Shopsmith Forums

With all of the discussion I have seen over the years on Riving Knives I thought it appropriate to copy the latest email announcement (in part at least) regarding the latest new item and special from Shopsmith.

[font=&quot]Now You Can Avoid the Potential For Dangerous Kickbacks When Cutting Narrow Single or Multiple-pass Dadoes or Grooves... Rabbets... Half-laps, etc. on Your Shopsmith Mark 7 or Mark V table saw ! [/font]
[font=&quot]The riving knives on upper saw guard systems are positioned at the back side of the saw blade and are designed to prevent the saw kerf from closing onto the teeth of the rotating blade once the cut has been made. [/font]
[font=&quot][/font]
[font=&quot]When this kerf closing occurs, the potential for a dangerous kickback is increased significantly. [/font]
[font=&quot]If your Mark V (model 505, 510 or 520) machine was manufactured after November of 1985, your upper saw guard mechanism includes a riving knife that's designed to prevent this kerf-closing when making through cuts. All of the new Mark 7's also include this system. For your own safety and protection, we advise you to always use this system when making through cuts on your Shopsmith table saw setup. [/font]
[font=&quot]This new Non-Through-Cut Riving Knife will provide that same level of anti-kickback protection when making cuts where the blade does not pass all the way through the workpiece. Although the remaining wood that is not cut away from the stock during these non-through cuts will keep the kerf from closing on the blade, the workpiece could still rock or tilt slightly, permitting a wedging effect that could initiate a kickback. A wide metal Riving Knife at the outfeed side of the sawblade will prevent this wedging effect from occurring. [/font]
[font=&quot]The knife is slotted to slip quickly and easily into the upper guard mounting system on your Mark V or Mark 7. Just drop it into position behind the lock plate on your machine's lower saw guard and tighten the plastic wing knob. A few seconds and you're ready to safely make your cut(s). Works equally well when making straight or bevel cuts at any depth. [/font] ·[font=&quot]This Non-Through Cut Riving Knife will not accept your upper saw guard and is therefore designed for use when making non-through cuts such as narrow single or multiple-pass dadoes or grooves... rabbets... half-laps, etc. where the saw blade is covered by the workpiece. It is [font=&quot]NOT[/font] intended to be used when making through saw cuts [/font]
·[font=&quot]ALWAYS[/font][font=&quot] use your upper saw guard with its standard riving knife when making through cuts [/font]
[font=&quot]556223 Non-Through Riving Knife ...... $29.99 [font=&quot]Free Shipping*[/font]
* Riving Knife Only - Offer does not apply when other items are included in your order [/font]

I saw it and just placed my order for those non-through cuts.

I must congratulate Shopsmith on this business decision. I want to believe that the idea for this riving knife came from the Shopsmith Forum. I developed my own a couple years ago because of forum discussion.

Hopefully, the next Shopsmith Forum idea to be marketed will be the self adjusting out feed table that Nick introduced.

dusty wrote:I must congratulate Shopsmith on this business decision. I want to believe that the idea for this riving knife came from the Shopsmith Forum. I developed my own a couple years ago.

Hopefully, the next Shopsmith Forum idea to be marketed will be the self adjusting out feed table

Well written Dusty. I would love to see that as next product as well. Oh yes I ordered my Riving Knife before I posted the message. Fjimp

I will be posting my order tomorrow. I've wanted one for awhile, but I am either to lazy or to reluctant to make one or drill into the table to mount one. I'm glad SS has produced one specific to my SS.
Naturally it will only be used for non-through cuts:rolleyes:

It says "not for use with through cuts" but can you anyway? I would assume so.

tomsalwasser wrote:It says "not for use with through cuts" but can you anyway? I would assume so.

You could just like you could go without a riving knife all together. That might not be the safe thing to do though.

In this era of law suits, Shopsmith must do what is safe (from a legal point of view) for them. They do not recommend that you use this version of the riving knife for other than non-through cuts. The upper saw guard is available and "should be used" for all cuts other than non-through cuts.

I built my own short version of the riving knife and I use it whenever I do not have the upper saw guard installed (for non-through cuts, etc).

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PS Some good reading here!

When I ordered mine a few minutes ago, Jan said that they've already gotten more than 50 orders for the riving knife. Not bad, especially since it's less than 24 hours after the email came out!

Gary

greitz wrote:When I ordered mine a few minutes ago, Jan said that they've already gotten more than 50 orders for the riving knife. Not bad, especially since it's less than 24 hours after the email came out!

Gary

I'll bet 49 out of the 50 plan to use it for through-cuts.

greitz wrote:When I ordered mine a few minutes ago, Jan said that they've already gotten more than 50 orders for the riving knife. Not bad, especially since it's less than 24 hours after the email came out!

Gary

I guess I should have marketed mine. Building 50 of these would not have been a two day job - WOW, a $1500 opportunity lost.

This is a GOOD sign though. Hopefully all Shopsmith users are thinking "SAFETY".

Please, do not throw the upper saw guard under the work bench and just use the new one because it is so convenient! The new one does virtually nothing for preventing kickback during a through cut.