Reply by crank49

I have the Craftsman 21833, which is essentially the same identical saw with a different paint job. (I’m afraid that MDF made thin enough to sit on the ledge and leveling screws would be way too thin to support the work load.) I made my own insert using 10 ga aluminum plate. I traced the steel plate onto the aluminum with a scribe and cut it out with a jigsaw. It fits, and is strong enough to replace the steel plate. Starting with the blade in the lowest position I placed the blank insert in the table recess. Then clamped a 2×12 board to the table top, on top of the blank aluminum plate to hold it down as I cranked the saw blade up to its higest position; thus cutting a zero clearance slot. I used the crappy blade that came with the saw for this operation so I wouldn’t risk messing up my good blades. After I was done I ran a thin abrasive cutoff type blade along the slot with an angle grinder to give just a little relief. I then drilled 4 holes around the edges into which I epoxied 4 thin, rare earth magnets to hold the insert in place. The magnets need to be about .100” thick so they don’t protrude above the plate surface. I’m not suggesting anyone else try this method, it’s just how I solved my problem.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.