Wadkin PK riving advice please

[markturner]

Hi, I have started properly using my Wadkin PK saw which I restored several years ago. Hwever, I notice that the riving knife is not properly aligned with the blade. This is very tricky to adjust, as it simply bolts to a steel bracket. I remember having to get the riving knife made as the saw did not have one.

As it is not aligned co planar to the saw blade, its causing the workpiece to press against the blade when making a cut, burning the wood.

As getting the riving knife properly aligned to the blade is not easy or straighforward, I am considering removing it temporarily while I look into ways to get it fitting correctly.

Are there any particular cuts etc I should avoid if I use it without the knife? Currently I think its causing more potential safety issues than its preventing.


Thanks

 

[hennebury]

Shim it .

 

[Sachakins]

Could you fit a splitter into a diy zero clearance insert plate?

 

[deema]

I’m not familiar with that saw, but most Wadkins have a bolt on the side of the spindle housing which you slacken and tap the spindle forward it back to align with the riving knife.

 

[Fitzroy]

Long rips on thick or twisted timber are the ones where I’ve had the saw cut closeup. If the blade guard is on the riving knife then not having it would be my bigger concern.

 

[markturner]

Thanks for the suggestions.....

 

[markturner]

Its almost impossible to shim the mount for the knife, for a start there is only approx 2 sq inches of surface, the blade is in the way, and no way to hold shims in place - they need to be secure in case the loosen with vibration and hit the blade.....

 

[hennebury]

I am not familiar with the Wadkin PK riving knife holder, it was decades ago when I owned one. The Robinson ET/E saw that i recently rebuilt had the riving knife holder missing, so I made one.

 

[Fergie 307]

Like the Pratt chuck, I have a couple of very similar ones. As my dad was fond of saying "Not much you can't do with a lathe and a mill".

 

[markturner]

I wish I had the machinery and ability to do the same.....nice saw BTW.......so how do you go about aligning the mount and the arbor so they all are co planar?

 

[hennebury]

I wish I had the machinery and ability to do the same.....nice saw BTW.......so how do you go about aligning the mount and the arbor so they all are co planar?

I measured it to line up with a particular blade, but you can shim it if need be.