Customer Reviews

Biesemeyer 78-963 T-Square Anti-Kickback Snap-In Spreader for Delta Contractors Table Saw

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Yes, it's true it doesn't work with thin kerf blades, but if you use a 1/8" most of the time, this works fantastic, you can take it out and run the thin-kerf, and snap it back in so easily, it painless. You know you should use a splitter to avoid kickback, this splitter snaps in/out faster than you can replace the insert. Before, the Delta splitter was such a pain to put on/off, switching between dado sets and through cuts I never used it. When I want to use a thin kerf rip, I just snap it off too, since I'm going to change the zero-clearance table insert anyway, this takes no extra time.

If you do use zero-clearance inserts, you'll need to make a cut for the splitter to fit.

Safety is so important around woodworking machines. It isfrustrating at times two work with some of the safety devices thatcome with power tools. The Biesemeyer78-936 anti-kickback device is one safety device that is great to use and work with. I installed it and aligned it, within 20 minutes and it's not in my way at all. When I do have to remove it, that takes all of about 5 seconds. Too bad they just don't come standard with the table saws! It's a bit costly but if you want something that really does the job, this is it! A safety device that is not frustrating to use, is one that gets used.

I bought this splitter a few years ago after finding that my Delta Unisaw's splitter wouldn't work with an outfeed table I made. Installing it was a real pain. I'm short and couldn't reach the bolt from the outside of the saw while trying to tighten the bolts by reaching into the throat. With some help from my husband, I finally got the bracket adjusted. However, I had to remove the blade several times to do this. For the past several months I've had problems with curved rip cuts and finally determined that the splitter was bent and was pulling the board away from the fence. I tried several times to straighten the splitter, but could never get it perfectly straight. I looked into buying a new Biesemeyer splitter, but the cost was ridiculous, so I started looking online for alternatives. I came upon Lee Styron's website. He makes splitters for several types of saws and had one that would fit into my Biesemeyer bracket. He suggested I only buy the thin kerf version, which can be used with 1/8" and thin kerf blades. I received a set of three splitters (short, medium, and tall), along with pawls for less that it would cost for a Biesemeyer splitter replacement. After installing one of the splitters, I got my first straight cut in ages. If you already have a Biesemeyer bracket and want to use thin kerf blades, check out Lee Styron's website, [...] and click on Shark Guard. They work! It still amazes me that Biesemeyer charges so much for their cheaply made splitters. Maybe they want us to buy the new Delta Unisaw??

I bought this from CPO and it's a nice unit. Problem is that the CPO and Amazon sites don't explain that this is Right Tilt only so I can't use it. The CPO site says the 963 is for contractor saws, and that may be, but it is not for Left Tilt contractor saws like my 36-979.

Talked to Delta looking for the right part number, and it appears with all the merger activity their inventory systems are a mess, and they can't even identify which part number you need for a Left Tilt spreader. Actual production of the correct one shouldn't take very much. They would need to machine one part of the bracket a bit different, so I have to believe that at some point someone did that, but it doesn't seem to be available.

If someone knows the answer, post it so we all know.

I bought it...but wish that I didn't. The base metal is soft and bends very easily. I found it impossible to get it aligned with my thick kerf blade. I messed around with it way too long. It caused binding between my saw and fence since it was slightly leaning to the right. The bracket could not adjust it based on the pivot area. The anti-kickback pawls would catch in the standard Delta Unisaw insert slot, so use a zero clearance with this product. The bracket attachment slot needed to be filed for it to release with the pull-pin, there was about .005" of interference right from the factory. The attachment scheme is weak in design, it requires several washers to be mounted. Don't waste your money or time. Buy a bearing-buddy or similar and make sure that your fence is parallel to your blade - this is most important. Amazon does have the best price.

What a disappointment! After a long, frustrating process, the product is installed and works but is over priced and quality control is virtually non-existent.

First, the hardware package was incomplete with one of the hold down bolts missing. Then the splitter wouldn't insert into the holder due to improper adjustment of the pin that holds the splitter. Correcting this is very difficult because the assembly is a plastic knob on a threaded rod put together with RED locktite. Adjusting the knob without breaking it is a real challenge. With this fixed, it turns out that the bolts won't go through the hold down bracket because the holes weren't deburred. At least this is relatively easy to fix.

Now, the big problem: After the bracket was installed and the splitter blade inserted in the bracket, I measured the distance to the miter slot and found the splitter blade was skewed .040 inch front to back. I took everything apart (about the 10th time) and found the bracket improperly machined. About an hour with a file and several test fits later the splitter blade is now in line with the saw blade.

It may be charitable to give this product two stars. Ultimately it works but only after a huge investment of time and effort. And, did I mention, it is grossly overpriced. Even if they had put the right parts in the box and machined it correctly, it is worth about a third of what I paid for it.

It's a shame that there's no alternative to this mediocre Delta/Biesemeyer product

I like the easy of removing the snap in spreader once installed. I had to enlongate the mounting holes slightly as it did not line up with my saw. I did this with much anxiety as the cost is excessive and I was hoping it would not be ruined. It does work fine although any sideward movement on the outboard outfeed eaisly bent the kick back paws. I had to bend it back into the original position.

An easy install it only took me about 15 minutes. I suppose that is because I have the contractor saw and can reach the bolts from underneath. It works great, wish I had one sooner and probably would have if they were not so pricy.

Biesemeyer stuffed the wrong spreader in the box first go around but Amazon got the correct one to me pretty fast. Good job Amazon!

I rated this four stars because of the price and the fact the first one was a foul up by Biesemeyer.

I love the idea of a snap in splitter! I've been using my snap-in spreader for about two months now. The splitter is slightly wider than an 1/8th of an inch. When the kerf contacts the splitter it can get hard to push the wood through. I finally had it with this splitter when I was ripping a piece of 12/4 Cherry and it got stuck on the splitter, much like an ax in wood. I had to stop the saw and whack the wood off the splitter. I finally called Biesemeyer, they said that it should be an 1/8th inch thick, they're sending a replacement. It is definitely not for a thin kerf blade. As for my blade, its an 1/8th inch Tenryu (I wanted to be different and got this blade over a Forrest) that cuts exactly 1/8th inch kerfs. I'll follow-up when the replacement arrives

PRODUCT IS VERY WELL CONSTRUCTED. IT ACCOMPLISHES THE FUNCTION THAT I PURCHASED IT FOR. IT IS USED IN CONJUCTION WITH AN EXCALIBUR OVERHEAD BLADE GUARD AND DUST COLLECTION UNIT. IT COMPIMENTS THE EXCALIBAR UNIT VERY WELL. AS A BONUS IT IS VERY EASY TO REMOVE. WHEN MOUNTED ON THE TABLE IT TAKES UP VERY LITTLE SPACE, WHILE ASSURING THE USER A HIGH DEGREE OF SAFETY.

ONE WOULD NOTE THAT IT IS A VERY GOOD UNIT BUT SEEMINGLY A LITTLE PRICY FOR ITS SIZE.