Who needs a Riving Knife?

[Jalvis]

Odd that some of you think a riving knife is important based on the designed purpose of a riving knife and the availability of the saw with the option.

Mafell is a smart and creditable tool maker yet decided to produce its latest saw without a Riving knife.  Mafell is a german company serving the european market and due to this latest change in Mafell's MT 55 the question of 'need' has arisen.    

The MT 55 is not just for crosscuts and is evident from the video's posted above as well as the accessories offered.  Everyone knows a Riving knife is suppose to help lesson binding in solid wood but that doesn't mean its a necessary option for a track saw.  

The KSP 55 has a riving knife but doesn't have the same options as the MT 55.  Get the riving knife but sacrifice the other options.

 

[jmbfestool]

I dont know about the MT55 not used one but I know the TS55 is far to weak to kick back/up.   So even if it didnt have a riving knife it wouldnt bother me!   I have had to blade bind one me and stop dead I could easily hold the saw with one hand and it doesnt have enough power to kick back.    My makita which is only a little saw does have some kick and I do make sure I have a good firm hold when I think it might jump back at me.

JMB

 

[windmill man]

Odd that some of you think a riving knife is important based on the designed purpose of a riving knife and the availability of the saw with the option.

Mafell is a smart and creditable tool maker yet decided to produce its latest saw without a Riving knife.  Mafell is a german company serving the european market and due to this latest change in Mafell's MT 55 the question of 'need' has arisen.   

The MT 55 is not just for crosscuts and is evident from the video's posted above as well as the accessories offered.  Everyone knows a Riving knife is suppose to help lesson binding in solid wood but that doesn't mean its a necessary option for a track saw. 

The KSP 55 has a riving knife but doesn't have the same options as the MT 55.  Get the riving knife but sacrifice the other options.

What Video?

"Everyone knows a Riving knife is suppose to help lesson binding in solid wood"

No .. If its correctly sized and installed it prevents it .

Ask Mafell why they  have not put one on the MT  . I have no clue.

I have had a MT55 on loan for a month. , a while back, loved the saw . It has many feature that hopefully the next generation TS55 will have.

Would I buy one ......NO...... why ?  Its got no riving knife!

JMB get your 55 back to TTS because mine has the power to kick back and have a battle scarred rail to prove it. You put those riving knives back on your saws?

John [smile]

 

[Corwin]

Yeah, all this talk about the TS55 not having enough power to kick back is rubbish.  Simply rubbish.  [tongue]

 

[jmbfestool]

Odd that some of you think a riving knife is important based on the designed purpose of a riving knife and the availability of the saw with the option.

Mafell is a smart and creditable tool maker yet decided to produce its latest saw without a Riving knife.  Mafell is a german company serving the european market and due to this latest change in Mafell's MT 55 the question of 'need' has arisen.    

The MT 55 is not just for crosscuts and is evident from the video's posted above as well as the accessories offered.  Everyone knows a Riving knife is suppose to help lesson binding in solid wood but that doesn't mean its a necessary option for a track saw.  

The KSP 55 has a riving knife but doesn't have the same options as the MT 55.  Get the riving knife but sacrifice the other options.

What Video?

"Everyone knows a Riving knife is suppose to help lesson binding in solid wood"

No .. If its correctly sized and installed it prevents it .

Ask Mafell why they  have not put one on the MT  . I have no clue.

I have had a MT55 on loan for a month. , a while back, loved the saw . It has many feature that hopefully the next generation TS55 will have.

Would I buy one ......NO...... why ?   Its got no riving knife!

JMB get your 55 back to TTS because mine has the power to kick back and have a battle scarred rail to prove it. You put those riving knives back on your saws?

John [smile]

I have a battle scare on mine but that was due to the fact I placed my saw onto the rail not noticing the cable was siting underneath between the rail and saw and as I started the saw and plunged it cut into the rail!   About the power  Well it cuts fine and I often cut 2x  18mm sheets at the same time no trouble at all.  Saws I have used in the past when they jam they kick hard  the TS55 is just a little nudge well mine just gives me a nudge.  

JMB

 

 

[neth27]

I dont know about the MT55 not used one but I know the TS55 is far to weak to kick back/up.   So even if it didnt have a riving knife it would bother me!   I have had to blade bind one me and stop dead I could easily hold the saw with one hand and it doesnt have enough power to kick back.    My makita which is only a little saw does have some kick and I do make sure I have a good firm hold when I think it might jump back at me.

JMB

I agree it does not have the power to kick back, it can easily be held..

John...

 

[jmbfestool]

Yeah, all this talk about the TS55 not having enough power to kick back is rubbish.  Simply rubbish.   [tongue]

Umm it aint rubbish it does not have enough power.    Unless if your dreaming of some new tools and not keeping your full attention on the tools only then does the TS have the power to kick back cus ur not holding it firm enough.   

The only kick back I have not been able to hold on a  TS  is the TS 75 and that made me jump and got me heart going for a sec! 

JMB

 

[Deansocial]

it quite funny that people have battle scars on thieir rails

 

[fezza]

Its not just me then, mine are well and truly battle scarred.

 

[windmill man]

Did my rail when plunge cutting along grain into 40mm engineered beech work top  , using a panther blade.  Riving knife had not dropped into kerf. Kerf closed , next thing scarred rail.  Got to agree the 75 can bite , first time it did it on me, ended up with lumpy underwear syndrome [eek]

 

[Deansocial]

Did my rail when plunge cutting along grain into 40mm engineered beech work top  , using a panther blade.  Riving knife had not dropped into kerf. Kerf closed , next thing scarred rail.  Got to agree the 75 can bite , first time it did it on me, ended up with lumpy underwear syndrome [eek]

maybe thats the reason. a riving knife should be a tiny bit thicker than the blade. it wont drop into a cut its in the middle of a board

 

[windmill man]

Evening Dean,

No , a riving knife should be the same size or just a tad under the width of the tooth but never the same thickness or less than the plate that makes up the body of the blade.

When you plunge with the TS`s the first vertical plunge is blade only . It`s only when you start to move forward does the knife drop in.

John

 

[Deansocial]

when ripping thicker stuff i have found it much safer to just have a wedge in my other hand to shove in the cut at the start of the cut

 

[windmill man]

Got to agree, that`s old school, especially if you are ripping wild grain timber or as you say thick stock [smile]

 

[Jalvis]

Windmill Man,
Sorry...I added the videos to the original post.  I started a similar topic on the JLC website and I posted videos to that thread.

Thanks for your posting!  Your experience and opinion with the MT 55 and TS 55 are exactly what I'm looking for.  I just can get my mind around why Mafell would choose not to have a riving knife.  My only thoughts are that they dont see a need.

Although its evident that there is a need from everyones posts.  Although I like Deansocial's practice of using a wedge....the old school methods seems to work best.

 

[windmill man]

Jalvis,

I can not  understand why they have omitted the riving knife from the MT, if they had not i would have swapped the Ts for one with out a second thought. The Mt is a very well made , high quality , well designed and powerful saw. the motor is a powerhouse  and as mentioned has features I hope festool take on board and better in the next generation TS saws.  They have in my opinion dropped the ball on this one, by not having a riving knife, even though they have sprung loaded knives on other models. I have a little 300 with flex rail that is magic. It has a sprung knife. I just dont get it.

In my opinion ALL circular saw should have a riving knife ,apart from dedicated cross cut trim saws.  Riving knives save people from injuries. Some people may say that if the saw is primarily designed for use with man made board , there is no need for the knife, as man made boards are homogeneous and don't have the same tension as natural timber. Well that's rubbish to.  I have had ply , mdf , mfc, block board and fibre board all close up on the kerf,(you get this with poor material manufacture and poor storage of the boards. )

These are only my opinions based on 30 plus years in the wood trades and after seeing too many serious accidents that may not have happened if a splitter was in place.

John

 

[AlexThePalex]

The video below gives a demonstration of the Mafell MT55. I think the reason they ommited the riving knife might be because of its blade change mechanism. The hull of the blade hinges open and one hinge is right in the place of the riving knife.

Mafell MT55 Demonstration.

 

[Jalvis]

I would gladly give up the door blade change for a Riving Knife.....Even though I think the Door is a good idea.

 

[Nigel]

Even if your not worried about kickback a riving knife is essential to avoid binding sapping power, especially on the TS55!

Why have the saw drag in the cut?

 

[jmbfestool]

Well my verdict is...............

A regular saw should have a riving knife especially a powerful one! Because the blade stays exposed making it dangerous  

A plunge saw does not have to have one! Well clearly not seen as Maffel are happy not to put one on. I think this is mainly because if the saw was to bind and kick up by the time it gets close to your body it would of retracted it self inside its casing so to blade wouldnt be exposed long enough to cause your serious harm.

JMB