Groggy
17th July 2005, 08:57 PM
In another thread by Timmy, he asked for ideas on dust collection. This started me thinking about what criteria I would come up with if someone offered to build the ideal overhead guard. I have come up with a small list, can anyone think of others?
Transparent assembly so the blade can be clearly seen at all times.
Ability to pull a lever and have the unit lift up and backwards to give free access to clean or remove the blade.
Each side of the unit would lift independently (to allow a sliding table fence to go under one side without exposing the hands to the blade. If the wood is too high for the front of the guard, the guard would raise automatically (it would have to be counterweighted).
The entire unit would be wedge shaped, allowing enough width at the bottom to cover a dado blade, but thin enough to allow a thin piece to be fed with a push stick without having to remove the guard.
The top of the 'wedge' would take two 75mm flex hoses, split from a 100mm hose.
The bottom of each side and front/back would have about 50mm of transparent fibres to keep dust from exiting (like Sandman's idea) or, a parallelogram configuration that lets the transparent plastic side raise (similar idea to a draftsmans parallel ruler set).
The unit would suspend from the ceiling, or have a high frame that came in from the right hand side (or left for the southpaws).
There would be a convex mirror on the guard so I could see movement behind me.
It would need a hanging hook for earmuffs.
An adjustable laser mounted overhead in the guard would warn of body parts in dangers way and indicate the cut line. (a second laser for dado work might be nice too).
A built-in light might be nice to flood the blade area.
An emergency stop button in easy reach.
Dust collector switch on the overhead arm.
The frame would be built of steel, not crappy plastics.
The dust shroud would be thick and strong, low static, plastic.
Blast gate.
Small parts holder for spanners etc.
Anyone else have ideas?
Transparent assembly so the blade can be clearly seen at all times.
Ability to pull a lever and have the unit lift up and backwards to give free access to clean or remove the blade.
Each side of the unit would lift independently (to allow a sliding table fence to go under one side without exposing the hands to the blade. If the wood is too high for the front of the guard, the guard would raise automatically (it would have to be counterweighted).
The entire unit would be wedge shaped, allowing enough width at the bottom to cover a dado blade, but thin enough to allow a thin piece to be fed with a push stick without having to remove the guard.
The top of the 'wedge' would take two 75mm flex hoses, split from a 100mm hose.
The bottom of each side and front/back would have about 50mm of transparent fibres to keep dust from exiting (like Sandman's idea) or, a parallelogram configuration that lets the transparent plastic side raise (similar idea to a draftsmans parallel ruler set).
The unit would suspend from the ceiling, or have a high frame that came in from the right hand side (or left for the southpaws).
There would be a convex mirror on the guard so I could see movement behind me.
It would need a hanging hook for earmuffs.
An adjustable laser mounted overhead in the guard would warn of body parts in dangers way and indicate the cut line. (a second laser for dado work might be nice too).
A built-in light might be nice to flood the blade area.
An emergency stop button in easy reach.
Dust collector switch on the overhead arm.
The frame would be built of steel, not crappy plastics.
The dust shroud would be thick and strong, low static, plastic.
Blast gate.
Small parts holder for spanners etc.
Anyone else have ideas?