wayne mak said:

The Unisaw that I bought has the tongue behind the blade to split/anti kick
back the wood, how many people use this? It would seem it would help keep
the wood against the fence. My dad who has been wood working for ever and
has written books for fine wood working doesn't use one and see's no reason
too. But it seems to me that it would help make a clean cut any thoughts?

The 'tongue' you refer to is actually called a splitter. Yours is
also equipped with anti-kickback pawls and blade guard.

It is not used to obtain a clean cut, but rather to protect you from
the tension contained in most wood. As you cut, the wood may close up
on the blade, thereby causing a kickback - which is a nasty, nasty
thing. The pawls may also help in preventing the wood from being
launched at high speed towards the front of the saw. These may or not
be effective, depending on the design, the cut, and the HP of the saw.

I don't use one for some cuts - MDF and sheet goods for instance
usually don't contain wood under tension. But when ripping long
boards, that poorly designed sucker goes on there - every time!

Dado's are also impossible with the splitter mounted.

The fence, blade, and general tune of the saw determines the quality
of the cut.


Greg G.