[LoyalAppleGeek]

Greetings and salutations LumberJocks!

I'm making a zero clearance insert plate for my table saw, but before I began I realized a problem. If I simply raise the blade into the insert blank to cut my kerf, there won't be any space for the riving knife to protrude through the plate. Removing the riving knife is absolutely out of the question, but I would really like this to be as perfect a fit to the riving knife as it is to the blade.

If anyone here has had this issue and addressed it, or knows how, I would really appreciate the help.

Thanks again!

 

[Woodchuck2010]

I'm not sure what you mean by" there won't be any space for the riving knife to protrude through the plate." What kind of table saw do you have?
Heres a pic of my table saw with riving knife. I bought the ZC insert from Leecraft for my specific saw. It was pre-cut with the riving knife slot.

 

[vikingcape]

Not sure what type of saw you have. My saw is a craftsman 21833 saw. I can lower my riving knife out of the way. So i lowered it all the way and brought the blade up through the insert as per usual. Then i just took a straight edge and made a mark for the riving knife and cut it with a jig saw.

If you can remove your knife for the initial cut, this is the way i would do it.

Hope this helps

 

[LoyalAppleGeek]

Woodchuck: Thanks for the picture! I meant that since I'm raising the blade into the plate to cut my kerf, the blade will only cut the slot for itself, and not for the riving knife. (It's a Kobalt 15-Amp 10-in Table Saw

Kaleb the Swede: I'm a Swede too! That sounds like a plan, I was going to remove the riving knife for the cut, but didn't know how to get the rest cut out accurately. Thanks!

 

[runswithscissors]

One way is to put your regular insert plate (if you have it) back in, place the new ZCI over it at the right spacing from the fence, hold it down securely, and raise the blade again through the end where the knife goes.

Another way is to (again, using the original insert plate) turn the new ZCI end for end and adjust the fence so that the blade comes up through the existing slot, then very carefully finish the cut. Actually, I think method #2 is what I did. (It's been a while)

 

[knotscott]

Not sure what type of saw you have. My saw is a craftsman 21833 saw. I can lower my riving knife out of the way. So i lowered it all the way and brought the blade up through the insert as per usual. Then i just took a straight edge and made a mark for the riving knife and cut it with a jig saw.

If you can remove your knife for the initial cut, this is the way i would do it.

Hope this helps

- Kaleb the Swede

That's pretty much the method I've used too. To make room for the riving knife, you're going to have to extend the cut made from the blade somehow….there are lots of options for that.

 

[Woodchuck2010]

Woodchuck: Thanks for the picture! I meant that since I m raising the blade into the plate to cut my kerf, the blade will only cut the slot for itself, and not for the riving knife. (It s a Kobalt 15-Amp 10-in Table Saw

Kaleb the Swede: I m a Swede too! That sounds like a plan, I was going to remove the riving knife for the cut, but didn t know how to get the rest cut out accurately. Thanks!

- LoyalAppleGeek

Wow. I understand now. Duh. Making your own inserts is nice, but it depends what you make them out of. Mine didn't last very long due to warping and such. They also never fit exactly right. Thats why I bought these phenolic ones. Yeah they cost about $30, but the way they fit and hold up is worth it to me. Plus the riving slot is already cut for you.

 

[splintergroup]

Flip over the insert (upside down) and repeat the cut by raising the blade.