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Old-model Unisaw and Delta 78-431 splitter

5K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  rockom 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
A local retailer may have an older Unisaw available. There's an improved splitter from Delta, model 78-431 for the left-tilt saw; if I added this to the older Unisaw, would this be a reasonable alternative to the riving knife on the new Unisaw? I'd appreciate any advice from anyone who's worked with this add-on. The new saw looks great, but it would wipe out my budget for new tools.
 
#2 ·
Personally I am not a fan of splitters, I find that smaller pieces tend to get caught between the splitter and the blade and fly back at the operator. That being said I love riving knives because the distance between the blade and the knife always stays the same and it is always minimal so small pieces cannot get caught between the blade and the knife. My splitter and guard assembly for my delta remains in its original packaging underneath the bench, never to see life on the saw, if my saw came with a riving knife instead of a splitter this would be a completely different story. This add on looks like a glorified splitter and to me presents more of a danger than a safety feature, I know that some people here will probably disagree with me but this is my two cents.
 
#3 ·
cstrang, thanks for the input. I wasn't able to find anything on the Delta site or elsewhere about the clearance of the splitter from the blade, and since I've never used a Unisaw I'm unfamiliar with the mounting, so I can't even tell if the splitter is bolted to the trunnion or the arbor plate. I guess that's one of the reasons that the new saw costs so much more.
 
#4 ·
I am not 100% sure on this one but I think it bolts to the same place as a regular splitter would, thus leaving a big space between the blade and the splitter. I took some pics of my saw, hopefully this helps.





 
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