thin kerf blades

[Hobbyman2]

So I did some checking on the size of the kerf of thin kerf blades , it seems I stumbled across a few that had a kerf smaller then the riving knife.

I am wondering if any one has experience using them ,,?? if they had issues keeping the stock against the fence ,,,,,,or with the blade wanting to follow the grain as the wood splits across the riving knife?

Hobbyman2

[jsburger]

So I did some checking on the size of the kerf of thin kerf blades , it seems I stumbled across a few that had a kerf smaller then the riving knife.

I am wondering if any one has experience using them ,,?? if they had issues keeping the stock against the fence ,,,,,,or with the blade wanting to follow the grain as the wood splits across the riving knife?

Hobbyman2

I don't have any experience but geometry says it will not work the way a riving knife is supposed to work. The most obvious is that when the stock hits the riving knife with a kerf narrower than the riving knife you will have to force the stock to TRY and spread the stock to continue the cut. Then which way is the stock going to want to go in that situation particularly if the already tight kerf closes up?

Riving knife/spliters are made to a certain thickness for a reason. Check out the Shark Guard web site. He makes his upper saw guards with different thickness riving knives, Shopsmith included.

I guess I don't understand why you would even ask the question.

[reible]

Typical blades are about .125" or 1/8" thick. Thin kerf blades are typically in the .094" range. The shopsmith knife is about .078" thick and works with either blade.

I know of only one other thin blade that will not work, that is the 1/16" version at .062" or so. Those blades are pretty specialized and expensive, and as expected don't up shop up in hobby shops that often. And yes you can not use the stock shopsmith knife for that blade. One could buy another knife from shopsmith and have it thinned at a machine shop.

I don't own one of those 1/16" blades so no experience dealing with the issue.

Ed

[Hobbyman2]

I need to pick up a upper guard and knife for my 510 set up .
I think you both answered my question , I wasn't sure if SS made a knife for the thin kerf blades, there was a discussion on the blades but no one mentioned the different knives that were available .


Thanks to both of you.


Hobbyman2

[Hobbyman2]

Shark Guard

WOW!!

I don't see me buying one of those for each different size blade!!

Thanks for the link ,.

Hobbyman2

[jsburger]

Shark Guard

WOW!!

I don't see me buying one of those for each different size blade!!

Thanks for the link ,.

Hobbyman2

The riving knives should be interchangeable. Buy a complete guard for one blade and just the riving knife for the other blade.

[Hobbyman2]

LOL

If I got one for the wife,,, then I could just use it !!

Hobbyman2