I recently set-up a new woodworking shop and added a 1 1/2HP Jet (Left Tilt/Cast table & Wings) contractor saw. I have plans to do alot of ripping on some salvaged pine floor boards so, I bought a great ripping blade (CMT 40 tooth) and just bought a Zero Clearance throat plate from Woodcraft. The plate is Corian and I get it that the way to set this up is: lower blade completely, install throat plate, turn saw on and raise blade to cut exact slot in plate - now you have a zero clearance plate.

My question: what about the splitter - mine extends down through the factory plate so there is a slot behind the blade slot for this. Do I need to also cut a slot into the new corian plate for installing the splitter OR is the idea with zero clearance plate to be able to remove the splitter and run without?

Advice appreciated...