Shark Guard Riving Knife

[gettools]

I dont really like using my blade guard, but I like the riving knife. I was wonder if any of you have bought the shark guard riving knife by itself or are using a different configuration. I bought me some grippers at the wood show & they came with the spliter behind the blade. What are yalls thoughts & or concerns.

[dkerfoot]

Do you really like using your fingers? Can you think of anything that would be more difficult or less fun if you were missing one or more of them?

Stupid happens. Keep the guard on for all through cuts.

[LarryG]

I don't use a blade guard, either, but I had an SG riving knife on my BT3100 and never took it off except when using a dado stack. When I bought my PM2000, I promptly contacted Lee and ordered one of his shorty RKs for it.

The Micro-jig splitter get good reviews and is probably what I would use if I couldn't have a riving knife. But I wouldn't settle for an ordinary splitter on any saw capable of accepting a riving knife.

[John Hunter]

I'm old school, do not use a guard and yes I still have all my fingers. I do use the SG riving knife. I love the way it raises and lowers with the blade and works on non through cuts. I have had wood close on the riving knife and without it there would have been kickback.

[Tom Slick]

I just installed a SG splitter. I had forgotten how much better it is to have a splitter.

[jonmnelson]

Do you really like using your fingers? Can you think of anything that would be more difficult or less fun if you were missing one or more of them?

Stupid happens. Keep the guard on for all through cuts.

I'm with Doug on this one. For me, the "convenience" of using a table saw without the guard just doesn't seem worth the risk, but then again, I'm awfully fond of my fingers -- all 10 of them.

[steve-norrell]

I am not as experienced as some others, but I would avoid using the saw without BOTH the Shark Guard riving knife AND guard.

The riving knife does a great job, especially with longer pieces as with ripping or with sheet goods.

I have found the guard to be an important safety feature when cutting small pieces, as when doing cross cuts and the cut piece is less than four or five inches.

But for me, the real value of the guard is the added dust collection. Sensitivity to wood dust is an issue for me so the added dust collection was, and still is, a strong added feature.

Regards, Steve

[Uncle Cracker]

I have the SG knife and like it very much, but I always use a Gripper, as well.

[Hoakie]

I use both. The SG is so easy to add/remove that it makes it a no-brainer to use for rips and trough cuts. It is literally a 2 second on/off since you don't need to remove the Riving Knife (i.e. no need to loosen nuts under throat plate)

I am very happy with it and as others have mentioned, the added dust collection.

[Pakaderm]

Excellent question. I'm upgrading my bt from the stock Ryobi blade to a WWII thin kerf (must wait until Christmas). I think the stock Ryobi RK is too wide to use with a thin kerf blade so I have to do something. I have the same dilemma of whether to buy the whole SG package, or just the SG knife.

The SG system adds safety and dust collection over just a riving knife.

-Pak

[DonHo]

I always use the SG riving knife on all cuts except when using a dado blade. I also almost always use the guard clamp on the riving knife whether or not I use the blade guard. I think most kickback is caused by the wood getting on top of the blade(no mater what causes it to get on top of the blade) and with the clamp in place the wood can't get on top of the blade. I do use the blade guard a good bit of the time also but more for dust collection than protection.

DonHo

[LinuxRandal]

The Riving knife is one of the benefits of the BT (which you have according to your profile). I do prefer it over a splitter, especially one that won't stay the same angle as the blade (assuming the MJ splitter, same company as Grrrippers). The Shark guard is easy enough to remove the blade guard and use only the riving knife, and if you have your original, you could cut that down, for non through cuts. It DOES improve dust collection, but you have to decide for yourself. He would sell you the riving knife only I am sure, and if you decide to upgrade later, you should be able to, or buy the whole thing, try it for a month, then post it in the classifieds.

As to the Grrrippers, while I like them, I have read about a couple of incidents with them. One involving it tipping, and one involving the handle breaking (and fingers going forward). So ALWAY check it before using it (or any push stick). Projectiles, and missing fingers are not a good thing.