Allen Bookout
Member
- Messages
- 902
- Location
- Punta Gorda, Florida
Last year I built an overarm guard with dust removal for my Unisaw. It seemed like a good idea at the time. As time went on I used it less and less. For one thing there is not that much dust on top of the table anyway and for another it is just a kind of a pain in the side. A lot of the time it is in the way so I swing it out of the way. Then when I want it I swing it back and lock it, adjust it sideways if needed and lower the guard. A lot of piddiling around so it does not get done very often. Now I busted the side of it out whacking it with a 2x4 as can be seen from the photo below. That is what I get for not using lexan as any fool knows but I did not have any at the time. As you can see, I have my workbench behind the saw to use as an outfeed table. Sometimes I work between the bench and saw using both tops but the support arm for the guard is really in the way. It would be REALLY nice to have that area free of obstructions. Also the vertical support arm is in the way for a long crosscut. I cannot attach it to the ceiling as I need to move the saw sometimes.
Now we come to the point. I always use pushsticks or the gripper when my hand could get close to the blade and use featherboards when necessary. I use a quick removable splitter with anti kickback pawls. I use a crosscut sled when possible. I am seriously considering just junking the whole thing and not using a guard at all due to the way that I work. Do the most of you use a guard with your saw? What do the majority of you think about not using a guard at all?
Allen
Now we come to the point. I always use pushsticks or the gripper when my hand could get close to the blade and use featherboards when necessary. I use a quick removable splitter with anti kickback pawls. I use a crosscut sled when possible. I am seriously considering just junking the whole thing and not using a guard at all due to the way that I work. Do the most of you use a guard with your saw? What do the majority of you think about not using a guard at all?
Allen