Just finished setting up my new Delta X5 10" Table Saw with 30" Commercial
Biesemeyer Fence. (Mine is one of the last of the American Made Deltas).
Impressed with saw except for guard and splitter. Hate to operate without
the guard, so any suggestions to improve or replace would be welcome. I know
Biesemeyer offers one, but I can not afford $400.00 for a blade guard.

So what do you experienced guys do about this guard thing.

Not trying to start a safety firestorm, just need some realistic advice as
to how I can use my new saw.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

I got rid of the guard after using my Unisaw a couple of times. I
usually use the splitter, but I'm not really into TS blade guards. Many
pros use neither.

Dave

Steve DeMars wrote:

Just finished setting up my new Delta X5 10" Table Saw with 30" Commercial
Biesemeyer Fence. (Mine is one of the last of the American Made Deltas).
Impressed with saw except for guard and splitter. Hate to operate without
the guard, so any suggestions to improve or replace would be welcome. I know
Biesemeyer offers one, but I can not afford $400.00 for a blade guard.

So what do you experienced guys do about this guard thing.

Not trying to start a safety firestorm, just need some realistic advice as
to how I can use my new saw.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

"David" wrote in message
...

but I'm not really into TS blade guards.

Haven't used one in 40+ years and can still count to ten. The only close
calls I ever had was before I quit using them. I like full visibility
(nothing between it and me) of that blade and I have a very deep respect for
it. RM~

PS, I'm no beginner but I do not use a table saw on a daily basis, maybe if
I did it might cause me to be a little too lax.

"Steve DeMars" wrote in
news:9Olve.68959$gc6.67660@okepread04:

Just finished setting up my new Delta X5 10" Table Saw with 30"
Commercial Biesemeyer Fence. (Mine is one of the last of the American
Made Deltas). Impressed with saw except for guard and splitter. Hate
to operate without the guard, so any suggestions to improve or replace
would be welcome. I know Biesemeyer offers one, but I can not afford
$400.00 for a blade guard.

So what do you experienced guys do about this guard thing.

Not trying to start a safety firestorm, just need some realistic
advice as to how I can use my new saw.


It's a valid question, one you have to answer for yourself.

Delta sells an overarm guard, Delta 34-976 Deluxe Uniguard Blade Guard,
which is functionally similar the Bies guard. It is the least intrusive
guard _that I have used_ (I'm a serious hobbyist), but it's still $275
or so.

My choice, not my recommendation for you, is the quickly splitter
splitter that is available as a part from Delta, sold with the Uniguard
system. About $32, it's what I use, religiously, when a splitter
doesn't interfere with the desired operation.

A hobbyist can make choices that a pro shop isn't allowed. I don't have
deadlines, customers or employees for my woodwork. If I'm tired or
distracted, I shut off the tools and sweep up. Or leave the sweeping
until later.

Good job on the saw. Enjoy your purchase for a long time. Use it
safely, whatever that means to you.

Patriarch

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 18:30:11 -0500, "Steve DeMars"
wrote:

Just finished setting up my new Delta X5 10" Table Saw with 30" Commercial
Biesemeyer Fence. (Mine is one of the last of the American Made Deltas).
Impressed with saw except for guard and splitter. Hate to operate without
the guard, so any suggestions to improve or replace would be welcome. I know
Biesemeyer offers one, but I can not afford $400.00 for a blade guard.

So what do you experienced guys do about this guard thing.

Not trying to start a safety firestorm, just need some realistic advice as
to how I can use my new saw.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

======================

I feel you pain.... But to be truthful I have never seen a "stock"
guard on ANY Table saw that I could live with...
I have been using a Excalibur overhead guard on my Saw for over 10
years and to be very honest I like it.... moves left/right/up/down in
less then a second....Ran it mounted normally for years before I did
away with the floor mount and just suspended it fromt he ceiling...

One of the current mags (Amer.Woodworker) ??? This months issure
anyway has a short blurb on a overhead home made guard...I really did
not pay much attention to it but the thing looked pretty close to my
old style model excalibur (which does not look much like the current
excalibur)....

I use a home made splitters...mounted in my zero clear. inserts...

Bob G.

In article 9Olve.68959$gc6.67660@okepread04,
"Steve DeMars" wrote:

So what do you experienced guys do about this guard thing.

Very few guards, IMHO, are safe. Riving knives make sense, if installed
properly on a proper mechanism.

I know how mean and nasty a saw blade is, that's why I like to keep an
eye on that thing. I always have something between me and the blade,
like a properly designed push-stick which also allows pressure downward
on the piece.

If I HAD to install a guard, the Excalibur would be my choice, but that
one also obstructs the view of the blade.

The only time I have been witness to a close call, was when a saw
operator was jiggling a guard whilst cutting a piece of oak edging,
because the piece was jamming between the guard and the fence, binding
the whole lot up and kicking back the oak. The operator knew enough not
to stand in the line of fire and the piece shot like an arrow and
ricocheted through the shop.

All the usual caveats apply here as I do NOT suggest you run a table saw
without a guard. Do NOT try this at home.

The ultimate safety methods include awareness, caution, sobriety, being
relaxed, taking your time, focus, focus, and more focus.

Distraction, complacency, poor lighting, short-cuts and being
****ed/hammered out of your skull are the big no-no's. ( I'm not sure
how a gagger of hydroponics fits into this.)

I Got rid of the stock guard as soon as I got my Unisaw...2001....bought a
Delta Uniguard and splitter...works a lot better. Wish it had a dust
collector on it though. Other that that, its saved my fingers a couple
times....cutting small pieces, be carefull.....

"Bob G." wrote in message
...
On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 18:30:11 -0500, "Steve DeMars"
wrote:

Just finished setting up my new Delta X5 10" Table Saw with 30" Commercial
Biesemeyer Fence. (Mine is one of the last of the American Made Deltas).
Impressed with saw except for guard and splitter. Hate to operate without
the guard, so any suggestions to improve or replace would be welcome. I
know
Biesemeyer offers one, but I can not afford $400.00 for a blade guard.

So what do you experienced guys do about this guard thing.

Not trying to start a safety firestorm, just need some realistic advice as
to how I can use my new saw.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

======================

I feel you pain.... But to be truthful I have never seen a "stock"
guard on ANY Table saw that I could live with...
I have been using a Excalibur overhead guard on my Saw for over 10
years and to be very honest I like it.... moves left/right/up/down in
less then a second....Ran it mounted normally for years before I did
away with the floor mount and just suspended it fromt he ceiling...

One of the current mags (Amer.Woodworker) ??? This months issure
anyway has a short blurb on a overhead home made guard...I really did
not pay much attention to it but the thing looked pretty close to my
old style model excalibur (which does not look much like the current
excalibur)....

I use a home made splitters...mounted in my zero clear. inserts...

Bob G.

"Patriarch" wrote in message

It's a valid question, one you have to answer for yourself.

Delta sells an overarm guard, Delta 34-976 Deluxe Uniguard Blade Guard,
which is functionally similar the Bies guard. It is the least intrusive
guard _that I have used_ (I'm a serious hobbyist), but it's still $275
or so.

My choice, not my recommendation for you, is the quickly splitter
splitter that is available as a part from Delta, sold with the Uniguard
system. About $32, it's what I use, religiously, when a splitter
doesn't interfere with the desired operation.

Ditto ... own the Uniguard, even the rare times it comes off the splitter
remains for all through cuts. Good post, well stated.

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Last update: 5/14/05