Shopsmith Forums

Threads over the last few days have got me thinking about taking the extra riving knife off my wish list and adding it to my "order" list. Then I had a thought - I have 2 mark V's, and can't think of a situation when I'd ever have both set up for table saw at the same time. Does anyone see a reason why I can't disassemble one of the upper saw guards and pull the riving knife out for use in non-through cuts? Might have to modify the shape a little, but the thickness and attachment would be correct.

The riving knife (556223) costs $32.99. Wow That's an expensive little piece of metal.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... _knife.htm

The Upper saw guard (514366) costs $86.09. If you dismantle the upper saw guard to harvest the riving knife, it becomes an even more expensive little piece of metal.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/item ... tem=514366

I would suggest that you purchase a riving knife and at the same time list your upper saw guard for sale on ebay.

Making a riving knife would be a relatively simple job except for one small but very important factor. Actually maybe two. Getting a piece of metal the right thickness and the right rigidity. I made one but was never satisfied so I bought one. It resides almost constantly on my table saw.

PS Don't overlook shipping costs.

I agree with Dusty.Buy one rather than try to hack one together. If you buy it, you'll use it right now! I have had one for a couple of years and regard it as a nice safety tool. Thought about making one .... until SS came out with one! Buy one - good investment for YOU!!

Thanks guys. I agree that it's an expensive little piece of metal - by the time I pay exchange and shipping, I think it'll be over $60. I may yet look at parting out one of my current upper guards, and hope I don't need a second one - good news is it looks like the regular knife is available separately if needed.

ecom1 wrote:Thanks guys. I agree that it's an expensive little piece of metal - by the time I pay exchange and shipping, I think it'll be over $60. I may yet look at parting out one of my current upper guards, and hope I don't need a second one - good news is it looks like the regular knife is available separately if needed.

Have you contacted All In One Wood Tools , they are the Canadian distributor for Shopsmith. Unless things have changed you will not be able to order direct from Shopsmith in the USA.

Also where do you live on the Island? Shipwright asked in another thread but I think you missed it. He lives in Cowichan Bay and winters in Arizona, I live in Colwood.

Thanks Ron - yes Shipwright PM'd me. I live in Nanaimo. I have ordered from All in One, but you pay shipping from Shopsmith to them, plus shipping from them to you. I found this out when I was looking at ordering a Miter set - $129.90 USD from Shopsmith, $220 (plus domestic shipping from Ontario) from All in One. Big difference.

Sorry, I typo'd - should have read $210 CDn

To add an alternative to the mix, Shark Guard makes both a riving knife and upper saw guard with dust port for the SS. You can choose the thickness of the riving knife and with or without pawls. I have considered getting the upper guard with dust port. The guard is removable so it can be used as a riving knife. Then my husband bought the SS riving knife for me so I could not use that as an excuse to get the new guard. Now if only I could convince my husband I need a new upper guard with dust collection.

http://www.thesharkguard.com/ordershopsmith.html

I don't think the Sharkguard is the same thing as the SS riving knife. The SS riving knife travels up and down with the blade and is used for through cuts (i.e. where the blade does not go through the top of the board you are cutting). You don't use the upper blade guard at all for a through cut(well, you can and I do some times). In fact, I think the Sharkguard is basically like the regular Shopsmith upper saw blade guard except the Sharkguard has the dust port.

Now adding a dust port to the SS blade guard is a worthwhile addition and I have given the idea of making one a lot of consideration. But that is another discussion.

Might be a good idea to change 'through' to 'non-through' above.