Table saw blade guards: Brett & Exaktor

[davidtu]

These two table saw blade guard assemblies are on sale 20% off on Amazon (code=20OFFJUN). I would like to know if anyone has experience or recommendations for these or other blade guards. I would use on the Jet 50" cabinet saw.

Here are the BT3 links:
HTC 10A-M50 Brett-Guard Table Saw Guard

Exaktor EXOA-2 Table Saw Overarm Blade Cover & Dust Collector

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Dear God those are expensive. If you need something like that check out the guard from Penn State Industries at half the price. Or see if there is a Shark Guard availible since everone hates the splitter so much.

[MBG]

Of the 100s of table saws in shops and garages I have seen, not 1 has ever had a blade guard. That is the first thing that comes off. Also Norm Abrahm and David Marks on their TV shows, do not have blade guards.

I did the same for many years until I got the Shark Guard. Now I feel uncomfortable w/o it when I need to make thin cut-offs. Plus the benefit of above table dust collection make it well worth the purchase price.

Mike

[crazypup]

Second vote for the shark guard. Comes off with ease when needed.

[eddy merckx]

Third vote for the Shark Guard. I have mine on a cabinet saw and it works beautifully. Even easier to use than the BT3 version. You get a guard, splitter, vertical kickback protection and dust collection all in one. Also no-tool removal.

Eddy

[Ocky]

Of the 100s of table saws in shops and garages I have seen, not 1 has ever had a blade guard. That is the first thing that comes off. Also Norm Abrahm and David Marks on their TV shows, do not have blade guards.

Yes and I have issued $18,000 fines to many a shop that did not have one when someone made contact with the blade. That buys quite a few guards. But even that pales in comparison to the increased work comp insurance premiums...

As for Abrams and Marks, they make clear that the guards are removed for camera view purpose ONLY. What they do in their private use is another matter.

You have the freedom to mangle yourself all you want...in fact this is evolution and gene pool selection in action (weeds out the moron genes). But if you employ anyone and don't use a guard, I'll git you!

[spf45]

You have the freedom to mangle yourself all you want...in fact this is evolution and gene pool selection in action (weeds out the moron genes). But if you employ anyone and don't use a guard, I'll git you!

This gene pool thing would only work for young people who haven't had their children yet. What it really does is plug up our emergency rooms and increase our group insurance rates.

I always use a guard and always will.

[Tom Slick]

OSHA requires them for any company that has employees operating their equipment. ww shows always have a disclaimer about why thier guards are removed. it's a huge liability.
overarm guards are outstanding and work very well. I have only used the biesemeyer overarm guard and it works very well.

on my personal saw I don't have a guard installed but I am certainly not going to argue about the need for one.

[Stytooner]

The Brett guard is most likely the strongest guard that you will find. It is absolutely heavy duty. It won't flinch much when holding against a kickback.
I think you have to pay more for one with dust collection. I think they do supply splitters for some saws at an extra cost.
There is a version of this that mounts to the left that is a little bit cheaper. About $300. http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=6147
It truly is a blade guard.
The Exactor on the other hand is simply a dust hood. It can be considered a guard by some if they are using splitters with pawls. Otherwise, it is simply a dust collection hood. A good kickback and that hood is getting out of the way fast. It is very much like the Excalibur. It's more heavy duty than the PSI version, but basically preforms the same function.

The Shark Guard does all that, but as was pointed out, mainly has very cool decals.

[Cheeky]

Lee,

Do you make one for a Ridgid TS2400?

Pete

[Richard]

As for Abrams and Marks, they make clear that the guards are removed for camera view purpose ONLY.

Please tell me you don't actually believe that.

[Stytooner]

Lee,

Do you make one for a Ridgid TS2400?

Pete

The 2400 is a little bit different from the other Ridgid's. I don't yet make one that fits it, although several guys have asked about it.
It would have the same affliction as the other Ridgid's and a lot of Craftsman's. The splitters only have room to mount behind the rear rail. This makes for some long splitters and extra cost due to extra hardware. Because of this, the splitters for the Ridgid's are the least rigid of all.

[rlah]

The Shark Guard does all that, but as was pointed out, mainly has very cool decals.

Lee, I almost threw those decals out when I got mine 3 weeks ago... you should put them in a colored envelope instead of a plain white envelope...


I'm liking the Shark more each day... made several cuts yesterday and was thinking how glad I was to have a guard/splitter back on. It seems like such a simple thing until you realize you're *using* it instead of leaving it off. The dust collection is also nice! Keeps the saw area much more dust free and less cleanup. I still get some dust when ripping a thin edge off of a piece of MDF though... seems like at TS will never be totally dust free.

rlah

[thallikar]

Hi Lee,
With shark guard, do you still need the dust collection from the normal dust collection port of the table saw? This I am referring to with a normal insert plate , not a zero clearance insert plate....

Any discounts on the shark guard?

Thanks.

[radhak]

Yes and I have issued $18,000 fines to many a shop that did not have one when someone made contact with the blade. That buys quite a few guards. But even that pales in comparison to the increased work comp insurance premiums...

As for Abrams and Marks, they make clear that the guards are removed for camera view purpose ONLY. What they do in their private use is another matter.

You have the freedom to mangle yourself all you want...in fact this is evolution and gene pool selection in action (weeds out the moron genes). But if you employ anyone and don't use a guard, I'll git you!

This might a bit late, but Welcome to the forum, Ocky.

Looks like you might be in an interesting profession - care to tell us what you do?