Grizzly G0493 - Manual (Page 41)

Model g0493 (Mfg. since 7/10)
-39-
blade guard &
riving Knife
the term "blade guard" refers to the assembly
that consists of the guard and spreader assembly
(see
figure 66 below). each of these compo-
nents have important safety functions.
understanding blade guard
The guard encloses the top of the blade to reduce
the risk of accidental blade contact and contain
flying chips or dust.
The guard is designed to lift as the workpiece is
pushed into the blade, remain in contact with the
workpiece during the cut, then return to a resting
position against the table when the cut is com-
plete. When installed and properly maintained,
the guard is an excellent tool for reducing the risk
of injury when operating the table saw.
To ensure that the guard does its job effectively, it
MUST be installed and adjusted so that it moves
up and down properly to accommodate workpiec-
es and maintain coverage over the blade.
figure 66. Blade guard assembly components.
Guard
Spreader
understanding spreader & riving
Knife
the spreader and riving knife are a metal plates
that prevent the freshly cut workpiece from pinch-
ing the backside of the blade and causing a kick-
back. these items also act as a barrier to shield
hands from being pulled into the blade if a kick-
back occurs and the operator is reaching behind
the blade. (reaching behind the blade is a major
safety risk and should not be done).
the blade guard Must be installed on the saw for
all normal through cuts (defined on
page 38).
sometimes the blade guard or its components
can get in the way when cutting very narrow
workpieces or other specialized cuts. Because
the blade guard is provided to decrease your risk
of injury, it should not be used if it gets in the way
of making a safe cut. use good judgment!
in general, the blade guard Must remain installed
on the saw—unless a specific operation requires
its removal. if the blade guard is removed for
specific operations, always immediately replace it
after those operations are complete.
When to use the blade guard
use the riving knife without the blade guard for
any non-through cuts (defined on
page 38) or nar-
row/specialized cuts in which the blade guard gets
in the way of a safe cut.
always immediately replace the blade guard when
these cuts are complete!
When to use the riving Knife only
the spreader is used with the blade guard for
through cuts. the riving knife is used without the
blade guard for non-through cuts.
to ensure that the spreader or riving knife
works correctly, it must be correctly aligned
and adjusted to the blade.