Delta Unisaw’s Riving Knife: Is Yours Properly Aligned?

Delta Unisaw’s Riving Knife: Is Yours Properly Aligned?

A properly aligned delta unisaw riving knife is crucial for safety and cut quality. A misaligned riving knife can lead to kickback, binding, and inaccurate cuts. This guide will walk you through understanding, checking, and adjusting your riving knife to ensure optimal performance of your Delta Unisaw.

Understanding the Importance of Riving Knife Alignment

The riving knife’s function is to maintain separation of the wood after the saw blade has passed through it, preventing the wood from pinching the blade. When the wood pinches the blade, kickback is a very real possibility, where the material is thrown violently back towards the operator. Proper delta unisaw riving knife alignment eliminates this pinching action.

• Safety: Prevents dangerous kickback situations.
• Cut Quality: Ensures smoother, cleaner cuts, minimizing burning and binding.
• Efficiency: Reduces strain on the motor and operator.

Checking Your Delta Unisaw Riving Knife Alignment

Regularly checking the alignment of your delta unisaw riving knife is essential. Here’s how to do it:

Visual Inspection

1. Blade Parallelism: Ensure the blade is parallel to the miter slot. Misalignment here will affect the riving knife’s perceived alignment.
2. Riving Knife Parallelism: With the saw unplugged, visually inspect the riving knife to see if it appears parallel to the saw blade. Look for any obvious bends or warping in the riving knife itself.
3. Gap Consistency: Check the gap between the blade and the riving knife. This gap should be consistent along the entire length of the blade.

Using Measurement Tools

For a more precise assessment, use the following tools:

1. Straight Edge: Place a straight edge against the side of the saw blade. The riving knife should touch the straight edge along its entire length.
2. Feeler Gauges: Use feeler gauges to measure the gap between the blade and the riving knife at several points along their length. This will reveal any inconsistencies.

Common Signs of a Misaligned Riving Knife

• Burning: The wood shows signs of burning along the cut edge, indicating friction due to pinching.
• Binding: The wood binds against the blade during the cut, making it difficult to feed the material smoothly.
• Kickback: The material unexpectedly and violently kicks back towards the operator.
• Inaccurate Cuts: The cut deviates from the intended line.
• Increased Motor Load: The saw motor sounds strained or struggles to maintain speed during the cut.

Adjusting Your Delta Unisaw Riving Knife

The adjustment process varies slightly depending on the specific model of your Delta Unisaw. Always consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions. However, the following provides a general guide:

Identifying the Adjustment Points

Most Delta Unisaws have adjustment points on the riving knife mounting bracket. These points typically involve:

• Lateral Adjustment: To move the riving knife left or right, parallel to the blade.
• Vertical Adjustment: To adjust the height of the riving knife relative to the blade.
• Tilt Adjustment: To ensure the riving knife is perfectly vertical (perpendicular to the table).

Step-by-Step Adjustment Process

1. Disconnect Power: ALWAYS unplug the saw from the power source before making any adjustments.
2. Loosen Fasteners: Locate and loosen the fasteners (usually screws or bolts) that control the lateral, vertical, and tilt adjustment points on the riving knife mounting bracket. Do not fully remove them.
3. Lateral Adjustment: Use a straight edge or feeler gauges to precisely position the riving knife parallel to the blade. Tighten the fasteners gradually, checking the alignment as you go. The gap should be minimal but should not allow the riving knife to contact the blade at any point. Typically, you want a gap of around 1/32".
4. Vertical Adjustment: Adjust the height of the riving knife so that it sits slightly below the top of the saw blade. This helps prevent the riving knife from interfering with the workpiece. Tighten the relevant fasteners.
5. Tilt Adjustment: Use a square or level to ensure the riving knife is perfectly vertical. Adjust as needed and tighten the fasteners.
6. Final Check: After tightening all fasteners, double-check the alignment using the methods described earlier.
7. Test Cut: Perform a test cut on a piece of scrap wood to verify that the adjustment is successful and that the saw operates smoothly and safely.

Troubleshooting Adjustment Issues

• Cannot Achieve Parallelism: Ensure the saw blade is properly aligned to the miter slot. If the blade is not parallel, adjusting the riving knife will be difficult.
• Riving Knife Bends: If the riving knife is bent or warped, it may be impossible to achieve perfect alignment. Consider replacing the riving knife.
• Fasteners Stripped: If the adjustment fasteners are stripped, they will not hold the riving knife in place. Replace the stripped fasteners.

Alright, folks, hopefully, you now have a much better handle on getting that delta unisaw riving knife perfectly dialed in. Trust me, taking the time to get it right is worth it for both safety and the quality of your projects. Happy woodworking!