Blog, Safety
Splitters on Table Saws – Minimizing Risk of Kickback
May 5, 2008 by Al Navas (Sandal Woods) · 9 Comments
In this episode I describe a table saw kickback that missed my wife by mere seconds. The reason for the kickback: Poorly designed, flimsy anti-kickback pawls, with a huge amount of slop that allowed side-to-side movement and did not grab the cutoff piece properly.
Edit to add: So, why did this happen? I believe there are several reasons – My Analysis:
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Very sloppy anti-kickback pawls on the splitter that came with the new table saw. I replaced these immediately with an after-market splitter minus the overhead blade guard.
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I did not joint the SYP (southern yellow pine) I was ripping – it looked straight enough!
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The work piece pushed the cutoff into the blade as they both went beyond the back of the blade
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WHAM!!! Kickback…..
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And now you know the rest ya-da ya-da…
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My #1 Rule after this incident: ALWAYS, ALWAYS joint my workpiece before ripping.
I would love to hear if you have had a similar problem, and what you did about it.
Hi. My name is Al Navas, Owner of Sandal Woods - Fine Woodworking. Welcome to my site - I hope you will enjoy your stay! While you are here, I invite you to support my sponsors by clicking on their links and buying "stuff" from them. Disclosure: I receive a small commission from your purchases through my Affiliates only (Amazon.com, Woodcraft, and Rockler); these help defray my costs a little. I also sometimes receive tools from my sponsors, for evaluation purposes. I thank you for your support of my effort!
Dave,
I bought mine from http://www.sawcenter.com/unisawparts.htm ; the part number is 1349941; at this page, do a Find for the part number. It will appear near the bottom of the page. Note there are two (2) models: One is the “Delta splitter”, and the other is the “Biesmeyer Brand”. The prices differ quite a bit.
Al I have the New “Delta Hybrid” tablesaw and my splitter and blade-guard appear to be the same as yours. I would like to replace my stock splitter… Please advise as to which splitter you now use and where I might find same.
Thank you!
Dave
herb,
Thanks for bringing up this important point!!!
NO! Please, don’t sell that table saw. As woodworkers, we can always, as an alternative to using power jointers, use a jointer plane. In fact, I have been working on this as a great alternative, since I have already had trouble with the power unit once (a faulty capacitor). And when I need it, I need it badly. So, back to the jointer plane, a #7!
By the way, buying wood that is already edge jointed may not solve all our problems, as the board(s) can move between purchase time and the time you use it. Nothing will guarantee a board will stay flat and straight, especially when you move it from one environment (the place of purchase), and your shop.
Jointing the edge remains MY rule #1 before I run anything through the table saw, whether I do it on a power jointer, or use my #7 or my #8 jointer planes.
Your #6 rule disturbs me. There are many of us out here that cannot afford, or do not have the space for, a jointer.
Are you saying that if you don’t have a jointer, or don’t buy your wood already jointed (expensive, to say the least), you should sell your table saw?
Mike,
I have the Delta Unisaw X5. It is over four years old now. I don’t know if an after-market splitter might be available for the Craftsman saws, but a Google Search might yield something.
Which model is your Craftsman? That might help with the search for a splitter. I am sure others will also pitch in, if they have that information.
Al,
What kind of saw do you have? I’ve been looking for something like that for my Craftsman table saw but haven’t been able to find anything. I just have the standard guard that came with the saw, but it really does get in the way more often than I like. I’d also be willing to sacrifice the guard feature, if I could have a splitter and anti-kickback protection. Lucky I don’t have a kickback story, but there sure are a lot of them out there.
Mike