Replies

1. 
   DonC | Feb 27, 2003 07:48am | #1

   The ripstate device your refer to had competition from a company that made "Yellow Wheels" that were tapered and angled to the fence. Both devices are inferior to homemade featherboards. Featherboards are really not required if you are sawing square and flat lumber. I never saw lumber that is not square and flat. More important to kickback prevention is the need for a rifing knife on a table saw. Not a spliter like most mfg's offer. You can't predict a board that is case hardened and when it gets ripped it pinches the outfeed side of the blade. A rifing knife saves you from bad and dangerous kickback WAY better than any type of wheels by any name.

   Don

   
   

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   Edited 2/27/2003 8:35:59 AM ET by DONC4

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | Feb 27, 2003 06:02pm | #3

   To Don and Tex,

   Without starting a war, let me say that I have strong feelings about the lack of good safety devices on North American table saws. I agree with Don that a riving knife would be a great improvement to table saws sold by Delta, Powermatic/Jet, Bridgewood, General, etc. In a nutshell, my opinion is that it's a shame that North American manufacturers don't feel compelled to improve safety. For now, the only way to get better safety is to purchase Euro-style saws, which are way outside most hobbiests' budgets.

   My strong opinions on this subject, and other people's reactions, can be seen in the following discussions:

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=10451.1

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=10334.1

   With a limited budget myself, I recently purchased a Ridgid TS3612. The standard safety equipment on the Ridgid is typical of North American saws (it's not much good), so I am using yellow Board Buddies. I'm also careful to use straight, good stock, and I've read up on table saw safety. Safety is a huge issue for me.

   You can buy Board Buddies on Amazon (that's where I bought mine).

   They seem to be very effective, and rather simple to install, if your fence has a T-slot on top.

1. 
   PlaneWood | Feb 27, 2003 06:55pm | #4

   The best anti-kickback device I have ever seen is called a Bandsaw!  :)

   Sorry, just had to throw that in.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood

1. 
   davamoore | Feb 28, 2003 01:38am | #8

   And the second-best tablesaw anti-kickback device is one that's actually USED -- correctly.  (Had to add that one :-) )

   David"The world that was not made is not won by what is done" -- Mundaka Upanishad

2. 
   NCguy | Feb 27, 2003 04:16pm | #2

   Here are a couple of varieties. They both appear to be attached to an auxiliary fence set up. 

    

   http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/product_family.asp?family%5Fid=3794&gift=False&Gift=false&mscssid=AF3C9E4BB39A4BE29BC7165B665C86D6

    

   http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=96974

    

3. 
   forestgirl | Feb 27, 2003 08:06pm | #5

   Tex, take a look at this Google search and follow it to TrendLines:

   http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=ripstrate+tablesaw

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   TEX | Feb 27, 2003 09:11pm | #6

   Thanks for the information. The device shown is exactly like the one I was trying to discribe. I tried the reference (http://www.trend-lines.com) but it is in German and I was unable to locate anything to do with woodworking. Do you know where I may contact the manufacturer of the device to see if it will, or can be made to fit a 3-1/2" high fence?

1. 
   forestgirl | Feb 28, 2003 12:45am | #7

   Here's a phone number for Trend Lines that showed up in another Google search:

   (800) 767-9999

   Don't know if it's current or not.  Another idea, not great but useable:  Make an auxiliary fence that's the right height -- it'll have to be offset of course, since it's shorter rather than taller than the original.

   Good Luck!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   BG | Feb 28, 2003 02:54am | #10

   I think Trend-Lines went bankrupt last year...

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Feb 28, 2003 04:53am | #12

   Nope, they are now solely known as Woodworkers Warehouse. Use to be Trend-Lines was their mail order operation and corporate name and Woodworkers Warehouse was their retail store operation. Now it's all under one name.

   http://www.woodworkerswarehouse.com/ will get you there.

4. 
   HowardAcheson | Feb 28, 2003 02:25am | #9

   The original manufacturer was, and still may be:

   Fisher Hill Industries

   Fitzwilliam, NH

   He sold the marketing rights to Trend-Lines/Woodworker Warehouse

   I'm assuming this is what you are talking about in the top photo?:

   
1. 
   TEX | Feb 28, 2003 03:22am | #11

   Yes, your top photo is the device I have. Thanks