It seems that The dreaded Woodguy disease is not the only disorder or illness effecting many of our members. After reading some old posts about request for recommendations on splitters and guard use, I realized that I am not the lone sufferer of this dreaded disorder TSP!
I went searching for some info about replacing my old Jet contractor type blade guard/splitter. I removed it a long time ago because I could never get it aligned properly so that it didn't serve as a 'stop' for my work to pass through. What I read made me stop and think about the different schools of thought about what is the safest way to rip stock. Blade lowered to just above the stock so if you do find your fingers inline with the blade it won't cut to the bone or a raised blade that takes pressure off the back side of the cut and insures amputation if you slip or loose track of where your fingers should be!
If I understood what I read, the lower blade position increases the chance of kickback where the higher blade setting reduces that chance.
Personally, I don't like either choice. I don't use my table saw a lot but when I do I would like to feel better about my safety than currently with the guard removed. I think I've been very lucky so far. Based on the injury reports posted here I am not going to push my luck any farther. So, now, finally to the point....
Is a splitter like the MJ (?) with a featherboard enough to get the job done safely? Is there another product I've missed?:help:
I went searching for some info about replacing my old Jet contractor type blade guard/splitter. I removed it a long time ago because I could never get it aligned properly so that it didn't serve as a 'stop' for my work to pass through. What I read made me stop and think about the different schools of thought about what is the safest way to rip stock. Blade lowered to just above the stock so if you do find your fingers inline with the blade it won't cut to the bone or a raised blade that takes pressure off the back side of the cut and insures amputation if you slip or loose track of where your fingers should be!
If I understood what I read, the lower blade position increases the chance of kickback where the higher blade setting reduces that chance.
Personally, I don't like either choice. I don't use my table saw a lot but when I do I would like to feel better about my safety than currently with the guard removed. I think I've been very lucky so far. Based on the injury reports posted here I am not going to push my luck any farther. So, now, finally to the point....
Is a splitter like the MJ (?) with a featherboard enough to get the job done safely? Is there another product I've missed?:help: