kapex blade guard stuck

[Foghat]

Hi,
I've been cutting some 1x2s into small pieces for kids to play with. I had a block clamped on the right side of the blade as a stop to make numerous pieces the same length. After a cut, I hold the blade down til it stops, but sometimes the cut piece jumps out.
One piece splintered and flew up along the blade into the housing. I got the pieces out, but now when I start the blade spinning and go to plunge down and cut, the clear blade guard won't retract.
Any ideas how to fix this?
Thanks.
John

 

[ChuckM]

I don't have an answer to your blade guard problem, but if I understand your description correctly, you were making cuts with the danger of kick backs. The small pieces could bind between the stop and the blade.

Consider making and installing this kind of stop block (as shown in the attached photos) on the right side of the fence and lift up the arm before you cut.

 

[Foghat]

thanks, Chuck.
That's a handy little gizmo you have there. I will look into it. I think the problem is when I push a piece up against a stop block, the blade cuts the wood, and the free piece has such a tight tolerance it kicks out. I see that this gizmo could prevent that.
thanks.

 

[Bohdan]

There is a guard lifting arm that has a bearing running in channel on the RHS of the guard. If it has popped out of the channel it won't lift.

This is visible when you remove the blade.

If it is out you should be able to pop it into position by loosening the three screws around the blade arbour.

 

[Cheese]

That's a very dangerous condition when using either a miter saw or table saw. If the cut-off decides to move...there's just no where for it to go without something bad happening to the equipment or the operator or both. [crying]

When I need to cut small pieces of wood the same length, I'll clamp a piece of wood to the Kapex base using the RH hold down and then insert a shim between the clamped down wood and the wood I want to cut. You must remove the shim and then make the cut. That way if the cut-off moves, it has some room.

The sequence of photos below reflect this procedure. Make sure that you REMOVE the shim EVERYTIME you make a cut.  [big grin]

 

[Foghat]

I did see that bearing on the RH side that lifts the guard. The problem is that it pops off when the guard has just started moving and closes it off again. It's not staying in place.

 

[Bohdan]

If that bearing is not staying in the groove then the thin shaft that it is mounted on may be bent. If you remove the guard completely you will be able to inspect the shaft.

Be careful removing the guard as there is a spring attacted to it that can be a real PITA to reconnect to its top mount, the bottom one is easy by comparison.