Thread: Gawd I hate Plexiglass....

Just finished fashioning a zero-clearance guard for my table saw.

My fingers, mainly my thumb, look like I got into a fight with a fillet knife! It's amazing how sharp plexiglass can get!

Sorry, had to vent. Came out good, but have scars from it!


And now back to your regularly scheduled resto discussion!


v/r

Allen

Having a zero clearance guard is nice for tablesaws. I actually went to the trouble of doing one for 45 deg cuts too But I'm a nut.

I said the heck with it and bought a band saw.

RMC,


What does a 0-clearance guard do and where does it fit on the saw? When I first read your comments I thought it was a table insert, but that's not a guard per se.

Originally Posted by Bruce

RMC,


What does a 0-clearance guard do and where does it fit on the saw? When I first read your comments I thought it was a table insert, but that's not a guard per se.

Well, it is an insert. It is the guard/insert surrounding the blade on a table saw. Most saws come with a guard that has a large space around the blade to allow the blade to be pivoted from 0-45 degrees. With the larger gap, small pieces (like scales) tend to fall thru.

You say tomato, I say beer.....

v/r

Allen

Originally Posted by RMC_SS_LDO

Well, it is an insert. It is the guard/insert surrounding the blade on a table saw. Most saws come with a guard that has a large space around the blade to allow the blade to be pivoted from 0-45 degrees. With the larger gap, small pieces (like scales) tend to fall thru.

You say tomato, I say beer.....

v/r

Allen

That's why I bought a band saw. It cuts much tighter with a lot more control. I use my table saw for the big and quick cuts.

RMC,

OK, now we have catsup, or is that ketchup? How in the world are you lacerating yourself on an insert and if I'm not too prying, why use Plexiglass for that part? I make sub bases for my routers out of acrylic or polycarbonate so I can see through them, but make the zero clearance table saw inserts from anything I can glue plastic laminate to. Thus my curiosity about why Plexiglass.

I could learn something here...

Originally Posted by Bruce

RMC,

OK, now we have catsup, or is that ketchup? How in the world are you lacerating yourself on an insert and if I'm not too prying, why use Plexiglass for that part? I make sub bases for my routers out of acrylic or polycarbonate so I can see through them, but make the zero clearance table saw inserts from anything I can glue plastic laminate to. Thus my curiosity about why Plexiglass.

I could learn something here...

The reason for Plexi was beacuse I got it free! The depth I needed was 1/2" and I had a big sheet of 1/4" plexi.

I managed to lacetate myself because the basic shape of the guard has a tapered edge.... and it got friggin SHARP! Plexi will develop very sharp edges when you cut it.

My saw is actually an old cheapo Craftsman so the zero-guard insert is not readily available, so I improvised. I took a piece and cut it for the "base" layer of plexi since it required some odd notches and cuts to get it so set flush into the saw frame. Next, I cut the "top" layer and shaped it to the opening for the blade. Used some CA (superglue) to put them together. Installed it in the saw, turned it on and rased the blade fully to cut the opening.

After all of this, it actually works pretty good. I'm kind of upset that it worked.... I wanted a new saw! Well, this one works and I'm a cheap SOB.


v/r

Allen

No reason to call yourself cheap - just frugal - waste not, want not! If I can fix it, or rig it to work like I need it to, I will do everything in my power not to buy something else!

Good on you for finding a way to make it work - a little blood is one thing, a honking $400 table saw bill is another!

Mark

Saw? you need one of these!!!!! perfect for cutting scales