Riving Knife Installation & Removal
The riving knife must be correctly installed, adjust- ed, and aligned in order to provide the maximum safety benefit.
The riving knife attaches to the mounting block as shown in Figure 38. Always firmly tighten the hex nut when securing the riving knife in place.
1
2
3
Figure 38. Installing riving knife on mounting
block.
Secure the riving knife so that the top of it is 1–5mm below the top level of the blade, as shown in Figure 39.
Minimum 1mm | Height Difference | |
Maximum 5mm | ||
|
Riving
Knife
Top Distance |
|
Minimum 3mm |
|
Maximum 8mm |
|
| Riving |
Bottom Distance | Knife |
Minimum 3mm |
|
Maximum 8mm |
|
Table |
|
Figure 40. Allowable top and bottom distances
between riving knife and blade.
Once the riving knife is properly positioned at the correct distance from the blade, verify that it is aligned with the blade by checking the alignment with a straightedge in the top and bottom loca- tions shown in Figure 41.
Top Alignment
| Riving |
Bottom Alignment | Knife |
Table
Figure 41. Checking top and bottom riving knife
alignment with blade.
The riving knife should be parallel with the blade along its length at both positions and should be in the "Alignment Zone" shown in Figure 42.
Figure 39. Height difference between riving knife
and blade.
The height difference between the riving knife and the blade allows the workpiece to pass over the blade during non-through cuts (those in which the blade does not cut all the way through the thick- ness of the workpiece).
Spreader or
Riving Knife
Blade 
Alignment Zone
Straightedge
The riving knife also prevents the freshly cut sides of the workpiece from pinching the blade and causing kickback. For maximum effectiveness of this safety design, the riving knife must be posi- tioned within