Bosch 4100DG-09 Table Saw San Francisco CA

Source: TOOLS OF THE TRADE Magazine
Publication date: November 28, 2007

Prepare for a major change in portable table saws. During the last few years, tool manufacturers have banded together to produce a new guard system for these saws, and Bosch is the first company to market it, on its new 4100 series saws. Trust me, this new system will change how we work.

Carpenters usually remove their saw guard units and even throw them out. They can't use the splitter for rabbet cuts, the guard for narrow rips, or the pawls for cutting pre-finished material, but since these components are part of one assembly, the whole thing must be removed. The plastic guards easily become scratched and impossible to see through, and on top of that, most saw guards are difficult to remove and re-install. The new Smart Guard system promises to change all that with its modular components that can be attached or removed independently, and without any tools. This change is good, because safety and craftsmanship go hand in hand, and it will also please insurance companies, OSHA, and attorneys. A large percentage of jobsite accidents occur on table saws, and most of those could be prevented by using a guard system.

The Splitter. The heart of the system is the splitter, which keeps the kerf from closing and pinching the rear teeth of the saw blade. In the past, it's been a major headache to install the splitter, let alone adjust its alignment so it doesn't bind during cutting.

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