Riving knives are also fitted to some hand-held electrical circular and powered miter or cross-cut saws (known generically as “chop saws”). As of 2009, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) requires that all new table saw designs include a riving knife.
In its new MT 55 cc plunge-cut saw, MAFELL has combined the benefits of enhanced active safety, improved handling and enhanced cut quality – without a riving knife. Design measures introduced alongside standard EN 60745-2-5, which entered force in 2007, have increased the passive safety of saws that dispense with a riving knife. “The active kick-back protection provided by the high speed and automatic power supply interruption offers greater safety than a riving knife, which does not protect against the kick-back effect when the blade enters the work and can be a nuisance for the tradesman,” comments Ralf Kohler, head of sales and marketing at MAFELL. Josef Riederer, a tradesman of Unterneuhausen, vindicates the manager’s claim, “I feel safe when working with the MT 55 cc.” The passive safety of the MAFELL MT 55 cc plunge-cut saw is also enhanced by the strict provisions of EN 60745-2-5 for saws without a riving knife.
A funny thing to mention is that I also asked almost the same question on a swedish forum and from the ten or so answers everyone said it would be stupid to buy a saw with no riving knife. Keep us posted on which Plunge saw you decide to purchase. The only manufacturers that I found with Plunge saws were DeWalt, Makita, Festool and Grizzly.
does a circular saw need a riving knife Related Question:
Is a riving knife necessary?
Rip cuts are especially prone to kickbacks, and it is here that the riving knife is most important. Even though a riving knife is effective in reducing the possibility of a kickback, it cannot prevent it entirely, which is why it is always advisable to follow the basic rules of use for a table saw.
Can you cross cut with a circular saw?
If you need to make several repetitive crosscuts, but you don’t have a power miter saw, you can still get very accurate results using a circular saw and a speed square. Use the speed square to draw your cut line and then use that same speed square as an edge guide.
Why can’t I cut straight with a circular saw?
What Causes a Circular Saw to Not Cut Straight. A faulty circular saw is likely to have issues such as an unstable blade or a warped blade edge. The problem could also be the way you operate the saw. If you do not operate the circular saw properly, it will not cut straight.
Is a splitter as safe as a riving knife?
Splitters have a leg up on riving knives in one regard, though. They can be retrofitted to your existing tablesaw, whereas a riving knife can’t be. Some protection is better than no protection. Better than nothing.
What is the difference between a riving knife and splitter?
A riving knife goes up and down with the blade, so it’s always the same distance from the back of the blade. A splitter does not raise and lower with the blade, so as you lower the blade, the gap between the blade and splitter increases.
Can you add a riving knife to a table saw?
But if your table saw doesn’t come with one, fret not — with a little wherewithal you can add a riving knife to almost any table saw. For those who have never experienced kickback on a table saw, we can assure you that at a minimum it will set your heart pounding.
Are Anti kickback pawls necessary?
It should go without saying that no one safety device can make a saw 100% safe. While anti-kickback pawls will reduce your risk of injury or equipment damage do not neglect to act carefully and to use other safety equipment.
Why does my circular saw Buck?
Overheating a saw blade can cause it to warp and result in a kickback. Buildup of sap on the blades, insufficient set, dullness and unguided cuts, can all cause an overheated blade and kickback. Never set a blade deeper than is required to cut the work piece 1/8 in. to 1/4 in.
Why is my circular saw pulling to the right?
If the base plate is not parallel to the blade, the saw will also want to travel to the side. If your saw was dropped at some point the base plate could easily be out of alignment. Turning to the right would indicate that the base is farther from the blade at the front than it is at the back.
How do I make an accurate cut with a circular saw?
Using a Straightedge for Accurate Circular Saw Cuts Measure the exact distance from the edge of the circular saw’s shoe to the same side of the blade. Once you have that measurement, add it to your original marks and make a new line. Set the straightedge on the new marks, clamp it down, and make your cut.
Why should the rip fence never be used as a length guide to crosscut the workpiece?
Do not crosscut with the rip fence If that’s the case, do NOT use the rip fence as a supporting barrier for crosscutting. If you do that, the workpiece can get stuck between the fence and the blade. As we’ve discussed earlier, this can lead to the board getting thrown back at you by the spinning blade.
Can you retrofit a riving knife?
Rob Johnstone: In most cases, I believe the answer is no. Many of us in the woodworking world have been asking the major tool makers to put riving knives on their saws for years. Not only did they avoid producing new saws with riving knives, but no aftermarket riving knives were produced as accessories.
What is the space between two protruding teeth on a saw blade called?
Gullet (handsaw) The space between a saw’s teeth, where the saw dust is carried out. It is an equilateral triangle, just like the file that shapes the teeth.
How common are table saw accidents?
Over 30,000 table saw injuries occur annually. Fingers and hands are the most frequently injured body part and lacerations are the most common injury. Individuals suffering from occupational injuries tend to be younger than those injured during amateur woodworking.
When did riving knives come out?
You may have heard the news back in 2007 that riving knives, which help to prevent tablesaw kickback, were becoming a standard feature on all new models released by 2008.
