Can't get blade far enough below table on Delta Unisaw for zero clearance.

It’s a common problem. I have a 30 year old Craftsman with the same problem. I bought a commerial zero clearence for mine. They said start the cut with a dado blade then finish with 10” blade. Don’t mess with the saw. Hope this helps.

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke".

You’re right. It doesn’t lower far enough for that. None of them do. What you need to do is clear out
a portion about 1/4” deep and 1/4” wide with a router.

To determine where to cut place your plate in place and tap one it hard enough to make the blade
leave an imprint on the bottom.

Either that or use a single dado blade which has a smaller diameter or any blade with a 5/8” hole and smaller than 10” in diameter.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Or, you can put a blade on from your dado set which is either 7 or 8” and start your cut.
Switch to your 10” blade and finish.
I did mean the full blade.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I agree with Bob. The easiest way is to start with a smaller diameter blade. It doesn’t matter if it is a wider kerf, you don’t go all the way through the insert. Just enough to be able to fit the 10” blade on the saw with the insert in place. Make sure you take lots of safety precautions to keep the insert down on the table (clamp a 2×4 to the table over the insert).

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Or, clamp new ZCI over an installed old one to start the cut and give you clearance. (2×4 and c-clamps) Personally, I use a similar kerf blade from my dado or circular saw. Due to the smaller radius of the 8” or 7 1/4” blade, you will have to run it up almost full height to allow for the larger radius on the TS blade (mine is a 10” TS)

Go

-- Go http://ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=730

I had a similar problem a long ago. I read in some magazine or “Tools and Techniques” with David Teal the correct way to start a new zero insert is to use a dado blade. The dado blade is 8” and it will go low enough to allow start the table saw and raise it. The dado blades are 1/8” (not the chippers), same as your 10” blade unless you bought the thin blade. Look at your blade if it says .100 kerf is a thin blade, 1/8 is ,125 kerf.

Even if you use the 1/8 and you have thin blade it won’t matter, your zero clearance will be ok.

I, too, agree with Bob #2. That’s how I did mine – works just fine.

-- Ethan, http://www.merganserwoodworks.com, http://greystonegreen.blogspot.com/

I get out my marking guage and strike two lines 1/8 inch apart and get my 1/8” chisel and start… just kidding. Go with the Dado blade, especially if you are making a zero clearance with the blade tilted.

-- Hutch, Montana

Here’s another vote for using the dado blade. It works fine.

-- Make things with wood.

I’m with Bob#2 and having said that. A cheapie 6 or 8” blade if you dont own dadoes

Dont do this at home. I put the blade as low as it will go, slide the fence over so that the zero clearance plate can be seated against fence and go down perfectly into the opening that houses it. Do a dry run….drop the plate into the houseing at the front of your saw (assuming the front is where you normally stand) and lower the plate down the fence and into the housing. like I said…..I might not do that if I were you?...but I would do it. <g>

When I make a four piece door frame that holds glass I run my mortises and tenons through just like I would if it had a solid wood panel in it. I remove the back of the panel surround so that the glass fits, then add trim to miter in the glass. I remove those strips of wood by measuring and transfering those measurements to the fence on the tablesaw. By pencil marks it gives me a start and stop position. I then place the door against the fence and carefully lower the door onto the blade…......the stops show me where to start and stop so the cuts dont pass right through. I then use a sharp chisel to cut the final cut at the corners.

I might not do that at home either ?

If it doesnt FEEL safe….......then it probably isnt.

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

GOD DAMN IT WHY DO I BOTHER ??? READ # !

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke".

I hear ya Odie.

-- If you can't find the time to do it properly, how will you find the time to fix it ?

This is a neat two in one solution too.
http://www.shopnotes.com/issues/097/videos/making-a-zero-clearance-insert/

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

That’s a great ideal Bob #2. I never even considered it but it’s very interesting. Appreciate everyone’s help on this string…I didn’t realize I was the only one…Here I was convinced Delta screwed up my saw only (HA).

Great site…super answers!

That was a pretty good video Bob #2. And very safe too.

-- Make things with wood.