For decades, the table saw
has caused more accidents than any other tool
on the jobsite, probably because carpenters remove
the guards and never replace them (see
Riving Knife Conversion).
Thanks to the new Bosch portable
saw, those statistics and cutting habits are about
to change. This new saw, unveiled at the 2007
IBS show in Orlando, sports the new "modular"
Bosch Smart Guard System, and it's sure to revolutionize
the industry by reducing table-saw accidents on
the jobsite.
Several manufactuers have
been working on improving portable table saw guards,
and with this new design we're seeing the first
fruits of that engineering effort. |
A greeting card I received
after publishing an article on Table Saw Safety
in Fine Homebuilidng
|
Riving knives have been popular
on cabinet saws, but they've been slow to appear on
jobsite portable saws. A riving knife will prevent most
occurrences of kickback, and the new Bosch system includes
an adjustable riving knife. Extended to it's full height,
the riving knife accepts a snap-on anti-kickback pawl
and a clamp-on guard. The guard isn't like anything
you've seen before. Split into two separate pieces,
this guard moves easily out of the way when cross cutting
or ripping, and each side can be elevated independently
and supported by a detent, so the guard won't interfere
with moving the rip fence right up near the blade.
The system is enhanced by a narrow
aluminum bar that projects out over the blade. The bar
is also split, offering an unusual amount of protection
yet easy line-of-site to the blade and any workpiece
measurement marks.
Both the blade guard and pawl are
easy to remove, and well-designed on-board storage will
ensure that they're never lost or left behind. For rabbets
and other non-thru cuts, remove the guard and pawl and
lower the riving knife to its second position, just
below the height of the blade. The riving knife can
also be lowered to a third position, beneath the table
saw, for dados.
In addition to the Smart Guard
System, Bosch introduces a digital rip fence with the
new 4100 series tablesaw. They say it's accurate to
within 1/64 in., and I can't wait to get my hands on
one to test it out….but this saw won't be available
until spring!!
The 4100 will be available in three
models:
4100 DG-09 (Digital fence and YS 200 Gravity Rise Table
Saw Stand)
4100-09 (Standard fence and stand)
4100 (Standard fence and no stand)
 |
With the splitter full extended,
the anti-kickback pawl is easy to install. Simply
depress one button and snap the safety device
in place (left)
Only one lever secures the
three-piece guard (plastic and aluminum bar) to
the splinter (above). |
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