Blade cover locks in upper position with one hand.

The Biesemeyer blade cover is light, easy to use and offers excellent visibility. But it’s more expensive than most of the others, especially when dust collection is included.

I tested one of the 50-in. models of the Biesemeyer T-Square Blade Guard System, but larger and smaller sizes are also available. The support frame bolts to a Biesemeyer back fence rail (a back rail is available for those who don’t have a Biesemeyer-style fence).
I had only one problem with this system: the extension arm that allows the cover to be moved horizontally. To make lateral adjustments you must walk around the extension table to the end of the main support member to crank a long internal screw. While the latest models have a quick-release lever that frees the extension arm for a large, rapid move, I still found it inconvenient to go to the far end of the saw to release the screw. I solved the problem by removing the threaded rod altogether, which allows the cover to slide back and forth easily and then be locked in place, all without leaving the operating position.
The counterbalanced assembly lets the cover ride up and down easily over the workpiece while staying parallel to the surface. Also, it takes only one hand to lift the cover away from the blade (for measurements, for example), where it locks into place. A dust-collection kit is available and consists of a 2-in. dust port and 10 ft. of heavy-duty 2-in. hose.

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