I need some input

[Sean Troy]

Hi all, I've been working on keeping/making my shop as safe as I can and one of the things I'm doing is putting the blade guard and splitter back on my Table Saw. With the guard on I can't use my Excalibur over arm guard/dust collection. Would I be better off just putting the splitter on the saw and not the blade cover so I can still use the Excalibur? I'm asking here in case there is something I'm not thinking of and for any of your ideas.Thanks, Sean

[Gary Hodgin]

I would definitely want the splitter and I would try to either find an after market one or make a homemade one. I've seen plans for zero clearance inserts and splitters. Try to keep the Excalibur blade guard. Excalibur also makes an after market splitter. You might want to check whether it will find your saw.

[Dave MacArthur]

I would definitely keep the excalibur, an over-table guard is great for dust and fingers. To address the splitter issue and keep wood from pinching closed on the blade and thus causing kickback (and thus the most likely time for pulling fingers into blade!), you can get several after market splitters. I used to use one called a micro-splitter, just a small plastic wedge that plugged into some holes behind the blade in the zero clearance insert.

http://www.microjig.com/products/mj-splitter/index.shtml

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=micro+splitter&tag=googhydr-20&index=tools&hvadid=3835876091&ref=pd_sl_40hkb13toq_b

GREAT ON YOU for working through shop safety in a dedicated manner! Safety doesn't just happen, and certainly not purely by "a careful use of your tools" as so many folks throw into a sawstop discussion. Safety comes from a mindset of identifying risks and implementing risk-reduction measures, risk-management. Then using tools with care. Can you tell a USAF Safety Officer when you hear one? ;) Threads like yours are important for folks to read to keep that safety mindset always popping back to the front of the brain...

[Norman Pyles]

I would keep the Excalibur too, no matter which splitter route you take.

[Lee Schierer]

I'm not a fan of splitters, but I would suggest that if the splitter isn't very very close to the thickness of the blades you use then it is totally worthless anyway so don't use the one that came with your saw. The splitter that is part of my craftsman guard is less than half the thickness of the blade, therefore it provides no protection at all. YMMV.

[Rod Sheridan]

Sean, the Excalibur is a good overarm guard, however you definitely need a splitter or riving knife with it.

Regards, Rod.

[Sean Troy]

I'm going to try using just the splitter and pawls(sp?) that came with the saw and the Excalibur. As soon as I get done with my daughters room. We peeled wall paper for the last few days and next is repairing the walls and painting. Then back to the shop.