Thread: Tablesaw with easily removeable riving knife

Originally Posted by mat

Apart from the high end Powermatics and Sawstops is there anything else availabe with a quick remove riving knife.

I am researching for the local woodguild to replace a tablesaw with the standard splitter that takes half an hour to remove /replace when performing non through cuts.

Only one I'm aware of is the Carbatec TS10L, apparently no longer stocked (although some people have bought one recently). Carbatec also have a TS12, it's bigger brother (sister?), but I don't know about the riving knife. You nay have to check that.

I'm told the reason CT stopped stocking the TS10L is that it was very close in price to the TS12.

OK, just looked at the CT site and the picture, although a bit small, it appears to have riving knife. This model is right tilt rather than the left tilt of the TS10L.

Biesemeyer make a retro-fit quick remove splitter. I have one on my saw and find it much better, and sturdier than the standard arrangement.

See http://www.deltaportercable.com/Prod...Path=2250.2252

To remove the splitter, what I do is: lower the blade, lift the throat plate, pull back the splitter release knob, lift out the splitter, replace the throat plate, raise the blade.

Putting it back is even quicker: just push the splitter back in.

I think you can get various models to suit different saws.

EDIT: I forgot to say, you will also need to fit an overhead blade guard as the removable splitter doesn't have a guard.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Only one I'm aware of is the Carbatec TS10L, apparently no longer stocked (although some people have bought one recently). Carbatec also have a TS12, it's bigger brother (sister?), but I don't know about the riving knife. You nay have to check that.

I'm told the reason CT stopped stocking the TS10L is that it was very close in price to the TS12.

OK, just looked at the CT site and the picture, although a bit small, it appears to have riving knife. This model is right tilt rather than the left tilt of the TS10L.

Unfortunately the TS12 doesn't have the same quick release riving knife. What a pity Carbatec took the TS10L off the market. It seems you now have to pay thousands of dollars more for the same features.

After some research it seems the Sawstop Contractor starting at around $3700 is probably the cheapest on the market at the present time.

Hi Mat I have just bought the Carba-tec CTH-110L. The riving knife lowers with the blade. You can remove by lifting out insert plate and undoing one bolt. I am going to make a riving knife that is just below the height of the blade and use an overhead guard so then I will not have to remove the knife unless I use a dado blade.

Cheers Jerry

Hi Mat if you look at the post in Table saws called Kevin made me do it, I have added photos showing the riving knife I have made

Cheers Jerry

Originally Posted by Jerryj

Hi Mat I have just bought the Carba-tec CTH-110L. The riving knife lowers with the blade. You can remove by lifting out insert plate and undoing one bolt. I am going to make a riving knife that is just below the height of the blade and use an overhead guard so then I will not have to remove the knife unless I use a dado blade.

Cheers Jerry

What are your impressions so far of the CTH-110L? Why did you choose this saw? Whats the fence like? Did you choose it mostly because its got left tilt? The picture on the website, and even the specs indicate that the riving knife is fixed height. Did you get a addon to make it "rise and fall", or were you mistaken?

Thanks
Jason

Originally Posted by pellcorp

What are your impressions so far of the CTH-110L? Why did you choose this saw? Whats the fence like? Did you choose it mostly because its got left tilt? The picture on the website, and even the specs indicate that the riving knife is fixed height. Did you get a addon to make it "rise and fall", or were you mistaken?

Thanks
Jason

Hi Jason. I am very impressed with the saw so far. I had been looking at this saw for quite a while and I did look and try others. But I kept coming back to this saw. I tried a woodman 12 inch it cut great and the fence was similar but the blade was too close to the edge of the table. What I was looking for was a saw that could take a dado blade. The riving knife moved up and down with the blade. The fence to be of good quality ie biesemeyer style most important. The saw fits the bill. All I can say is I am very happy with the saw. If you have any other questions please ask. I have made the riving knife now so it is just below the top of the blade and I have an overhead dust extractor and guard that I have made myself . Sorry my post is a bit disjointed, but I have just reread your reply. Left tilt right tilt did not matter to me. I have got the carbatec catalouge in front of me and I have just checked the web site as well, its the exact same saw that I have got. When you look at the guard in the photo as you wind down the blade the guard folds down as well. When I read the specs it does say riving knife style fixed height, but again it does wind up and down with the blade and it does remove with 1 bolt after removing the insert plate. Hope this helps Cheers Jerry

Can you please post photos of your " overhead dust extractor and guard that I have made myself"

Thanks heaps

Jason

I recently watched a table saw series from the 'passion for wood' guy in canada. He was quite adamant that a left tilt saw was not a good choice for right handed wood workers. A right tilt saw is easier to align for different kerf blades. If you are a right hander you have the blade to the left of the fence. So you align the blade guard or riving knife to the right side of the blade even if using a dado or thin kerf.

This sounds logical, but there are many who seem to like the left tilt, including Norm Abram - I saw the tablesaw 101 ep where he talked about it. It seems daft to have to keep aligning the guard / riving knife everytime you change your blade just so you can cut non 90 deg easier.

Whats your experience so far with the left tilt and alignment. Have you used different blades as yet?

When I went through this "paralysis by analysis" phase, one of the important things to me was that it had to be a left tilt saw, it had to have an (easily removable) riving knife and it had to have over blade dust extraction.

I did extensive reading on the left vs right tilt question and having bought a left tilt saw (and being a right hander) I would have to say that the above reasons are invalid IMHO.

There is a very good article on the Fine Woodworking site about this issue, would pay you to read it. There is also a lot of discussion in one of my threads on selecting a tablesaw, again it would pay you to read it.

I made up a spreadsheet of (nearly) all the tablesaws on the market at the time, I inspected (nearly) all of them. Some I rejected out of hand as soon as I saw (!) them in the flesh, others went on a short list. I kept coming back to the TS10L.

Oh, almost forgot. If it helps your decision making process, you are welcom to come and visit my shed and have a look at the tablesaw, and any other equipment I have. It may help make up your mind.

What finally decided me was being invited by another forumite to have a look at the TS10L he just bought. After seeing it, and using it, I was sold and ordered one the next day. Even though it cost more than I originally intended to spend (but less than the list price), my SWMBO summed it up nicely at the time "long after you have spent the money you'll forget the price, but remember the qualtiy". As usual, she was right, even though I do remember the price I senjoy the qaulity and all the features every time I use it.

When I went through this "paralysis by analysis" phase, one of the important things to me was that it had to be a left tilt saw, it had to have an (easily removable) riving knife and it had to have over blade dust extraction.

I did extensive reading on the left vs right tilt question and having bought a left tilt saw (and being a right hander) I would have to say that the above reasons are invalid IMHO.

There is a very good article on the Fine Woodworking site about this issue, would pay you to read it. There is also a lot of discussion in one of my threads on selecting a tablesaw, again it would pay you to read it.

I made up a spreadsheet of (nearly) all the tablesaws on the market at the time, I inspected (nearly) all of them. Some I rejected out of hand as soon as I saw (!) them in the flesh, others went on a short list. I kept coming back to the TS10L.

What finally decided me was being invited by another forumite to have a look at the TS10L he just bought. After seeing it, and using it, I was sold and ordered one the next day. Even though it cost more than I originally intended to spend (but less than the list price), my SWMBO summed it up nicely at the time "long after you have spent the money you'll forget the price, but remember the qualtiy". As usual, she was right, even though I do remember the price I enjoy the quality and all the features every time I use it.

If it would help your decision making process you are welcome to come and inspect my tablesaw, and any other equipment I have.

Hi left tilt right tilt I am not bothered. If you go to thr thread "Kevin made me do it " in table saws & combinations there is a photo of my home made dust extractor and guard

Cheers Jerry

Hi,

I visited carbatec today and checked out the TS-12R. The riving knife is not quick release thats true, but it would take far less than 30 minutes to insert and remove. Its two bolts that have to be loosened to remove the rive. There is no need to realign, as you align housing where the riving knife sits.

I am very impressed with the TS12R and I do believe it will be sitting pride of place in my new workshop once its completed in 4 - 6 weeks time!

At $2995 its at the limit of my table saw budget but it sure is nice and I love the riving knife. I actually prefer the right tilt myself so not a worry there either.

As discussed previously you will need to pay $80 extra for a dado compatible arbor!

Cheers
Jason