Tablesaw throat plate - another issue

[Johanna]

I just bought a Unisaw (gloat :-)). Last night I started making throat plates for it and discovered that the blade does not retract completely below the leve of the plate.

Somewhere I seem to remember reading how to safely set up a new throat plate and raise the blade through it when the blade does not go all the way down, but I cannot remember where I saw it -- at the time it did not apply to me because the blade on my Jet contractor's saw did go down far enough for me to clamp 2 x 4's over the plate and raise the blade.

Anyone here know how to make Unisaaw plates?

Johanna

[Raven]

Johanna,

I think you can route out part of the insert, but the way I do it is I have an 8" blade left over from an old saw, this is small enough to have the clearance you need. You can pick up an 8" blade for pretty cheap, and it does the trick. You can then put your fence over part of the insert to hold it down (make sure the blade will clear the fence!) and slowly raise the blade.

Raven

[handi]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-13-02 AT 05:29PM (CDT)

Johanna,

I like Raven's idea, but here is another one:

Take the new throat plate and double face tape it to your existing plate, then run the blade up through. You can add a clamp for added safety, but double faced tape is very secure.

Hope this helps,

Ralph

[Johanna]

Thanks Raven and Handi! I have my first throat plate shaped and now I can finish it and make some more. I'll try both methods.

Johanna