Zero Clearance throat plate material

Plywood, mdf and more recently UHMW plastic. I also like the phenolic ply, but its a little pricey

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

I like 1/2 Baltic Birch plywood due to the price factor, I can usually find pieces big enough at work for free. Never had any trouble with it warping though.

-- Robert - Haven Wood Crafts

MDF might be a good choice – it’s inexpensive and shouldn’t warp.

-- http://www.peteroxley.com/woodworking -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

I have the Jet “Supersaw”, and make my ZCI’s from 1/2” Baltic birch scraps left over from drawer boxes. After milling them to size and drilling a finger hole, I brush poly on all exposed surfaces and edges. Mine stay flat.

-- Adversity doesn't build character...................it reveals it.

Greetings Amac:... I also use the 1/2” B.B. ply. It’s been good to me for zci. I’ve never used MDF, as I don’t have any 1/2”. I too, have never had it to warp. Maybe you just got a bad piece. You might try making another one or two just on account…...... I’m with Medic Ken:... phenolic is coslty. never used it, though.

-- " It's a rat race out there, and the rats are winning....!!"

I took a look at the piece I cut it from and it looks like it was already warped and I didn’t notice. I’ll make another one from a different piece.
Thanks for the help.

-- Andy

I just made some for my R4511, used 1/2” mdf, fits perfect and cheap.

-- Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement.

i use 1/2”MDF on my unisaw, it will last me about 9 mo to 1 year

-- I HAVE CUT THIS BOARD 3 TIMES AND IT STILL TOO SHORT!!!!!!!!!

I’ve used a hardwood called osage orange (recommended by Kelly Mehler on his table saw video). It’s very ridgid, has a slippery finish (not oily, just slippery), and looks pretty on the TS. Lasts forever if you don’t do something stupid and doesn’t seem affected by humidity like we have in Chicago during the summer.
Gerry

-- Gerry

The for what its worth department.

I have tried different materials for making my ZCI and have now settled on the one I really like the best.

UHMW
I bought some that were already fitted to my saw and all I had to do was run the blade up.

Pros:
They look good
They are smooth

Cons:
After being in the saw for 2 weeks they bowed in the center

Plywood:

Pros:
Very easy to work with
Cheap to buy

Cons:
You can not really tap it for a 10-32 set screw. You can screw the set screw in and it will hold but its not really tapped.
The surface is just not as smooth as the UHMW
Its light weight
Will not hold a spiral pin for a lock that good.

MDF

Pros:
Very easy to work with.
Cheap to buy
Machines really nice
Is very smooth

Cons:
You can not tap it for a set screw, again the set screw will screw in and hold but the hole is still not tapped.
Its light weight
I will not hold a spiral pin good at all, comes loose after awhile

Phenolic
Pros:
Looks very nice
Are very smooth
They machine really well
You can tap holes in it.
It holds a spiral pin very well
It last for a long long time.

Cons:
They do cost more

So now I have gone to Phenolic all the way, they look and work very well. The cost is a little higher then MDF or Plywood but to me it is worth it.
I now buy a sheet of 1/2 inch for $24 and I can make 3 ZCI out of it, $8 is just not that much for a ZCI that will last forever.
They really tap well and with a drop of Blue Locktite the set screw hold great. I can install a spiral pin in the end as a safety so it can not come out in the back.

http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/image/110613432

http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/image/110613430

What is UHMW?

-- Bob in WW ~ "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence

It is a plastic, kind of soft.

http://www.ptreeusa.com/uhmwproducts.htm

Must be the acronym for the standard plastic blocks in the WW stores, eh?

-- Bob in WW ~ "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence

That’s it, the only thing I use it for is to make setup blocks for the router.
Some people use it for the slides on a TS sled but I just never liked it for that, it spreads when you put a screw in it.

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene UHMWPE or sometimes shortened to UHMW

-- Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement.