Overthinking Unisaw Extension Table Mount & Splitter?

[Patrick Irish]

While the fence guide tube is drying after I have drilled at tapped it, I'm now tackling the extension table and splitter.

What splitter or riving knife should I get? I included pictures of what's on my saw. It's from what I've researched a Biesemeyer splitter. I can probably find just the splitter piece BUT will it sit in there tightly? I can't imagine the quickly release function keeps it on there tight. Also, doesnt that look VERY VERY close to the blade? It's like 1/16" away from the tip of the blade. I like the riving knife idea from **** or a splitter pack from Shark Guard. Some photos from home made riving knives look fun, not sure I want to tackle that yet.

My saw is a 36" model so the right extension table is only 27" x 17" I believe. Not a big piece like on the 52" models. I'm baffling myself how to mount this board once I build it. The manual calls just to pinch it in place with a clamp flush to the top and then mark and drill 1/4" holes on the front and back. I can do that. Plan was to make the top out of melamine and wrap it with 3/4" x 2.5" piece of hardwood. I wanted to use the bolt holes in the right side of the cast iron wing, believe they are 7/16-20 x 3/4" long. I mistakenly got 7/16-14 bolts and those did not thread in. I wanted to make an angle bracket and use a flat head screw and two nuts as a leveling system like the Z bracket design they used to use. Is this a total waste of time for the small extension? I figured it would allow me to level easier AND in case I ever with with a 52" fence down the road.

http://i.imgur.com/wJaGs1p.jpg

http://imgur.com/2d6RAlS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8WYcTkD.jpg

[Rick Whitehead]

I have that same Biesmeyer splitter on my Powermatic 66. Although the splitter housing sits very close to the blade, the actual splitter is about 3/4" behind the blade when installed. The splitter sits very solidly in the housing. It's a tight fit, and the pin with the black head goes through it and locks it in. If you can find the splitter by itself, you'd have all you need.
On the extension table, I used a 1/8" X 2" piece of steel on edge to mount it to the table. It goes between the table and the extension. I drilled 1/2" holes in it along the top edge for the 3 holes in the edge of the table and bolted it to the table. I also drilled three 1/4" holes along the bottom of the steel strip to mount the extension table. I drilled shallow holes in the edge of the table extension to clear the heads of the 7/16 bolts, and clamped the extension table in position. I then drilled through the extension table using the 1/4" holes as a guide and inserted 1/4" bolts and lock nuts.It's holding solidly to this day.
Good luck with your restoration! You'll have a great saw when you're done.
Rick