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View Full Version : Excalibur's Merlin TS Splitter - What the Heck??


Glen Blanchard
03-24-2005, 7:49 PM
Okay, I bought Excalibur's overhead blade guard and have it installed in spite of the sorry excuse for an instruction sheet. As I place a great importance on safety, I also bought their "Merlin" quick disconnect splitter for my Jet contractor's saw, which has a "receiver" that installs just behind the blade and into which the splitter fits. All is well, but I noticed that if I were to raise my blade close to its highest position (maybe 80% of maximum or so) the blade will hit the receiver. Don't think this is an attempt by the folks at Excalibur to auto-sharpen a nice carbide blade.

Not able to totally raise the blade?? What the heck is this all about? Are they kidding??

Maybe I should just use a shop-made splitter placed in the zero clearance insert, but then I would lose the anti-kickback pawls - the reason I chose this splitter to begin with.

Anyone else use one of these splitters on a Jet contractor's?
Brent Smith
03-24-2005, 7:56 PM
I remember reading awhile back that there were some problems with the Merlin splitters fitting properly on some saws.Apparently if you call the company they will ship out some kind of fix-it part.This was a year or so ago,so I hope they still do it(not every company is Lee Valley lol)
Brent
John Lucas
03-25-2005, 12:01 AM
Glen,
Did you contact the company (http://www.excalibur-tools.com/products/contact.htm?section=contact) ?
Glen Blanchard
03-25-2005, 2:16 AM
Glen,
Did you contact the company (http://www.excalibur-tools.com/products/contact.htm?section=contact) ?

I did, but they had closed for the day already. I will try to reach them on Friday, but they may be closed for the Holiday in which case it will have to wait until Monday. I hope they have a solution, as I would rather not lose the anti-kickback pawls.
Tim Morton
03-25-2005, 6:13 AM
check out the delta removable splitter to see if it will fit your saw. It's Delta P/N 1349941

http://www.sawcenter.com/splitter.htm
Glen Blanchard
03-26-2005, 12:28 AM
check out the delta removable splitter to see if it will fit your saw. It's Delta P/N 1349941

http://www.sawcenter.com/splitter.htm

I would absolutely love to have this option, but am almost 100% positive it will not work with the Jet. Next question.......How important are anti-kickback pawls? I am sure, for the sake of safety, the splitter is a much more important component, but what about the pawls?
Jim DeLaney
03-26-2005, 6:57 AM
I would absolutely love to have this option, but am almost 100% positive it will not work with the Jet. Next question.......How important are anti-kickback pawls? I am sure, for the sake of safety, the splitter is a much more important component, but what about the pawls?

It works on a Powermatic, Grizzley, and Shop Fox saw - I've had one on all the above. What's different about the Jet?
Glen Blanchard
03-26-2005, 10:31 AM
It works on a Powermatic, Grizzley, and Shop Fox saw - I've had one on all the above. What's different about the Jet?

Well, maybe I am wrong (hope so). The portion of the TS splitter bracket that is slightly behind the blade, is far enough to the rear of the saw as to be tucked under the iron table. Thus, some kind of "extender" would be needed to bring this mounting location far enough forward to clear the table so that the Delta splitter would engage it. As I understand it, the Delta splitter slides straight down vertically. Hope that description makes sense.