Old_Timer wrote in message
news

My old Black and Decker (El cheapo) circular saw that I bought in 1976
has finally bit the dust. I bought a replacment for it yesterday. It
has a feature that the old one did not have. It has a small lever
that the literature terms the "splitter". The literature does not
explain the purpose of the device. So what is it and what does it
do?

Old_Timer

Keeps the board from pinching the blade. Another attempt at protecting you
from yourself.