Table saw missing riving knife/blade guard (2024)

Flyover

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  • Aug 8, 2021
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I acquired a table saw from the side of the road. Kobalt 10" jobsite table saw, looks barely used. Model kt1015. However it is missing the riving knife and blade guard.

Lowes no longer sells these table saws, and I can't find parts for it on Amazon, eBay, or any of the first few tool replacement parts websites that come up when I search.

Are riving knives and blade guards somewhat interchangeable, so I could buy one from a different manufacturer and it would fit this saw? What's the best way to get that part?

Eddie_T

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  • Aug 8, 2021
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Older saws don't even have them and a lot of woodworkers get rid of them because they continually get in the way.

Flyover

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  • Aug 9, 2021
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@Eddie_T OK but this table saw definitely comes with one when you buy it new (or did back when Lowes sold it), and I'd rather have the option to remove a safety feature I feel I don't need later on than not have one in the first place.

Flyover

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I'm missing parts A (blade guard), B (anti-kickback pawls), and X (riving knife). So, they exist somewhere, but I can't seem to find them anywhere. If I could only get one of those parts I'd want the riving knife (well, especially since the other two attach to the riving knife).

I see there's a similar-looking OEM one sold on Amazon but it says it's for a Dewalt tablesaw. They look so identical I wonder if it would fit my Kobalt. Or if I could buy it, use it as a template to fabricate my own from sheet metal with whatever necessary customizations, then return the one I bought...


^^ Dewalt OEM on left, Kobalt user manual excerpt on right.

oldognewtrick

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  • Aug 9, 2021
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Call dewalt customer service and ask if they made the kobalt saw. I'm sure kobalt is just a store brand.

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oldognewtrick said:

Call dewalt customer service and ask if they made the kobalt saw. I'm sure cobalt is just a store brand.

Kobalt is Lowe's store brand. That's a good idea, I wonder if Dewalt made the table saw. I could look at Dewalt's jobsite table saws and see if there's one that looks identical in general. (Calling customer service is an option, but I consider it a last resort because I am averse to navigating robo-answering machine systems and waiting on hold.)

B

BuzzLOL

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  • Aug 10, 2021
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The Kobalt is prolly made in China... Kobalt is supposed to be a more expensive step up brand from Harbor Freight's house brand, but they're not. I have a Kobalt air impact wrench says 750 lb.-ft. of torque, but more like 100... more than the HF's '230' claim that is more like 80, but still... not worth 3-4 times the price...
My Dad's table saw he used since 1940's never had a guard...

Jeff Handy

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  • Aug 10, 2021
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Was your dad’s nickname “Lefty”?
Just kidding! Table saw missing riving knife/blade guard (10)

Flyover

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BuzzLOL said:

not worth 3-4 times the price...

Great review but my price was $0.00, and even if I have to buy a $35 riving knife it's still a better deal than I'm likely to find anywhere else.

Thinking of just fabricating my own anyway, now that I've got some experience cutting sheet metal from my dip station project. Even the small sheets they sell at Menards are big enough to make a second one if I mess up the first.

Eddie_T

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  • Aug 10, 2021
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Maybe print the picture to size and cut it out of card stock (or glue to cardboard) for a trial fit.

Flyover

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  • Aug 11, 2021
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Eddie_T said:

Maybe print the picture to size and cut it out of card stock (or glue to cardboard) for a trial fit.

That's a great idea. If I can find a picture that's to size...

Eddie_T

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Flyover said:

That's a great idea. If I can find a picture that's to size...

Maybe scale a picture until mounting holes aline?

Flyover

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Think I might buy a Dewalt riving knife to use as a template, keeping Dewalt's packaging and receipt handy...

A

adamh87

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  • Feb 9, 2024
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Has anyone found a viable replacement option? I’m in the same boat.

slownsteady

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  • Feb 11, 2024
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working table saws rarely get left at the curb. Before you start buying parts, see if it works.

A

adamh87

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slownsteady said:

working table saws rarely get left at the curb. Before you start buying parts, see if it works.

Same boat, meaning I’m in need of a riving knife.
Saw works great.

slownsteady

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  • Feb 11, 2024
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Wikipedia reports that Kobalt power tools were made by Chervon. Have to dig a little deeper to find out other brands they made.

slownsteady

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From the Chervon website:
Ego, Flex, Skil, Devon and X-tron

P

PJB12

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  • Feb 12, 2024
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Maybe, as mentioned earlier by EddieT, make a cardboard template. When you're done fine tuning it, take it to a sheet metal shop to have one made.

Or, perhaps have one 3-D printed or water jet cut. Or, even buy a sheet of polycarbonate and cut one out with a fine tooth coping saw blade.

To me, it sounds like a really good reason to buy a 3-D printer.

Paul

PS: Often used tool parts show up on Bonanza for sale.

T

tomtheelder2020

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  • Feb 18, 2024
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Your replacement riving knife does not need to be metal. Much easier and cheaper to make one from wood:

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Table saw missing riving knife/blade guard (2024)

FAQs

Is riving knife needed on table saw? ›

Riving knives are also fitted to some hand-held electrical circular and powered miter or cross-cut saws (known generically as "chop saws"). As of 2008, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) requires that all new table saw designs include a riving knife.

When must the blade guard be removed before operating a saw? ›

Leave safety devices in place and intact on the saw. Never remove, modify, or defeat guards. Keep your free hand away from the blade (Figure 38-1). Whenever possible, select the lightest tool or the tool with the least vibration.

What is the #1 danger when using a table saw? ›

Amputation – The high speed large diameter rotating blade poses significant risk of amputation. Body parts must be kept out of path of blade at all times. No adjustments to cutting angles, fences or stops should be attempted until the blade has come to a full stop.

Does OSHA require guards on table saws? ›

Belt-driven saws with exposed belts and pulleys should be guarded with a sturdy cover over the belts and pulleys. OSHA has specific rules for table saw guarding that are described in 29CFR1910. 213 and 1926.304. In general, blade guards are required on table saws whenever ripping or cross-cutting is done.

What not to do with a table saw? ›

Never reach over the saw to obtain something from the other side. When shutting off the power, never attempt to stop the saw quickly by shoving anything against the blade. Make sure the saw has stopped before leaving it. Never make any adjustments to the saw while it is running.

How far should a riving knife be from the blade? ›

A riving knife must be fitted and adjusted to within 8mm of the blade. As well as acting as a back guard this stops the wood from closing up onto the blade and being ejected.

Why remove riving knife? ›

I will say this again: a riving knife PREVENTS most of the kick backs from even taking place. A sensor only prevents a bloody outcome while also increasing the frequency of kickback in the first place... For folks that removed the riving knife the sensor is a nice addition.

Can you still get kickback with a riving knife? ›

Even though a riving knife is effective in reducing the possibility of a kickback, it cannot prevent it entirely, which is why it is always advisable to follow the basic rules of use for a table saw.

What are the disadvantages of a table saw? ›

While table saws are versatile and essential tools for many woodworking tasks, they also have some disadvantages. Common drawbacks include the risk of injury due to the exposed blade, limited portability compared to handheld tools, and the need for adequate space and setup for safe operation.

Is it safe to use a table saw without a blade guard? ›

The ones with anti-kickback pawls also reduce the chance of something being thrown back even if it gets trapped between the blade and fence. Using a table saw without the guard significantly increases the risk of injury from blade contact and kickback.

What is the purpose of a blade guard? ›

A blade guard is a safety feature on band saws designed to cover the exposed portions of the blade when not in use or during cutting, protecting the operator from accidental contact with the sharp, moving blade. Blade guards also help to contain dust and debris generated during cutting.

Should you remove the guard from a power saw? ›

Never defeat the guard to expose the blade. For example, tying back or removing the guard. Before starting a circular saw, be sure the power cord and extension cord are out of the blade path and are sufficiently long to freely complete the cut.

Does a table saw need a guard? ›

In a manufacturing shop, the OSHA General Safety Orders mandate guards and anti-kickback devices be installed on table saws.

How many people lose fingers on table saws each year? ›

Table saws are widely considered the most dangerous power tool, and approximately 30,000 blade-contact injuries require medical treatment each year in the United States. About 4,000 result in amputations that can be career-ending for some professional carpenters and contractors.

Why is a blade guard essential? ›

With the guard removed, certain types of injuries become more likely, such as: While reaching behind the blade to steady a workpiece with his left hand, a kickback throws the workpiece towards the operator, drawing his hand backwards, along with the workpiece, through the unguarded blade.

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