Lower Saw Guard

[dusty]

When you attach the dust collector to the lower saw guard, how do you adjust the Guard Cover (512979)(#204)?

As close to the blade as possible or as far from the blade as possible or wherever?

I am trying to better understand how this adjustment might effect dust collection.

[kd6vpe]

I too have pondered on this question and have seen many different responses on this topic in the past. I don't think anyone really knows for sure. The best answer I had seen that made sense to me was to adjust it to the same width as the opening on your saw blade insert. The only issue I saw when doing it there was the gap that was formed on the tie bar guard. So I now just open it to the tiebar gaurd and deal with the cleanup latter. I have to believe that no matter where it is adjusted to it picks up the bad dust and leave the heavier chips for cleanup later. I built my own ambient air cleaner to further help my lungs. It is mounted on the ceiling upper left corver of the picture. I used the fan from our old AC unit I had to replace last year. I have two filters in the front the back one is a 3m allegenic .5 micron filter and the front one is a standard filter both from the big box store. I can't wait to see your responses Dusty.

[navycop]

kd6vpe, I recall seeing that photo on a previous post. I too have pondered this dilema. Everytime I use my SS I adjust the lower saw guard differently. The first time it is all the way in then I move it out alittle bit for the next time. I still have not found that sweet spot yet.

[dusty]

It seems like it must be adjustable "for a reason". I just can not figure what for.

I have experimented with the positioning, thinking that it had to do with dust collection but I have not seen evidence that that is the case.

[greitz]

I think I remember Rick Davis telling us to open it up about an inch for sawing. I normally just open it as far as it will go, 'cause I'm too lazy to bend down and look at it.

Gary

[keakap]

According to the SS User Manual, when sawing the lower guard should be placed 1/2" away from the blade. When disc sanding the guard should be 1" away from the disc.
Also, it says when angle sanding the disc position in the insert slot is controlled by the quill feed, but lower guard position is not mentioned for this specific case.

[dusty]

According to the SS User Manual, when sawing the lower guard should be placed 1/2" away from the blade. When disc sanding the guard should be 1" away from the disc.
Also, it says when angle sanding the disc position in the insert slot is controlled by the quill feed, but lower guard position is not mentioned for this specific case.

Now you are going to force me to go read the manual. I don't recall ever reading those instructions.

However, I am about to make a modification to my lower saw guard that will negate my ability to do that. I am trying to improve dust collection and the method I am toying with will demobilize the Guard Cover. Its position will be fixed right up against the Tie Bar.

I am somewhat skeptical. What I am doing is so simple that I wonder why it wasn't part of the original design. In time the answer to that question may become painfully obvious.

[keakap]

Now you are going to force me to go read the manual. I don't recall ever reading those instructions.

However, I am about to make a modification to my lower saw guard that will negate my ability to do that. I am trying to improve dust collection and the method I am toying with will demobilize the Guard Cover. Its position will be fixed right up against the Tie Bar.

I am somewhat skeptical. What I am doing is so simple that I wonder why it wasn't part of the original design. In time the answer to that question may become painfully obvious.

Figure 34 and Figure 38.

I'm with you on the tie bar thing. I have painter's tape closing the gap between the tie bar and the table underside, and I run the lower guard out to just inside the tie bar, for the best contact I can get. My ShopMate hooks up to the dust chute, of course, and if I'm trimming the end of a board I have something at the left side of the blade guard to stop the loose debris from flying out there. I catch most stuff. I think the tape helps-- in fact I know it does, and I think the lower guard position helps, but I can't prove it.

I hope your idea works. I'm tired of messing with that lower guard.

[Ed in Tampa]

Dust
I think the lower saw guard is adjustable so you can change blades or move to disk sanding both without having to remove the guard.

If you lock the lower guard in some position when you want to change blades or move to the sanding disk you will have to loosen the hex nut holding the lower guard to quill to allow the blade/sanding disk the room to slide on or off the arbor.

I position mine so it is very close to tie bar yet still misses it when I lower the table. Having an upper vaccum port via the Saw Shark (oem upper blade guard) pretty much collects all my dust. What little goes on the floor is usually shot straight out the kerf in the piece of wood.

Again I have used a fair number of different manufactures saws and none collect 100% of the dust. I think the Dewalt 746 is probably the best but still not perfect. My buddy says the new ridgid with granite top is excellent but I haven't seen it cut wood to be able to tell you.

If dust is really that big of a concern why not hang a heavy fabric (like canvas) attached to the four corners of the table and lower that the saw guard to catch all the dust that escapes the SS guards. Then when you put the SS away every night just suck out all the collected dust in the fabric and you clean up is over.

[dusty]

You are correct in all you say. The dust can really be dealt with in another way. In Junior High School shop class, the first tools we were taught to use and the ones I excelled at were the dust pan and broom.

But you ask why - because the dust collector is suppose to do that for me.

Maybe you don't have saw dust like I do and hopefully you don't have the tracking problem that I do. My shop is directly outside the back door into the house. Dusty foot prints in the laundry room get me in trouble regularly.