Thread: Overhead blade guard system

...I still came in under 20% of the highest priced overhead guard I found and it was about 30% less than the one I originally bought that didn't work so well

I'm interested in overhead guards, making or buying at the upcoming Sydney shindig, but this statement doesn't make sense to me - if it's 20% less than the highest priced guard found, how the can it be 30% less than the one you originally bought? Apart from quantum (tm), it would mean that guards have come down a lot since you bought yours, even the highest priced ones: something I find hard to believe (that they have come down in price that is )...

Rob

Seen these? Recommended by Bill Pentz

McArthur - High end Biesemeyer lists for up to $1000 here, depending on the model you get. The systems I looked at run anywhere from $174 for a PSI up to $1000 for one of the Biesemeyers (retail prices) on the web, most run in a $350-$500 range on average. I have around $200 in materials for one complete system including mounts for every mount I noted (except a splitter which I already had). By making the duplicate parts and remaking some, I know I purchased enough materials to basically make 2 systems, had I some complete plans in the first place. Even building duplicate parts, it's still better cost wise (other than the PSI) and that one does not have near the features this does. Unfortunately the PSI doesn't offer anywhere near what this one can do, even before I started designing the prototype, I'd removed PSI from consideration in my pre-prototype purchasing days.

Ever see a ceiling mounted UniGuard, or a floor mounted one? Well I have one. I've already used the Uniguard basket on the rail mount, ceiling mount, floor mount and I haven't even tried it on every conceivable setup yet. How about a guard system that one minute has a Uniguard basket on it, and with a simple change is now sporting a Shark Guard or one suitable for usage on a shaper/router? Mine does and I have pictures to prove every thing I've mentioned.

Burnsy - I know Lee's work very well. In fact I bought one of his baskets in developing my prototype. The cost of his basket is included in the $200 number I mentioned earlier and I paid retail for all my materials. Whether you come in less or more than that depends on what tools and equipment you have vs what you have to hire out and what you pay for your materials, along with what configuration you build (the simplest vs the most complex) or even multiple systems. Lee's stuff is good but try doing a dado or rabbit cut with his guard on and see what happens. I've talked with Lee regarding being listed as a source for the basket if someone wanted to order one of his and he is agreeable to that. I also briefly talked with him about producing the basket I put together configuring for the router or shaper situations. Nothings set yet, but it's a possibilty. This thing not only will work in selected situations with shapers and router tables, but also if you have a tablesaw extension that mounts a router. This can lend itself to far more situations and machinery than any other guard I know of or I had originally even thought of.

Ever wish you had a light to spot directly on what you're cutting? I've already set up 2 different variations of that.

I've had several people helping evaluate the design, ranging from newby's to long time woodworkers. They have equipment ranging from contractor saws up to a 14" Northfield. So far, we haven't found a situation it's not been able to work in. You do need a spot to mount the guard. If one isn't available there's usually at least one other option available. I still a little spit-and-polish to put on it, but so far there hasn't been anything from a functional standpoint it's not been able to handle. I don't claim to be a metalworker, so if I can make it, any person with reasonable skills should be able to do it even better.

I'm not making the baskets or splitters as there are many good units out there. I used the Shark Whale from Lee and the Bob Ross' Push-pull splitter in developing this prototype. I didn't include Bob's splitter in my costing as I already had that and didn't buy a comparable item for development.

Hope that answers your questions. I've asked my evaluators to try and nail it with every conceivable issue they could come up with. There have been some enhancements due to it and right now it's getting down to the nits.

Paul