Thread: Newly acquired MK3 - Parts anyone?

Hello & welcome to what I think is one of the best forums in the world.

Sounds like you got a good deal.
The riving knife is important as it is used to keep the wood piece being cut from jamming in the blade and causing seriously dangerous cutting operations that are likely to grab hold of the off cut and send it flying across the workshop. Trust me I've seen it happen many times when I used to use a home made table saw I made years ago from an old washing machine motor.
The knife is there to prevent the gap from closing on the blade as it is cut.
You might get away without using it however the day will come when there is a slight bend in the timber or if it is fed in with pressure from the wrong angle and it will grab. When a blade rotating at high speed jams into a solid piece of timber and sends it flying you won't have time to think before its already flown into the air. The least that can happen is you'll buckle the blade and ruin (splinter) the timber cut, the worst that can happen is you'll have a piece of timber sticking right through your stomach or head which could make it a bit hard to continue working.

Using a table saw without a riving knife?
I would not to risk it - especially if your new to woodworking, there are alot of mistakes you will make and learn from, I wouldn't let this be one of them.

There are times when you can safely cut on the table saw with a cross cut sled etc and the knife can be removed but this is a different cutting operation and the jig allows the off cut to remain away from the blade.
For all ripping jobs, cutting panels etc, its needed in my opinion.
Enjoy your new toy, you should find heaps of helpful info about it in this forum, try using the search feature.

IMPORTANT
Keep those fingers well clear of the blade and read up about push sticks, finger boards and safe cutting operations first BEFORE you start playing around with the orange beast or it will bite you and hurt!
Woodwork is fun but can be dangerous, its not worth having a lifetime injury from.
Happy woodworking

I should explain that the blade teeth cut downward toward the table at the front of the blade (providing the saw or blade isn't fitted backward)

Therefore the rear of the blade has teeth spinning up at high speed.
you never want timber to come in contact with teeth flying up from the table.

Teeth cutting down will help keep your timber down on the table.
A band saws teeth always cuts continuously down and therefore its less likley to send a piece of timber flying because the teeth will just push it down into the table and cut though if it grabs.

I hope this makes sense and I didn't ramble on too much, it is getting late, I ramble on when I'm tired.

Originally Posted by TasOak

Was there ever a MK3 instruction video?
Regards.

Yes there was a video for the mark lll It was on tape. I had it up until recently but gave it to a forum member when he bought a mark lll.
The riving knife is essential piece of equipment and you should try to locate or make one. I can't see that being very difficult to do. Maybe one of the other members has one kicking around in their shed.

Thank you Andrew and Munruben for your advice. I think I will wait till I get or make a riving knife before I start doing stuff with the triton. I'd rather wait than hurry into an accident. Many thanks again for your replies.

I've had a Mk3 since 1982 - didn't come with a riving knife - I've never used one - only found out about them last year when I found this forum - although I've had a couple of 'kick-back' incidents, nothing like the warnings I've read about. Maybe I'm lucky?

Cheers,
Adam

Originally Posted by Chumley

I've had a Mk3 since 1982 - didn't come with a riving knife -
Adam

On the Triton the riving knife is an integral part of the saw blade guard, as it is the metal part that clamps to the workcentre.

Peter.

Originally Posted by Chumley

I've had a Mk3 since 1982 - didn't come with a riving knife - I've never used one - only found out about them last year when I found this forum - although I've had a couple of 'kick-back' incidents, nothing like the warnings I've read about. Maybe I'm lucky?

Cheers,
Adam

I always have used the riving knife on mine and believe me I have done a lot of work on it and never had a kickback. I didn't know what one was until I got my fancy tablesaw and had one.

Originally Posted by Sturdee

On the Triton the riving knife is an integral part of the saw blade guard, as it is the metal part that clamps to the workcentre.

Peter.

You say "On the Triton..." - my MK3 is a Triton and didn't come with a riving knife. I only first heard of riving knives (and splitters) last year when I found this forum. All I'm saying is that there must be more people out there who don't know what a riving knife is and are still 10-fingered, able-bodied woodies. Safety equipment is good, but if you don't know about it you can't use it.

Cheers,
Adam

Originally Posted by Chumley

You say "On the Triton..." - my MK3 is a Triton and didn't come with a riving knife.

Mark,


Mine is a MK 3 as well, and if you bought it complete with the yellow plastic saw blade guard or the upgraded clear plastic saw blade guard then you have the riving knife as well. This is because the metal part that clamps the saw blade guard to the table top is in fact the riving knife on Triton workcentres.

Peter.

TasOak,
I have a couple of old MKIIIs that I cannibalised for parts. You can have a riving knife with guard for the cost of postage. I also have a owners manual in mint condition, make me an offer if you are interested in it.
Good luck with your new toy, but be very careful if you are using it without a blade guard.

Dave J.

Dave,

Have you got any spare protactors on those mkIII's as i just picked one up too and its missing it.

Mike

Hi Mike,
I am not sure if I have an original MKIII protractor I will have to have a look in the box of bits. I do remember I bought a WS2000 protractor and modified it to work on the MKIII. That should be there, I will have a look tomorrow and let you know. I have attached some photos I have here at work one is of the MKIII protractor, I think the slides were to adapt the WS2000 protractor?
Dave J.

The black triangle appears to be te protractor, The other two simialr parts in teh same photo ar eteh "riving knife" which has already be said to be a support to the blade cover

Hi Dave J,

The black triangle is the protractor and the other parts in the photo are the riving knifes, I found all this on the triton web site, as you can download the owners manual and parts list, I also had a score with my triton MKIII i have the original VHS that is dated feb 1988 and i'm about to convert it to dvd.

Mike