Makita 2704N---Guard/Riving Knife.

timwilky · Post by **timwilky** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 9:56 am

Just joined and need to ask a question.

I recently purchased a Makita 2704N. So far, one thing is bugging me. The guard/riving knife.

They do not appear like what I have seen in videos etc. the guard is not easy to remove, a security torx bolt and nylock nut to remove the guard and then a plastic bar across the blade top. So the top of the riving knife is 2" above the top of the blade.

Now I am all for guards etc. But occasionally like when trying to use a sled they need to be removed. But this huge riving knife is just in the way. At max cut it means my sled needs 5" of clearance on the leading edge!

Is there an alternative riving knife / guard that can be easily fitted that is removable for sled use and does not exceed the blade height?

timwilky · Post by **timwilky** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 10:03 am

Blade lowered. Guard lifted to show plastic bar arrangement and overall hight of riving knife

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 10:09 am

I unbolted the riving knife and guard on my saw as soon as I bought it, it is a bottom end table saw, as the guard and riving knife were so limiting as to what I could do. I can hear the gasp as the elf and safety-conscious read this and think oooohh.....kick back, kick back.....danger..danger. When I rip any lengths I have a few wedges to hand and simply push them in the cut which stops pinch. Over the years the only kick back I got was cutting a poxy bit of hardboard and not taking care. I guess it is whether you feel wedging is as safe as a riving knife?

DWD

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 10:25 am

I had the use of a huge (3hp motor) old table saw for ten years, and used it a lot, it never had a riving knife on it in all that time. I had two brief fights with it, and lost them both. (I do still have all of my bits though). I wouldn't use one with a riving knife, they're just a pita.

fin · Post by **fin** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 10:04 pm

recently i needed to remove the guard and riving knife on my dewalt table saw. i actually had to watch a vid on you tube to work out how to get the thing off. the dewalt flex volt table saw has a much simpler set up. maybe worth a check up to see if there is any vids on youtube

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Mon Apr 12, 2021 10:57 pm

the great thing about the flexvolt is it comes with both a through cut riving knife which allows higher than blade passes without crown guard set with short riving knife perhaps 3mm below blade top reducing the 2 safety functions down to one whilst not complying fully with health and safety as a nod to maximum safety for those who choose not to pay attention [like me

]
but also has the same setup but with a longer riving knife with a crown gaurd attached on top providing the full protection required in industrial use and a very quickly and easily changed over

fin · Post by **fin** » Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:07 am

the flex volt one is mint like. my 110v saw shuts down if i rip say a 3m long 4x2 or whatever. my mates flex volt will do it all day long.

dublove · Post by **dublove** » Sun Apr 25, 2021 5:47 pm

You've got the newest version of the 2704. With the latest "EU dictated don't hurt yourself' safety improvements etc etc.

Get yourself to L&S engineers website and purchase 2x of these: (search it) "makita riving knife-2704-345530-7" Cheap as chips!
Get that silly new style guard holder whipped off, and use the one of the original style riving knife plates for normal use with the blue plastic blade guard you already got. As you will see it attaches on just fine.
Take the second new fiving knife, mark out a curve on the back and cut it. This will then be like a traditional splitter riving knife that sits just below the top of the blade teeth allowing you to make through cuts.
Like this here:

It is simply amazing that the new safety features and regulations create a situation where most people will not bother to do this, and will simply remove the new style guard and riving plate. NUTS...

Chippo1 · Post by **Chippo1** » Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:08 am

My older Dewalt 746 table saw just has a riving knife , it’s on 99% of the time but is very easy to remove for dado slots , as the knife is fixed via a slot, loosen the two M6 bolts and it’s off. Also as just a knife it does not project above top of a 10” blade so not normally a problem , keep thinking it would be nice to have a guard as well with a dust extraction port.

A riving knife needs to be accurately located re blade , mine wasent when I got the saw ( 2nd hand ) would often catch the work peice , adjusted and a better knife ground on front so work peice slipped easily past the knife.

dublove · Post by **dublove** » Tue Apr 27, 2021 5:49 pm

Dado slots - naughty boy!!!

Chippo1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:08 am My older Dewalt 746 table saw just has a riving knife , it’s on 99% of the time but is very easy to remove for dado slots , as the knife is fixed via a slot, loosen the two M6 bolts and it’s off. Also as just a knife it does not project above top of a 10” blade so not normally a problem , keep thinking it would be nice to have a guard as well with a dust extraction port.

A riving knife needs to be accurately located re blade , mine wasent when I got the saw ( 2nd hand ) would often catch the work peice , adjusted and a better knife ground on front so work peice slipped easily past the knife.

BALDRIG · Post by **BALDRIG** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 4:59 pm

timwilky, Hi. I have the same problem. How did you get over it?

moderator2 · Post by **moderator2** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 6:15 pm

BALDRIG wrote: ↑Tue Oct 04, 2022 4:59 pm timwilky, Hi. I have the same problem. How did you get over it?

OP hasn't been back. since 13th of April 2021. Probably better to start your own thread and put a link to this one.