Popular Woodworking 2008-10 № 171, страница 35
limit any potential lifting of the stock just in ease it grabs or catches on something. It should provide good coverage on all four sides of the blade. I use the enclosure as a starting point for my 3" rule (see Popular 11 ooduwkiitg November 2<K>7. issue #165). A good enclosure should not obstruct your view through the point of contact and must aid in deflecting chips away from the user and direct them toward the dust collector, or at least down toward the table. One of the biggest drawbacks to conventional or standard enclosures is that they are not adjustable from side to side or front to back, which can cause problems when trying to rip narrow or short stock. Although aftemurkct guards do allow some adjustability, they also have limits before the guard obstructs the path of motion. If the cut requires that the enclosure be removed, remember my simple rule: If the guard on my saw will not permit me to nuke the cut or if I can't effectively nuke or obtain a guard that will work, then the table saw is not the right machine for that operation. Limit contact I I4adegiumi can be as simple as a piece of Lexan Mtadtol fo a scrap. 111m clamped to yonrjatce, il proi-ides safety by Untiling potenliiil contact with the blade. When making non-through cuts, enclosures or top guards can sometimes be more of a hindrance than asset. They can limit the motion, restrict control and create binding. Non-through cuts will require creative ways to protect yourself from unnecessary exposure to the blade. Lcss-tton-stettOf design. Due to typical Amcricau-st)ie fptiltcrs extending irfvir the top of the Mi tde. makitig any ait exceptjor a art completely through your stock is not passible. Dangerous gap. Standard spelters do not (oltow the blade as it raises or Anirrs. Ihewforr. the gap Iwumi the ftiv can he wide, litis opoiitig is an ,m-a uhtte pindiiiig and kickback can develop. Better design. Rrnng kniivs add agrcal deal of safety to iitry sJMidard blade art. 'I he knife travels uith the blade to maintain a doe J il la the blade arid mince the possibility of pindiing. Splitter The second guard on a table saw is not quite as obvious as the enclosure or top guard but is the most important pan of the guarding system. The splitter, sometimes referred to as a spreader or riving knife, is directly behind the blade and is used for through cuts. Splitters are most effective when they are the exact width as the kerf" of the blade and are in perfect alignment with it. The splitter separates and presents material that is being cut from coming in contact with the back of the blade. That minimizes the chance of pinching and kicking back. Typical American-made splitters will not work for non-through cuts, which will require that they be removed. It is important to realize that even with a splitter properly installed, kickback can occur if through some circumstance the wood should make contact with the back or top of the blade ami just before the splitter. Be aware that the closer the splitter is to the blade, the more effective it will be. Splitters should be used for both ripping and crosscutting. There arc two types of splitters - static and dynamic. Today nearly all Amcrican-madc contractor and cabinet saws have static splitters (though that is changing). These are the typical top guard/splitter/anti-kickback-fmger combination-guard system that comes with most new saws. This combination guard system is attached just behind the blade arbor ami just to the bock of the 50 ■ rVyvljr Wtotoafchg iWxr.WX |
