Anyone have the Delta "disappearing splitter"?

Amazon has some reviews on it. Maybe a jock will step in and give you some advice on one.

http://www.amazon.com/DELTA-34-868-Bracket-Splitter-Assembly/dp/B0007SXGQ0

-- Bruce Free Plans https://traditionalwoodworking.org

I’ve got one on my saw… easy to operate with just a push/pull of a finger – no tools needed. It installs on the back trunnion with a couple of bolts. There is a spring loaded ball that engages with a detent on the splitter to keep it in the up position. The stock throat plates have a slot for the splitter to stick up through… aftermarket or homemade throat plates may need to be modified. I looked, but I don’t have any good pictures to show you unfortunately.

Cheers,
Brad

PS: They came stock with the Uni-guard AFAIK.

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

I also have, and use, one. I bought it from someone in my woodworking club about 10 years ago when he bought a Shark Guard. They don’t work well with some blade guards, but my blade guard is a Brett Guard that hangs from the ceiling, so the guard and the pop-up splitter play well together. You can’t use it when using Grrippers and straddling the blade with them either, because the pop-up splitter has anti kickback pawls that stick up well above the blade height.

Whenever I want to use the pop-up splitter I just remove the throat plate, lift the splitter into position, and replace the throat plate. It pops back out of the way just as easy by reversing the process. The pop-up splitters seem to no longer be available, except used through Ebay or Craigs List. Keep watching there if you want one. Make sure they provide the little spring and detent ball when you buy a used pop-up splitter, because they can fall out easily when removing the splitter from the saw. These splitters will fit any of the 50’s through 90’s Unisaws and maybe even some made before that, but they won’t fit the newer Unisaw design that was made to use with a riving knife. Only 2 bolts are needed to attach them to the trunion – look for the machined flat vertical surface on the trunion just behind the saw blade and below the throat plate where the Delta splitter/blade guard attaches. You won’t be able to use one of these blade guard/splitter combinations if you want to use the pop-up splitter. They both mount in the same position. You will need to add a slot to your home made throat plates, but the original factory made throat plates all have this slot.

I also have, and use, one. I bought it from someone in my woodworking club about 10 years ago when he bought a Shark Guard. They don t work well with some blade guards, but my blade guard is a Brett Guard that hangs from the ceiling, so the guard and the pop-up splitter play well together. You can t use it when using Grrippers and straddling the blade with them either, because the pop-up splitter has anti kickback pawls that stick up well above the blade height.

Whenever I want to use the pop-up splitter I just remove the throat plate, lift the splitter into position, and replace the throat plate. It pops back out of the way just as easy by reversing the process. The pop-up splitters seem to no longer be available, except used through Ebay or Craigs List. Keep watching there if you want one. Make sure they provide the little spring and detent ball when you buy a used pop-up splitter, because they can fall out easily when removing the splitter from the saw. These splitters will fit any of the 50 s through 90 s Unisaws and maybe even some made before that, but they won t fit the newer Unisaw design that was made to use with a riving knife. Only 2 bolts are needed to attach them to the trunion – look for the machined flat vertical surface on the trunion just behind the saw blade and below the throat plate where the Delta splitter/blade guard attaches. You won t be able to use one of these blade guard/splitter combinations if you want to use the pop-up splitter. They both mount in the same position. You will need to add a slot to your home made throat plates, but the original factory made throat plates all have this slot.

- CharleyL

Thanks, Charley. I’m a little confused though. Is yours the same splitter as this one at Amazon ?? So far, it sounds pretty good. My Unisaw is probably a 90’s model, I bought it from a cabinet maker who had to move out of state to care for aging parents about 6 years ago, it was well-used but not old. Should look up the serial number I guess. ;-) Will be using my PSI overhead guard, mounted from the ceiling, should be fine.

-- My mother said that anyone learning to cook needed a large dog to eat the mistakes. As a sculptor of wood I have always tried to keep a fireplace. (Norman Ridenour)

I ve got one on my saw… easy to operate with just a push/pull of a finger – no tools needed. It installs on the back trunnion with a couple of bolts. There is a spring loaded ball that engages with a detent on the splitter to keep it in the up position. The stock throat plates have a slot for the splitter to stick up through… aftermarket or homemade throat plates may need to be modified. I looked, but I don t have any good pictures to show you unfortunately.

Cheers,
Brad
PS: They came stock with the Uni-guard AFAIK.

- MrUnix

Thanks for the review, Brad, it sounds perfect to go with the PSI overhead guard that I already have. The PSI originally mounted on a Jet contractor saw paired with a Merlin splitter, but when I got the Unisaw and sold the Jet, I never put together a guard/splitter team for the Unisaw. Now that I’m back in the shop, time to do that, ‘cause I really hate the stock guard, but won’t work without something there.

-- My mother said that anyone learning to cook needed a large dog to eat the mistakes. As a sculptor of wood I have always tried to keep a fireplace. (Norman Ridenour)

Looks exactly the same to me… I don’t think they changed the design any over the years. Here is a picture showing it mounted to the rear trunnion (not the best picture, but should give you an idea):

And this is a shot of what the spring loaded ball and set screw looks like removed from the splitter:

If you look at the first picture, you can see the hole in the splitter mount where the spring, ball and set screw installs.

Cheers,
Brad

PS: If you have the serial number, you can date your saw here:
http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/DeltaSerialNumbers.ashx

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

[Snip] The pop-up splitters seem to no longer be available, except used through Ebay or Craigs List. Keep watching there if you want one. Make sure they provide the little spring and detent ball when you buy a used pop-up splitter, because they can fall out easily when removing the splitter from the saw.[Snip]- CharleyL

This is the part that confuses me. Sounds like there is an old “pop-up splitter” and this new(er) “disappearing splitter.” If I do look on eBay, I need to be sure what’s what. ;-)

-- My mother said that anyone learning to cook needed a large dog to eat the mistakes. As a sculptor of wood I have always tried to keep a fireplace. (Norman Ridenour)

Looks exactly the same to me… I don t think they changed the design any over the years. Here is a picture showing it mounted to the rear trunnion (not the best picture, but should give you an idea):
[Snip]
If you look at the first picture, you can see the hole in the splitter mount where the spring, ball and set screw installs.

Cheers,
Brad

PS: If you have the serial number, you can date your saw here:
http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/DeltaSerialNumbers.ashx

- MrUnix

Wow, thanks for the pictures, Brad, appreciate it. I can see where the spring and detent ball would be very easy to lose. This puppy’s going on my Christmas list (or perhaps Labor Day, LOL).

-- My mother said that anyone learning to cook needed a large dog to eat the mistakes. As a sculptor of wood I have always tried to keep a fireplace. (Norman Ridenour)

The one on Amazon and the one in the pictures look to be the same as mine. The Amazon photo is a bit deceiving since it’s showing the bottom end rather than the top business end, but Brad’s pictures show it exactly. The new Delta company must be making them again, but $89 is a bit high to me for how simple the design is. But they are the only source if you want a new one.

Charley

This is the part that confuses me. Sounds like there is an old “pop-up splitter” and this new(er) “disappearing splitter.” If I do look on eBay, I need to be sure what’s what. ;-)

I don’t believe Delta ever called it a pop-up splitter, although I have heard it called that for fairly obvious reasons. Here is the listing from a 1979 Unisaw manual about the Uniguard which calls it the disappearing splitter, so it’s by no means a new term :)

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

Holy Smokes, I had no idea they made them in the early ‘90’s, let alone back when that ad was published (it might even be older than I am, LOL). The sellers on eBay must not realize they’re for sale new at $89/free shipping, ‘cause they want a ton for them. One seller is less than half retail, and I’ve sent him/her a question as to whether the spring and detent ball are included. There are no bolts, but seem they’d be easy to get, yes???

-- My mother said that anyone learning to cook needed a large dog to eat the mistakes. As a sculptor of wood I have always tried to keep a fireplace. (Norman Ridenour)

I ve got one on my saw… easy to operate with just a push/pull of a finger – no tools needed. It installs on the back trunnion with a couple of bolts. There is a spring loaded ball that engages with a detent on the splitter to keep it in the up position. The stock throat plates have a slot for the splitter to stick up through… aftermarket or homemade throat plates may need to be modified. I looked, but I don t have any good pictures to show you unfortunately.

Cheers,
Brad

PS: They came stock with the Uni-guard AFAIK.

- MrUnix

Thanks for this, just got my own right hand Unisaw and the bugger won’t stay up… Going to find a spring and ball somewhere.

Don’t mean to highjack the subject but have you considered the Biesmeier splitter?
It does not disappear below the table. It just snaps in and out with a spring loaded pin.
Easy install and alignment for me.
Bought it same time I bought my Uni 15+ years ago.
A very important part of the saw in my opinion.