitter or guard. I use my head. If I don't think a cut will be safe, I'll find a different way to do it, or not at all! I've had one nasty kick back like the one shown through the hollow core doors. In my case, I knew it might happen, so I made sure the area was clear. I know, this is a poor excuse. The kick happened, and shot a 3/4 square by 4' long piece of oak out my driveway and into the street. (50 feet!).

Third, I WILL BE adding a SPLITTER to my new Grizzly cabinet saw. Probably the MicroJig. I will also add an over guard just for the dust contorl. I am building a crosscut sled that will have a clear cover over the blade with a dust hookup also.

Last, In my previous experiences, I mostly use plywood. However as my skills are progressing, I find my self using more real lumber. I have seen the potential of maple to close up on the back of the blade. This is the reason that I feel it is VERY IMPORTANT for me to start using a splitter! In fact, I wont be ripping any more maple until I have a splitter.

[Chris Padilla]

No guard and no splitter for me.

However, I will start using the lil' green splitter from MicroJig. It is easy to mount and remove when necessary.

I'm also going to install a "thigh" bump to make shutting the saw down easier and finally take the board buddies out of their box and use them as well.

[Aaron Montgomery]

I've been using a Bisimeyer splitter since I got my Unisaw, but have never used a blade guard on any saw I have used. That's about to change however as I installed an Excalibur this weekend. I haven't used it yet, but it looks impressive. Honestly though I bought it more for the dust collection than the safety aspect. I figure I bought dust collection and safety was thrown in for free. Pictures to come shortly after a few mods to the saw.