Makita 2704 TS riving knife

[Austin_Turner]

Hi all, I hope someone may be able to provide some advice...

I recently got one of the makita 2704 saws (good price) and now need to do some dado cuts (using a regular blade repeatedly to make dados), to do this I need to remove the blade guard...Unfortunately the riving knife that comes on the saw also holds the guard, so it is much higher than the blade and therefore needs to be removed.

Would it be safer to buy and modify/ fabricate a second riving knife that is just below the height of the blade and then use that for any cuts where the guard can't be used and when using a cross cut sled (which is on my list to make)?

I believe this would reduce kickback risk significantly compared to not using anything behind the blade?

P.S. it is a riving knife, the mount travels with the blade height adjustment.

[orraloon]

You dont need a riving knife to cross cut only to rip. That being said working without a guard has some risk so watch those pinkies stay well clear of the blade. I dont use any riving knife with the dado setup or when using a sled.
Regards
John

[Austin_Turner]

Ok thanks John, the man I was talking to at carba-tec Auckland yesterday said the same thing (he also had a finger injury from ripping without a guard in the past and was very clear on always putting the guard back on!).