Can i remove the guard from a table saw?

[monkeybanjo]

Hi,

I need to buy a table saw for cutting long thin strips of wood from planks. The strips are going to be around 6m long and more importantly, 6mm wide.

I was thinking of a Bosch GTS10, but i've only seen it in a picture and it looks like the guard would get in the way when trying to cut 6mm strips i.e. the guard would prevent me from getting the fence within 6mm of the saw blade. Are the guards on table saws are normally removable? Or, is there another blindindly obvious solution to my problem?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[JackL]

Buy a bandsaw.

Not a good idea to remove guards, they are there for a purpose - the purpose being to save you going to A & E with your fingers in a plastic bag being kept cool by a packet of frozen peas!

 

[Steve Maskery]

I'd use a short fence and a narrow stock jig. You can see them in these videos:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lp4ZR5WsL9w
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=d7QXIN2X8-w

Cheers
Steve

 

[monkeybanjo]

Hi Jack...thanks for the response....that was quick! I did consider the bandsaw option, but after some web research the general consensus was that i'd need to buy a hugely expensive one to cut the strips accurately i.e. one that could take a 25mm blade. My wallet just ain't that fat!

Also, i bet i could cut my fingers off with a bandsaw too

 

[monkeybanjo]

Hi Steve,
In work at the mo (clearly working very hard!) so i can't watch the videos right now. Will take a look at them tonight. Thanks for your help

 

[Mcluma]

I have the GTS 10 and yes i have taken off the quard, as i do a lot of trenching, i admit its not safe, but it works, however if would like to have a riving knife that goes up and down with the blade, and then you can buy a nice overhang blade quard, the blade quard of the GTS10 is fixed to the riving knife and has kickback fingers on them (which are usefull but most of the time a pain in the bud), and yes a blade quard does take a lot of vision away of the blade

 

[monkeybanjo]

Hi Mcluma,

Thanks for the response. Very reassuring to hear from someone who owns the saw. And since you do own it, here comes the obvious followup question.....are you happy with it?

 

[Mcluma]

Iam i happy

OH yes, i also own an EB PKF 255 but this one is so much easier to use, the fence is always bang on, and it takes a lot of wood, i couldn't be more pleased with it,

Except for the T slot as it only take the Bosch mitre gauge and you cannot put anything else in it (unless you modify it) but that is only if you like to upgrade from the standard Bosch mitre gauge

 

[monkeybanjo]

Good to know you're happy with it and that it's accurate.

Thanks everyone for the help....All being well, I think i'll be buying one this weekend

 

[OPJ]

Instead of removing the crown guard, could you not fix a thin, sacrificial fence to the existing one?

What I mean is, something thin enough to go under the guard without fouling it and, wide enough to keep the existing fence back from the guard.

Some (cheaper) table saws come with an aluminium extrusion which would be suitable for this purpose. Looking at the picture on Axminster's site though, the Bosch saw isn't one of them.

If you have any scraps of MDF, you could easily make something that saddles over the existing fence with a narrow lipping on one side which fits under the guard, all cramped in place.

 

[monkeybanjo]

Hey OPJ,

Yup, i'll try to do it without removing the guard if possible. I do quite like my fingers

 

[monkeybanjo]

Just watched those videos Steve. thanks for the links. Pretty much perfect for what i'm doing so i can't wait to get the saw and give it a blast

 

[Digit]

I do quite like my fingers

Rather attached to them are you?

Roy.

 

[Anonymous]

6m sounds very long when cutting 6mm thick. A bandsaw would be much better

 

[mailee]

If I were to rip strips asthin as you suggest I would make a guage to fit into the mitre slot and cut the strips on that side allowing the plank to bepushed between the fence and blade. This method is much easier and safer without removing the guard. Having said that I do not use the crown guard on my saw......(He whispered) HTH :wink:

 

[tim]

I would say that with either a band saw or a tablesaw that you are going to have difficulty. Firstly you'll need a workspace over 12m long and secondly a whole bunch of supports if you are going to get issues with the plank waggling and taking a bit out of your already very narrow strips. I would make them slightly wider using either (although out of preference I would use a TS) and then thickness them to the right dimensions.

What are you using them for?

Cheers

Tim

 

[Mcluma]

I'd use a short fence and a narrow stock jig. You can see them in these videos:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lp4ZR5WsL9w
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=d7QXIN2X8-w

Cheers
Steve

Thanks for posting these video's Steve - They are helpfull

 

[monkeybanjo]

Tim, the strips are going to be used for making a kayak, which should look like this (he says, optimistically)...

http://www.oneoceankayaks.com/buildernotes/boudreau_cann.htm

I'm guessing cutting them right is going to be the first of many issues

As for the workspace, that's going to be outside when i'm cutting the strips. I'll have to make do with setting up a decent length fence extension and some roller stands. Hopefully, that should make things reasonably controllable. Unfortunately i don't have access to a thickness planer, as that would be perfect.

Mailee, what you're suggesting sounds a lot like what steve's video shows. Seems like the way forward to me. Cheers

 

[monkeybanjo]

Quote:
Rather attached to them are you?

I resisted, but i'm glad someone else couldn't