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The riving knife (
) is a metal plate that prevents
the newly cut workpiece from pinching the backside of
the blade and causing kickback.
When properly mounted, the riving knife is positioned
below the blade's highest point of rotation, as shown in
.
The height difference between the riving knife and the
blade allows the workpiece to pass over the blade during
Illustration of a typical riving
non-through cuts (those in which the blade does not cut
knife.
all the way through the thickness of the workpiece).
The riving knife also acts as a barrier behind the blade to
reduce the risk of hands being pulled into the blade if a
kickback occurs.
The riving knife on this machine also acts as the mounting
mechanism for the blade guard.
Use the riving knife by itself for all non-through cuts
made with a standard table saw blade (i.e., dadoes or
Height difference between
rabbet cuts in which a dado blade is NOT used, and when
riving knife and blade.
using a tenoning jig).
Also, use the riving knife by itself for those special
operations where the blade guard or its components get
in the way of safe operation, such as with very narrow
cuts.
The riving knife CANNOT be used with a dado blade.
Otherwise, the riving knife height will exceed the blade
height and the workpiece will hit the riving knife during
the cut, forcing the operator into a dangerous situation
of trying to turn the saw off with the workpiece stuck
halfway through the cut.
In addition, although it is possible to use the riving
knife by itself for through cutting operations, the blade
guard assembly offers far more injury protection and
risk reduction than the riving knife alone. Therefore,
that you ALWAYS use the blade
guard assembly with the riving knife for all through cuts.
-35-
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