I'm finally convinced that it is time to add an overarm dust collector to my
Delta contractor's saw and the Delta 1.5 hp DCS.
I know about the Excalibur, but I also see the Exaktor which appears to be
similar, but allows a splitter to be present, and is appreciably less
expensive.
Any recommendations based on experience with either or both? (I don't think
I want to build Gordon Sampson's rig although it also looks comparable, and
would be less $$ out of pocket.)
Thanks.
George
I have by now bought the Excalibur plus its splitter, partly because the
local Woodcraft store allowed some discount on the combination. The
splitter includes anti-kickback pawls.
The splitter installed pretty quickly.
George
"TomL" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Do any of the overarms provide protection against kickback?
>
> TomL
>
> On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 05:15:31 GMT, Tim Carver <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 14:51:52 GMT, "george"
> ><[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>I know about the Excalibur, but I also see the Exaktor which appears to
be
> >>similar, but allows a splitter to be present, and is appreciably less
> >>expensive.
> >>
> >>Any recommendations based on experience with either or both?
> >
> >You should also consider the Biesemeyer. It is a good quality quard
> >and it does a respectable job of dust collection when you add the
> >optional DC hookup. You also need a guard that can be lifted easily
> >out of the way, which the Biese excels at.
> >
> >Dust collection at the blade works better in some situations than
> >others. For example, if your blade is fully exposed because you are
> >trimming a blade width or less, you are going to get spray out the
> >bottom of the guard because the left side of the guard is not in
> >contact with the material. I've thought about adding a flexible flap
> >to the side of my guard to catch this but have never gotten around to
> >trying it.
> >
> >I'd get a guard (and a good splitter too) just because you'll be less
> >tense working around the saw. Just consider the DC as a small added
> >bonus when it works. I worked for more than 20 years with no guard at
> >all, and while you can work safely (and nervously) without one, it's
> >just a lot more pleasant experience with a really good guard and
> >splitter in place. There are times when you'll want them out of the
> >way, but the key is you want to be able to put them back with zero
> >effort when you're doing normal stuff, so you'll do it and not just
> >put it off because its too much trouble.
> >
> >
> >Tim Carver
> >[email protected]
>
Mike in Mystic wrote:
> If I only
> knew how to weld, I could have made this for a fraction of the cost
> myself.
You and me both, Mike. One of these days I've *got* to learn, and buy the
equipment. The latter more than the former has been the sticking point.
There's just so much to consider just to get your toes wet.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
Do any of the overarms provide protection against kickback?
TomL
On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 05:15:31 GMT, Tim Carver <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 14:51:52 GMT, "george"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>I know about the Excalibur, but I also see the Exaktor which appears to be
>>similar, but allows a splitter to be present, and is appreciably less
>>expensive.
>>
>>Any recommendations based on experience with either or both?
>
>You should also consider the Biesemeyer. It is a good quality quard
>and it does a respectable job of dust collection when you add the
>optional DC hookup. You also need a guard that can be lifted easily
>out of the way, which the Biese excels at.
>
>Dust collection at the blade works better in some situations than
>others. For example, if your blade is fully exposed because you are
>trimming a blade width or less, you are going to get spray out the
>bottom of the guard because the left side of the guard is not in
>contact with the material. I've thought about adding a flexible flap
>to the side of my guard to catch this but have never gotten around to
>trying it.
>
>I'd get a guard (and a good splitter too) just because you'll be less
>tense working around the saw. Just consider the DC as a small added
>bonus when it works. I worked for more than 20 years with no guard at
>all, and while you can work safely (and nervously) without one, it's
>just a lot more pleasant experience with a really good guard and
>splitter in place. There are times when you'll want them out of the
>way, but the key is you want to be able to put them back with zero
>effort when you're doing normal stuff, so you'll do it and not just
>put it off because its too much trouble.
>
>
>Tim Carver
>[email protected]
On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 14:51:52 GMT, "george"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I know about the Excalibur, but I also see the Exaktor which appears to be
>similar, but allows a splitter to be present, and is appreciably less
>expensive.
>
>Any recommendations based on experience with either or both?
You should also consider the Biesemeyer. It is a good quality quard
and it does a respectable job of dust collection when you add the
optional DC hookup. You also need a guard that can be lifted easily
out of the way, which the Biese excels at.
Dust collection at the blade works better in some situations than
others. For example, if your blade is fully exposed because you are
trimming a blade width or less, you are going to get spray out the
bottom of the guard because the left side of the guard is not in
contact with the material. I've thought about adding a flexible flap
to the side of my guard to catch this but have never gotten around to
trying it.
I'd get a guard (and a good splitter too) just because you'll be less
tense working around the saw. Just consider the DC as a small added
bonus when it works. I worked for more than 20 years with no guard at
all, and while you can work safely (and nervously) without one, it's
just a lot more pleasant experience with a really good guard and
splitter in place. There are times when you'll want them out of the
way, but the key is you want to be able to put them back with zero
effort when you're doing normal stuff, so you'll do it and not just
put it off because its too much trouble.
Tim Carver
[email protected]
I tried the Penn State overarm blade gaurd/dust collection setup and it was
a piece of junk. The Excalibur, IIRC, is a similar design, although the
materials it is made of seem to be of much better quality. Not surprising.
I didn't try that though and went straight to the Biesemeyer overarm blade
gaurd for my Unisaw w/50" biesemeyer fence. It was a big chunk of $$ but it
works perfectly and is made much better than the others, IMO. If I only
knew how to weld, I could have made this for a fraction of the cost myself.
Oh well. Safety is worth the cost, IMO.
Mike
--
There are no stupid questions.
There are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.
"george" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm finally convinced that it is time to add an overarm dust collector to
my
> Delta contractor's saw and the Delta 1.5 hp DCS.
>
> I know about the Excalibur, but I also see the Exaktor which appears to be
> similar, but allows a splitter to be present, and is appreciably less
> expensive.
>
> Any recommendations based on experience with either or both? (I don't
think
> I want to build Gordon Sampson's rig although it also looks comparable,
and
> would be less $$ out of pocket.)
>
> Thanks.
>
> George
>
>
On Mon, 24 Nov 2003 00:40:40 GMT, TomL <[email protected]> wrote:
>Do any of the overarms provide protection against kickback?
>
>TomL
IIRC, The Brett guard does come with a splitter. That's the only
guard I've heard of that comes with one.One of the problems with
combining the splitter with the guard is that a lot of the splitter
solutions have to be customized for different kinds of mounting on the
saw. I think the Brett guard also claims some kickback protection
just from its design - it is held rigidly above the table, close to
the work, rather than floating on it. I really like my Biesemeyer
guard and splitter, but they definitely seem to be more expensive
than they would be if there were better competing products.
Tim Carver
[email protected]
> I'm finally convinced that it is time to add an overarm dust collector to
my
I have been running an Excalibur (sp) on my Saw for over 10 years and as a
guard it functions...nothing fance but it works and gets out of the way in a
second..etc...
Now mine is the older model..not really comparable to the
newer ones...BUT I did a lot of modifications to improve
the dust collection over the blade... moved the pickup point to the front of
the guard from the original back...etc... for the last 6-7 years I have used
a small dedicated shop vac to handle the overhead guard and only connect my
dust collector to the bottom of my cabinet saw...
At this point I am happy... BUT if I ever purchased another I personally
would not be all that interested in the dust collection abilities...All I
would focus on would be how it fuctions as a guard... mine can be adjusted
in one second...moved out of the way in 1 & 1/2 seconds.. and works...
Like Mike the Mystic stated however...I could have made one myself much
cheaper and I do weld...
I still, after all these years, think the money I spend was.. money well
spent...and have no regrets at all.
Bob Griffiths
I have the Excalibur and it seems to be made pretty well, but i find
that about 1/2 the time I have to move it out of the way(no big deal,
but defeats the purpose of having it) I do think that having it makes
you more aware of where your fingers are- even when it is moved out of
the way. I felt guilty spending the $ because I have a machine shop
with welding capabilities, but I knew that months would go by before i
found the time to put togther the materials and actually make it. I
would do it again-Keith
On Fri 21 Nov 2003 08:51:52a, "george" <[email protected]>
wrote in news:[email protected]:
> I'm finally convinced that it is time to add an overarm dust collector
> to my Delta contractor's saw and the Delta 1.5 hp DCS.
>
> I know about the Excalibur, but I also see the Exaktor which appears
> to be similar, but allows a splitter to be present, and is appreciably
> less expensive.
>
> Any recommendations based on experience with either or both? (I don't
> think I want to build Gordon Sampson's rig although it also looks
> comparable, and would be less $$ out of pocket.)
After a close call with my blade - note to self: after you've spent an
afternoon at mother-in-law's house, up on the roof cleanging gutters that
haven't been cleaned in years and are ice-clogged because it was 19 degrees
last night, and you get home and are torn between taking a nap and starting
that project that's all ready to go, take the nap!
Anyway, now I know I need a decent guard so I researched. Along with
Gordon's rig, I found these two:
http://www.homestead.com/ValRoseWoodWorks/index5TOOLSHOP.html
http://www.woodisourart.com/tablesaw/bladecover.htm
Whether you buy or build, I think they have some good ideas and I'm trying
to come up with a way to combine the two of them somehow, when I build the
cabinet for my Griz 1022.
Dan
On Fri, 21 Nov 2003 14:54:58 GMT, "Mike in Mystic"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I tried the Penn State overarm blade gaurd/dust collection setup and it was
>a piece of junk.
Mike, could you please be more specific. What did the Penn State do
or not do?