Man I used my brothers dewalt table saw the other day , I didnt have that little thing installed, lucky the board kicked back to my right side flying through the open doorway crashing into some old tools in the back room, I can laugh now but wow I learned fast about kickback . Gonna make sure its installed next time for sure
When we first talked about table saws in my middle school shop class, Scott, my teacher walked us all the way across the room and showed us a 1” dent in a solid oak door. He pointed back to the old table saw 15 feet away, and said “That tool threw a walnut board this far, and it still had enough force to notch this hardwood. Don’t ever get in the way of a strong kickback…” That was 25 years ago, and I still think about it when I’m feeding a hardwood board into a table saw blade 😅
Man after it happened i thought wow that thing would have tore me up . So glad it didnt hit me . One thing is for sure, Some of the lessons you dont forget is Lessons learned . I learned my lesson and hopefully others will follow your lessons.
My saw don't have one, I'm certainly not buying a new one to have it. I stand to one side and use a lot of caution. 28 years of doing carpentry and I have yet to have a kickback.
I helped my dad for many years in my life and I never seen or heard of kickback until it happened a couple weeks ago to me, beware that I am skilled and fearless , but that table saw scares the hell out of me now . 😱
@@01spaz that’s certainly your choice but I would always use a saw with a knife on it those kick backs are no joke!!! for me I can get complacent very easily I hope you never have a kickback but if you were to get one I think you would change your mind but again that’s always up to the individual
Sir, for every comment thanking you for reminding them of this awesome safety feature, there are probably 20 people that also were reminded, but just didn't comment. Lots of injuries prevented via this one video!
Unbelievable timing. Just took mine off a couple of hours ago because it was lose and I didn’t think it was very important. So glad your video popped up tonight before I had a kickback. Timing is everything. I will definitely reinstall it tomorrow before using my saw again. Thanks for saving me from having a stupid accident!
I was the same for quite a while - I thought all the "pros" didnt seem to use them and I left mine off. Then I decided to research what they were for and boy were my eyes openned.
This was the best explanation of the what and why of the riving knife I've seen. Thank you for taking the time to put together a cogent presentation without a hint of preaching.
Great video! I lost a finger tip and two months of work by leaving this off when I installed a new zero clearance insert on my table saw. Going to get a SawStop soon, but will never ignore this simple safety device again. Don't learn this the hard way!
For a old timer. That had 2 years in carpenters school. Then two more years in construction. Then moved on to other livelihoods. Now I got more time to work around the house. WOW I got a portable tablesaw that came with that knife what a difference. In the four years. I used a Lotta table-saws back in the 90’s. That was the one thing the instructor always said to look for a board that looked bowed twisted wobbly curved be on guard when you’re ripping it. Always stay off to the left of the work. Even though it feels comfortable to step in behind it to finish the rip cut don’t. I’ve had some close calls. But that tablesaw was not shy of letting you know if you didn’t take a few minutes just to look over the wood before cut. That table saw would let you know within seconds that it’s being rejected and throwing it out. Whether you want it to or not.
Perfect, thanks! I'm a bit old school, always worked with older saws, all pre-2000's. Today I was assembling my new dewalt table saw and stand, I was pretty sure the knife was all for safety but great explanation. I've taken a beating in my younger days but I'm getting too old for any more of that, things take a lot longer to heal once you pass 50.😂 Definitely dialing in the riving knife and keeping it on the saw where it belongs.
You are absolutely right about the importance of the seemingly inconvenient part. My father-in-law didn't have one on his saw, and when a board kicked back, he tried to slap it down with his hand. His right thumb was completely severed. He and his thumb were rushed to a hospital, and the thumb was reattached. After months of painful physical therapy, he now has use of the wayward thumb. Riving knife or splitter are absolutely necessary when ripping. They are inconvenient only when bent or misaligned.
This video explained my table saw problems. I fished the guard from the junk drawer and installed it. Luckily I still had the owners manual which also showed me how to properly align the blade. Thanks.
I find I learn something from almost all of these videos. They are appreciated. The kick back pole is the only attatchment I haven't found a need for yet. I believe I now know why. I've been taking the riving knife for granted.
I got mine in 08 I believe. It came with one. Didn't really know what it was for back then. Unfortunately it broke when assembling it. I was taught back in 1970 to stand on the side a little in case of kick back. I've had kick back a few times. Now you make me want to fix it and put it on. 😆
Good video Ethan, but it is also worth mentioning that another source of kickback is when the fence is not parallel with the blade and narrower at the outfeed end. 👍❤
Thank you for Another very informative video. I do carpentry work with my nephew as a side line to my real job (lol) and I've learnt many very useful tips from you that I bring with me when doing whatever it is we may be working on. I really love your content and just wanted to tell you that I as I'm sure your other viewers really appreciate the effort you put into your videos. Please keep them coming.
Thank you, retired! I appreciate the positive feedback, and really glad to hear you’re working with your nephew. The next generation always learns from the one before it 🙂
Yes! My Dewalt came with a riving knife. I have not had any kickback on this saw. But I am also very careful with how I cut wood. I have watched Steve Ramsey's videos about avoiding kickback. I am determined to keep my fingers attached!
Thanks for the reminder. I just have a DeWalt job site saw and I had put on a zero-clearance throat plate to reduce dust and better support the work. After watching your video, I modified by throat plate to add the riving knife. Thanks again
My sears table saw that I purchased 50 years ago came with a splitter and guard combo, which was awkward, I wanted so much to follow safety rules, but I had to take it off after about a month. I've never had a problem with kickback. The only thing i have had is a small block of wood vibrating on the table and hitting the blade and thrown at me. Never had an injury with the table saw. I have a lot of respect for them. Actually i like it better when there are no guards in the way... I did buy some plastic push sticks about a year ago mostly to speed up the work and get better control while maintaining safety. Yes, i'm old... 77 years.
So you're saying that you just haven't had an accident...yet. You have been lucky apparently. Folks this is exactly the attitude you do not want to have. "It was awkward." You know what else is awkward? Trying to open jars with your non dominant hand because you couldn't use common sense and realize a blade spinning at 4000 rpm will remove parts of your body before you even realize what happened.
you only say about yourself that nothing happened to you Maybe you are very careful but remember that your comment is read by very careless people and they can treat you as an authority and they will lose fingers thanks to you.
if you have an old saw, like a solid 70's contractor saw or something like that, and dont want to use the pawls and riving knife and blade guard combo things that came with them all look into splitters! I got an MJ splitter and let me tell you my confidence when using an insert without one vs one with one now is massively different. Other than the saw itself, one fo the best purchases I made.
This video explains a lot. In shopping for my first table saw, I looked at some used ones that had no riving knife or blade guard. When asked, the seller would respond, "What's a riving knife?" Usually this involved older table saws dating back 20-40 years and sellers who'd not bought one after the UL mandate. When asked about missing blade guards, the usual answer was, "Oh, those are a pain..." or some such.
Great explanation of riving knives. I appreciate your focus on safety. Another thing to consider with kickback is that it can pull your hand into the blade. So that blade guard is an essential safety component along with the riving knife.
Good call, Birdlab! I’m yet to address pulling from the back of the saw on the show, but I will. Pro rock climber Tommy Caldwell lost a finger that way!
Make sure you have run your stock through a joiner/ planer to make sure you don't have twisted board! Running that through a table saw can cause kickback despite a riving knife! Also, make sure you're standing where the enemy ain't shooting!
Much useful. Never thought that so little piece of metal does so much work. I still don't have table saw but today I was watching many in one big tools shop and I was wondering why that piece of metal is there. Many thanks for the information
I have been a cabinet maker since 1975 , and I'm still working today . The pro saws ( 3 phase machines ) all had them back then and the first thing that would happen would be to take that riving knife OFF !! When all the big box stores started offering table saws and miter saws to all the idiots who shouldn't have one this is when kick backs started to become a thing . If one knows what they are doing kick backs are a very rare occurance . Most of the time the fence is NOT set up properly , CAUSING the kick back . Couple that with gross ignorance of how wood reacts when cut improperly , this is how it has become an issue . And " yes " I can back everything that I say .
Thank you, I really mean it. Just purchased a small ryobi 8 in portable with a perfectly aligned riving knife out of the box, but I honestly did not know what it was until this video clarified the poorly illustrated owners manual.
A second safety protocol is to never stand in line with the material between the fence and the blade. That's where the most common kickback will go. Straight back. With a 10 inch blade on most table saws that will be at 120 mph. Question: I have a professional grade Jet left tilt shop table saw. Is there a retrofit for a riving knife that has height adjustment ?
That's what I'm curious about as well. I have an older ish Ryobi left tilt and I'm curious if I can get one mounted on mine as well. I always stand to the side but now I kind of want one
There was a hole on the wall behind the table saw in my schools shop. The teacher told the maintenance guy to leave it in place as a reminder of how hard the board flies back.
You do have to spend some time setting the saw up... blade, fence, etc. But once done, the saw is great. Fairly compact which is Nice ruclips.net/user/postUgkxXh-4_3-ZT1fFWP91ZV7iVqzElr0lEb-a I did get an Incra Miter Gauge which takes some setup as well. The stock miter gauge can be adjusted in the miter slot with a little painter's tape... this tightens up the side to side play a lot.
I wish I could make that one Hasan! Unfortunately I was moving too fast through the rest of the shop build to document that one. 😕 I’ll see if I can at least describe it a little bit in a later video…
I built my own fence 15 years ago and cut all my own pickets from deck planks. This included dog-earing them and this was long before I owned a miter saw. The fence line was 640 feet with about 1280 dog ears cut. I got popped in the mouth by the triangular corners about three times while cutting those stupid things. A few others missed but flew past my face. That hurt and they were only a couple ounces each. I can only imagine the horrors of real kickback events.
i also would like to say if you have a small portable saw the riving knife is probably much more important also if you use one way feather boards they help also.
There can never be enough warnings on this. I wonder how many fingers this video will save. Oh wow, we have the same table saw, except I have the EU version. Ok, so I do not use the blade guard, but I would never make a cut without a riving knife. Also that table saw is really excellent, the fence system is the best I've ever experienced.
The table saw I bought right after college in 1996 came with a splitter and I never had a kick-back in the 25 years of using it. These things are mandatory here in the EU and for a good reason!
I have 2000 delta contractor table saw and never had rift knife. I tried to find one i can purchase it but none will fit for my table saw. Can you tell me where i can find it for my delta ? Thanks
The riving knife is a great thing to have, I will admit, but I'm almost 64 years old and in my 40+ years of woodworking experience I have never used one, I could quickly feel and hear my saw binding at the kerf and would immediately shut off the saw and pushed a small wedge into the end of the kerf and finish cutting. I personally have never dealt with a kick back ever, but I've seen it happen plenty to other people in the past and 90% of those people after watching them, really shouldn't have been using the saw in the first place and I have tried to educate some of those people but the no.1 thing I saw with each and every one was the look of fear using a table saw, respecting the machine is important but fearing the machine will get you hurt
i was going to remove the riving knife because my acrylic sheets i was cutting kept getting jammed up in that thing and ruining my cuts. i'll now see if i could adjust.
I have a Craftsman saw from 1947 without a riving knife. Is there a way to install one on the. I have tried the addon riving parts on wooden inserts and they seam to work ok, however I do not always use the wood inserts and would like a more permanent installation.
I have a 93 Delta 10 inch contractors saw. It came with the claws but no RKnife and I have never been injured but I remember being shocked the first time I was a little to the side because the board was binding and it shot back like a rocket and hit the door from my garage to the house. It's a steel door so it took it better than I thought, but it was not the last time it would be hit. I really need to dump that thing and get a modern saw.
I got my table saw in 2009 actually for fathers day. Barely missed this upgrade. Mine has 2 spring loaded one-way teeth. I take them off when I'm ripping plywood. But thats it.
Here in the uk 🇬🇧 if you work in joiners workshop you have to have the riving knife by law and now we have been told the crown Guard has to be just a little higher than the wood you are cutting so you can’t have your fingers pulled in But in my own workshop and it’s only me that works in my workshop I have used tenanting jig a Factory made one too do my tenants but I take great care when using this jig you can still have the riving knife in just set low but as with all workshop machinery you need to know what you are doing and read or get taught how to use your machine’s stay safe 👏👏👍
A can attest to the truth of this assertion. I lost my marbles one day and didn't put the riving knife back after raising the blade into a middle cut. Started to break down a piece of plywood. Dislocated the second knuckle on the index finger of my left hand. Just getting back to playing the banjo after 18 months.
My jet table saw came with a roving knife along with other safety devices-which were promptly removed as they did interfere with my cuts-so I guess I’ll have to find it and put it back on.
I do have a question... I use a 7-1/4" blade on my tablesaw. I bought a microjig thin kerf set up. However its's good for 3/32", which the splitters are too thick for my blade. I know this is a no go but could I sand the splitters to fit? There is no other way I can see. Thank you
Would be nice if you could make a video on the various blades that are out there - number of teeth, thickness of blade, for which material, and for which saw (circular, miter, table).
Thanks so much for this one. Time and time again, I check in, and it seems like your latest video has just answered a question that was rolling around in my active, but uneducated mind. I'd love to help you out with the amazon commission, but being in Germany, maybe I'll just order a t-shirt. Keep up the good work!!!!
I’m a beginner wood worker who loves DIY projects for our home and does them while our two little girls are napping! I am making 55” dovetail slides for our table but my makita 2703 table saws riving knife doesn’t allow for partial cuts. Can I add any brand of knife and if so do you have recommendations for the knife AND any tips on making dovetail slides?! Thank you so much for this easy to understand and detailed video!! ❤
I must say I am totally terrified when it comes to table saws. I worked in a boat yard where they had a very powerful saw and boy, once in a while someone inexperienced would have a problem. I purchased a Ryobi saw not too long ago. It has the riving knife. I am totally impressed how simple of a part can make a world of difference. Ripping long boards does sometimes need a wedge inserted behind the knife (keeps the boards from pinching) I feel much better when cutting. I play guitar and know how precious all of my digits are. Keep them on your body folks!
Keep all safety equipment on the table saw, have a healthy respect for the machine you are working with ,and never stand behind the lumber you are cutting...
Don't fear it, respect it. You are in control. Keep pressure against the table and fence when ripping and you will be ok. Also, don't be afraid to raise the blade up a little more. It will help by cutting on a downward motion against the table. Just stay mindful that the blade is more exposed. I've never had any major kickback but I've had wood pinch my blade several times. I also never use riving knife, or any other safety feature, to be honest. I've had the blade stop during an attempted kickback because I had good control of the stock. Never just push material through without keeping it locked in the corner of the fence and table.
My saw came with a splitter. I took it off the day that I got it. I do way too many plunge cuts to use one. After 25 years I haven’t missed it one bit.
sorry to say many people have lost fingers as well as had lumber projectiles launched at them causing injuries from not using a splitter and anti kick claws and a simple blade guard.. You my friend have lucky so far...
@@intsccents yeah, people that are careless. I have two friends that are carpenters, like me, that completely severed fingers. Both were not paying attention to what they were doing. Luckily, they had them sewn back on and still have use of them.
Same issue here. I picked up an old Craftsman saw from a list place. The splitter it once had was associated with the blade guard. They no longer make the replacement. I’ve looked at zero clearance throat plates that have splitters on them. Not willing to give up my $40 saw 😀
Write Jet, Dan. They seem like a pretty good company-I figure lots of people have to have requested this. They just may have some sort of retrofit for at least a splitter.
@@TheHonestCarpenter thanks! I am thinking of buying one. Maybe ways to make sleds/jigs too would be great! just floating ideas for the channel. Scotlands a lovely place! You’re good at recognising the ‘lingo’ ha
Also because of the torque of the blade it can tend to want to move the wood away from the fence and the riving knife would avert this? I have three table saws none with the knife, guess I'll have to retrofit them if possible.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Man I used my brothers dewalt table saw the other day , I didnt have that little thing installed, lucky the board kicked back to my right side flying through the open doorway crashing into some old tools in the back room, I can laugh now but wow I learned fast about kickback . Gonna make sure its installed next time for sure
When we first talked about table saws in my middle school shop class, Scott, my teacher walked us all the way across the room and showed us a 1” dent in a solid oak door. He pointed back to the old table saw 15 feet away, and said “That tool threw a walnut board this far, and it still had enough force to notch this hardwood. Don’t ever get in the way of a strong kickback…” That was 25 years ago, and I still think about it when I’m feeding a hardwood board into a table saw blade 😅
Man after it happened i thought wow that thing would have tore me up . So glad it didnt hit me . One thing is for sure, Some of the lessons you dont forget is Lessons learned . I learned my lesson and hopefully others will follow your lessons.
My saw don't have one, I'm certainly not buying a new one to have it. I stand to one side and use a lot of caution. 28 years of doing carpentry and I have yet to have a kickback.
I helped my dad for many years in my life and I never seen or heard of kickback until it happened a couple weeks ago to me, beware that I am skilled and fearless , but that table saw scares the hell out of me now . 😱
@@01spaz that’s certainly your choice but I would always use a saw with a knife on it those kick backs are no joke!!! for me I can get complacent very easily I hope you never have a kickback but if you were to get one I think you would change your mind but again that’s always up to the individual
Im a beginner into wood working and this maybhave saved my life.
Thank you
Sir, for every comment thanking you for reminding them of this awesome safety feature, there are probably 20 people that also were reminded, but just didn't comment. Lots of injuries prevented via this one video!
Unbelievable timing. Just took mine off a couple of hours ago because it was lose and I didn’t think it was very important. So glad your video popped up tonight before I had a kickback. Timing is everything. I will definitely reinstall it tomorrow before using my saw again. Thanks for saving me from having a stupid accident!
I was the same for quite a while - I thought all the "pros" didnt seem to use them and I left mine off. Then I decided to research what they were for and boy were my eyes openned.
This was the best explanation of the what and why of the riving knife I've seen. Thank you for taking the time to put together a cogent presentation without a hint of preaching.
Thank you, Tom! 😄
@@TheHonestCarpenter second his comment. Thank you.
This is absolutely one of the most important videos you have made. Thanks for educating me and your followers.
Thank you! Waited a long time to make this one-the new shop is the perfect setting for these fundamental vids 🙂
Great video! I lost a finger tip and two months of work by leaving this off when I installed a new zero clearance insert on my table saw. Going to get a SawStop soon, but will never ignore this simple safety device again. Don't learn this the hard way!
For a old timer. That had 2 years in carpenters school. Then two more years in construction. Then moved on to other livelihoods. Now I got more time to work around the house. WOW I got a portable tablesaw that came with that knife what a difference. In the four years. I used a Lotta table-saws back in the 90’s. That was the one thing the instructor always said to look for a board that looked bowed twisted wobbly curved be on guard when you’re ripping it. Always stay off to the left of the work. Even though it feels comfortable to step in behind it to finish the rip cut don’t. I’ve had some close calls. But that tablesaw was not shy of letting you know if you didn’t take a few minutes just to look over the wood before cut. That table saw would let you know within seconds that it’s being rejected and throwing it out. Whether you want it to or not.
Perfect, thanks! I'm a bit old school, always worked with older saws, all pre-2000's. Today I was assembling my new dewalt table saw and stand, I was pretty sure the knife was all for safety but great explanation. I've taken a beating in my younger days but I'm getting too old for any more of that, things take a lot longer to heal once you pass 50.😂 Definitely dialing in the riving knife and keeping it on the saw where it belongs.
You are absolutely right about the importance of the seemingly inconvenient part. My father-in-law didn't have one on his saw, and when a board kicked back, he tried to slap it down with his hand. His right thumb was completely severed. He and his thumb were rushed to a hospital, and the thumb was reattached. After months of painful physical therapy, he now has use of the wayward thumb. Riving knife or splitter are absolutely necessary when ripping. They are inconvenient only when bent or misaligned.
You just explained how they function the best I’ve seen and I’ve watched several.
This video explained my table saw problems. I fished the guard from the junk drawer and installed it. Luckily I still had the owners manual which also showed me how to properly align the blade. Thanks.
I find I learn something from almost all of these videos. They are appreciated. The kick back pole is the only attatchment I haven't found a need for yet. I believe I now know why. I've been taking the riving knife for granted.
I got mine in 08 I believe. It came with one. Didn't really know what it was for back then. Unfortunately it broke when assembling it. I was taught back in 1970 to stand on the side a little in case of kick back. I've had kick back a few times.
Now you make me want to fix it and put it on.
😆
Good video Ethan, but it is also worth mentioning that another source of kickback is when the fence is not parallel with the blade and narrower at the outfeed end. 👍❤
Thank you for Another very informative video. I do carpentry work with my nephew as a side line to my real job (lol) and I've learnt many very useful tips from you that I bring with me when doing whatever it is we may be working on. I really love your content and just wanted to tell you that I as I'm sure your other viewers really appreciate the effort you put into your videos. Please keep them coming.
Thank you, retired! I appreciate the positive feedback, and really glad to hear you’re working with your nephew. The next generation always learns from the one before it 🙂
Yes! My Dewalt came with a riving knife. I have not had any kickback on this saw. But I am also very careful with how I cut wood. I have watched Steve Ramsey's videos about avoiding kickback. I am determined to keep my fingers attached!
Don't worry all fingers are digital.
This is one of the most reasonable explanations of the kickback in table saws. Thanks a lot.
Thanks for the reminder. I just have a DeWalt job site saw and I had put on a zero-clearance throat plate to reduce dust and better support the work. After watching your video, I modified by throat plate to add the riving knife. Thanks again
Never heard of a driving knife before, but very valuable info. Thanks for the explanation, Ethan. 👍
My sears table saw that I purchased 50 years ago came with a splitter and guard combo, which was awkward, I wanted so much to follow safety rules, but I had to take it off after about a month. I've never had a problem with kickback. The only thing i have had is a small block of wood vibrating on the table and hitting the blade and thrown at me. Never had an injury with the table saw. I have a lot of respect for them. Actually i like it better when there are no guards in the way... I did buy some plastic push sticks about a year ago mostly to speed up the work and get better control while maintaining safety. Yes, i'm old... 77 years.
So you're saying that you just haven't had an accident...yet. You have been lucky apparently. Folks this is exactly the attitude you do not want to have. "It was awkward." You know what else is awkward? Trying to open jars with your non dominant hand because you couldn't use common sense and realize a blade spinning at 4000 rpm will remove parts of your body before you even realize what happened.
Are you saying that i'm not as careful as I have been for the last 50 years? I'' be 80 in December.@@adamcoe
you only say about yourself that nothing happened to you Maybe you are very careful but remember that your comment is read by very careless people and they can treat you as an authority and they will lose fingers thanks to you.
No particular comments, I just wanted to thank you for all the good content you make and the experience you share!
Thank you, PBS! Positive feedback always welcome 😄
Great video. I really worry for those with home built table saws with just an inverted circular saw. Courting disaster! 👏🇦🇺✌️
Yes my Ridgid table saw from 2014 came with a riving knife and my DeWalt Flexvolt mini job site table saw has it also.
Haven't seen that flexvolt yet, Jeff! I'm gonna look it up...
👍🏻🍻🍺👍🏻
He literally said they became standard in the mid 2k's so what's your point?
Direct, to the point, no fluff. You taught me something important. Thank you!!!
if you have an old saw, like a solid 70's contractor saw or something like that, and dont want to use the pawls and riving knife and blade guard combo things that came with them all look into splitters! I got an MJ splitter and let me tell you my confidence when using an insert without one vs one with one now is massively different. Other than the saw itself, one fo the best purchases I made.
Do you have to make your own insert?
This video explains a lot. In shopping for my first table saw, I looked at some used ones that had no riving knife or blade guard. When asked, the seller would respond, "What's a riving knife?" Usually this involved older table saws dating back 20-40 years and sellers who'd not bought one after the UL mandate. When asked about missing blade guards, the usual answer was, "Oh, those are a pain..." or some such.
My 1948 Unisaw has a riving knife.
Instant subscribe. Probably the clearest, quickest presentation of information on the subject I've seen. Thank you.
Great explanation of riving knives. I appreciate your focus on safety. Another thing to consider with kickback is that it can pull your hand into the blade. So that blade guard is an essential safety component along with the riving knife.
Good call, Birdlab! I’m yet to address pulling from the back of the saw on the show, but I will. Pro rock climber Tommy Caldwell lost a finger that way!
thanks for letting us know if we could add on to an older machine
Make sure you have run your stock through a joiner/ planer to make sure you don't have twisted board! Running that through a table saw can cause kickback despite a riving knife! Also, make sure you're standing where the enemy ain't shooting!
Very good point, Arthur. Thanks!
Great coverage on this little safety gem. Always delivered in the same honest style that makes your channel so easy to learn from. Thanks 👍
My 1948 Unisaw has this, but I never installed it for some reason.
Gonna have to see if I can get it hooked up.
I can relate to this. My ryobi job site saw from the late 1990's didnt come with one. My new delta contractors saw has one and I love it.
Thank you for that Isaac, I have just spent hours trying to adjust my knife because I couldn't work out which way to turn the screws but I know now 😊
Never would have conceived of this being a problem. But now I know. Thanks for the great content.
Thanks Hal!
Thank you so much
I just brought my table saw
Good insight and information
Very helpful
👍
can older table saws be retro fitted with riving knives?
likely, but itd probably take some engineering to do it yourself
Much useful. Never thought that so little piece of metal does so much work. I still don't have table saw but today I was watching many in one big tools shop and I was wondering why that piece of metal is there. Many thanks for the information
Thanks. I didn't know that piece was so important. I will use it from now on.
I parted with an older saw that I loved after one nasty kickback...my new saw has one and it works very very well.
I have been a cabinet maker since 1975 , and I'm still working today . The pro saws ( 3 phase machines ) all had them back then and the first thing that would happen would be to take that riving knife OFF !! When all the big box stores started offering table saws and miter saws to all the idiots who shouldn't have one this is when kick backs started to become a thing . If one knows what they are doing kick backs are a very rare occurance . Most of the time the fence is NOT set up properly , CAUSING the kick back . Couple that with gross ignorance of how wood reacts when cut improperly , this is how it has become an issue . And " yes " I can back everything that I say .
This is the first time I've herd or seen this (Riving Knife) wow...very, very safe feature..👍👍...
Love u a lot mate
Without your videos i already be one left handed lad
Hello again The Honest Carpenter
Thank you for another Great Video. And thank you educating me in Shop Saw Safety. Again thank you
That's a great tip and thanks for that lesson. I have anew tablesaw and will look for that feature.
another great video for info ,easy to understand and well made by a true pro ! 👍
Thank you for this video. I have to do some projects and scared of this table saw. I feel a little more confident now:)
Thank you, I really mean it. Just purchased a small ryobi 8 in portable with a perfectly aligned riving knife out of the box, but I honestly did not know what it was until this video clarified the poorly illustrated owners manual.
You’re welcome, Jeff! Work safe 🙂
A second safety protocol is to never stand in line with the material between the fence and the blade. That's where the most common kickback will go. Straight back. With a 10 inch blade on most table saws that will be at 120 mph. Question: I have a professional grade Jet left tilt shop table saw. Is there a retrofit for a riving knife that has height adjustment ?
That's what I'm curious about as well. I have an older ish Ryobi left tilt and I'm curious if I can get one mounted on mine as well. I always stand to the side but now I kind of want one
Great Video. Yeah, I just bought an old delta on Craiglist, I would like to add an riving knife too it, that possible? Honest Carpenter please advise.
There was a hole on the wall behind the table saw in my schools shop. The teacher told the maintenance guy to leave it in place as a reminder of how hard the board flies back.
As always, a well explained and super informative video - Thanks again, Honest!
You do have to spend some time setting the saw up... blade, fence, etc. But once done, the saw is great. Fairly compact which is Nice ruclips.net/user/postUgkxXh-4_3-ZT1fFWP91ZV7iVqzElr0lEb-a I did get an Incra Miter Gauge which takes some setup as well. The stock miter gauge can be adjusted in the miter slot with a little painter's tape... this tightens up the side to side play a lot.
I bought a SharkGuard for my old Delta Unisaw, was worth every penny…and then some.
wondering if i can get a riving knife for my 70s b&d table saw.
I really like all your videos!! simple and instructor. Thank you!
Great videos! Very helpful and practical. I'd like to suggest a video on tool maintenance, especially circular saws and routers.
Good idea, Manila! I’m jotting it down 😄
Hey this was good to know. Apparently we have one somewhere not attached to the table saw. I think it's time to find it ! Thanks 👍👍
yes it could save your life...
Awesome video and information as alway. Btw, looking fwd to the video of your shop vac cart with cyclone bucket under the miter saw in the back.
I wish I could make that one Hasan! Unfortunately I was moving too fast through the rest of the shop build to document that one. 😕 I’ll see if I can at least describe it a little bit in a later video…
@@TheHonestCarpenter much appreciated.
I have a thinner diablo 90 tooth blade that cut too thin for the factory riving knife so I made a custom one which worked perfect just for that blade.
I built my own fence 15 years ago and cut all my own pickets from deck planks. This included dog-earing them and this was long before I owned a miter saw. The fence line was 640 feet with about 1280 dog ears cut. I got popped in the mouth by the triangular corners about three times while cutting those stupid things. A few others missed but flew past my face. That hurt and they were only a couple ounces each.
I can only imagine the horrors of real kickback events.
any way to retro fit one that doesnt have?
i also would like to say if you have a small portable saw the riving knife is probably much more important also if you use one way feather boards they help also.
There can never be enough warnings on this. I wonder how many fingers this video will save.
Oh wow, we have the same table saw, except I have the EU version. Ok, so I do not use the blade guard, but I would never make a cut without a riving knife. Also that table saw is really excellent, the fence system is the best I've ever experienced.
You're smart. Thank you for sharing your smarts!
The table saw I bought right after college in 1996 came with a splitter and I never had a kick-back in the 25 years of using it. These things are mandatory here in the EU and for a good reason!
I have 2000 delta contractor table saw and never had rift knife. I tried to find one i can purchase it but none will fit for my table saw. Can you tell me where i can find it for my delta ? Thanks
The riving knife is a great thing to have, I will admit, but I'm almost 64 years old and in my 40+ years of woodworking experience I have never used one, I could quickly feel and hear my saw binding at the kerf and would immediately shut off the saw and pushed a small wedge into the end of the kerf and finish cutting. I personally have never dealt with a kick back ever, but I've seen it happen plenty to other people in the past and 90% of those people after watching them, really shouldn't have been using the saw in the first place and I have tried to educate some of those people but the no.1 thing I saw with each and every one was the look of fear using a table saw, respecting the machine is important but fearing the machine will get you hurt
I'm only 35 but I feel like I wrote this comment. I agree 100%.
Awesome explanation, ppl always asking that and I can only tell it’s a safety feature😂
i was going to remove the riving knife because my acrylic sheets i was cutting kept getting jammed up in that thing and ruining my cuts. i'll now see if i could adjust.
I have a Craftsman saw from 1947 without a riving knife. Is there a way to install one on the. I have tried the addon riving parts on wooden inserts and they seam to work ok, however I do not always use the wood inserts and would like a more permanent installation.
I have a 93 Delta 10 inch contractors saw. It came with the claws but no RKnife and I have never been injured but I remember being shocked the first time I was a little to the side because the board was binding and it shot back like a rocket and hit the door from my garage to the house. It's a steel door so it took it better than I thought, but it was not the last time it would be hit. I really need to dump that thing and get a modern saw.
I got my table saw in 2009 actually for fathers day. Barely missed this upgrade. Mine has 2 spring loaded one-way teeth. I take them off when I'm ripping plywood. But thats it.
Here in the uk 🇬🇧 if you work in joiners workshop you have to have the riving knife by law and now we have been told the crown Guard has to be just a little higher than the wood you are cutting so you can’t have your fingers pulled in But in my own workshop and it’s only me that works in my workshop I have used tenanting jig a Factory made one too do my tenants but I take great care when using this jig you can still have the riving knife in just set low but as with all workshop machinery you need to know what you are doing and read or get taught how to use your machine’s stay safe 👏👏👍
Can you keep the riving knife in the same place when cross cutting
A can attest to the truth of this assertion. I lost my marbles one day and didn't put the riving knife back after raising the blade into a middle cut. Started to break down a piece of plywood. Dislocated the second knuckle on the index finger of my left hand. Just getting back to playing the banjo after 18 months.
Hi Ethan, can you upload more videos regarding safety in the use of the table saw. Thanks a lot.
Thanks for the reminder! My saws are older, I assume I can pick up an aftermarket one.
My jet table saw came with a roving knife along with other safety devices-which were promptly removed as they did interfere with my cuts-so I guess I’ll have to find it and put it back on.
I do have a question... I use a 7-1/4" blade on my tablesaw. I bought a microjig thin kerf set up. However its's good for 3/32", which the splitters are too thick for my blade. I know this is a no go but could I sand the splitters to fit? There is no other way I can see. Thank you
I am a beginner. Should there be a riving knife on a dado blade? Is it dangerous not to have one? Thanks
Would be nice if you could make a video on the various blades that are out there - number of teeth, thickness of blade, for which material, and for which saw (circular, miter, table).
Very helpful. Thank you. Peace and good fortune and good health to you and your family. ❤
Thanks so much for this one. Time and time again, I check in, and it seems like your latest video has just answered a question that was rolling around in my active, but uneducated mind. I'd love to help you out with the amazon commission, but being in Germany, maybe I'll just order a t-shirt. Keep up the good work!!!!
Great explanation. I just learned something in new and important to my safety.
I’m a beginner wood worker who loves DIY projects for our home and does them while our two little girls are napping! I am making 55” dovetail slides for our table but my makita 2703 table saws riving knife doesn’t allow for partial cuts. Can I add any brand of knife and if so do you have recommendations for the knife AND any tips on making dovetail slides?! Thank you so much for this easy to understand and detailed video!! ❤
I learned on a Bosch table saw that never had the knife on it I used it for years lol never had an issue
I must say I am totally terrified when it comes to table saws. I worked in a boat yard where they had a very powerful saw and boy, once in a while someone inexperienced would have a problem.
I purchased a Ryobi saw not too long ago. It has the riving knife.
I am totally impressed how simple of a part can make a world of difference.
Ripping long boards does sometimes need a wedge inserted behind the knife (keeps the boards from pinching)
I feel much better when cutting.
I play guitar and know how precious all of my digits are.
Keep them on your body folks!
Keep all safety equipment on the table saw, have a healthy respect for the machine you are working with ,and never stand behind the lumber you are cutting...
Don't fear it, respect it. You are in control. Keep pressure against the table and fence when ripping and you will be ok. Also, don't be afraid to raise the blade up a little more. It will help by cutting on a downward motion against the table. Just stay mindful that the blade is more exposed.
I've never had any major kickback but I've had wood pinch my blade several times. I also never use riving knife, or any other safety feature, to be honest. I've had the blade stop during an attempted kickback because I had good control of the stock. Never just push material through without keeping it locked in the corner of the fence and table.
My saw came with a splitter. I took it off the day that I got it. I do way too many plunge cuts to use one. After 25 years I haven’t missed it one bit.
sorry to say many people have lost fingers as well as had lumber projectiles launched at them causing injuries from not using a splitter and anti kick claws and a simple blade guard.. You my friend have lucky so far...
@@intsccents yeah, people that are careless. I have two friends that are carpenters, like me, that completely severed fingers. Both were not paying attention to what they were doing. Luckily, they had them sewn back on and still have use of them.
For which actions you should use a "thin kerf crosscut " in combination with a removed riving knife ?!
From Buffalo, N. Y. Thank You for explaining it, Thanks.-
Great video, and demo, especially the kickback
So what do people do that have a '80s Delta contractor saw?
I lucked out on an old Delta that had a huge table extension built into it. It doesn't have a knife and I've tried to find one, to no effect.
Ethan can you explain the grooves or cut outs on the Riving Knife and why they are there ?
Really enjoy your videos, honest indeed! look forward to next video
If you have a table saw from earlier than 1990's, how hard is it to add a riving knife?
Same issue here. I picked up an old Craftsman saw from a list place. The splitter it once had was associated with the blade guard. They no longer make the replacement. I’ve looked at zero clearance throat plates that have splitters on them. Not willing to give up my $40 saw 😀
I have an older Jet Table Saw; any idea how I could mount a riving knife to this saw?
Write Jet, Dan. They seem like a pretty good company-I figure lots of people have to have requested this. They just may have some sort of retrofit for at least a splitter.
@@TheHonestCarpenter Thanks; I'll give them a jingle on Monday.
Thanks for making this video, would you mind making a video of how to cut wood in various ways like a do’s and don’t of using a table saw?
Yes, soon Nae Bad! Also I used to live in Scotland myself 😁 🏴
@@TheHonestCarpenter thanks! I am thinking of buying one. Maybe ways to make sleds/jigs too would be great! just floating ideas for the channel. Scotlands a lovely place! You’re good at recognising the ‘lingo’ ha
Also because of the torque of the blade it can tend to want to move the wood away from the fence and the riving knife would avert this? I have three table saws none with the knife, guess I'll have to retrofit them if possible.