Customer Reviews

NEW SEARS CRAFTSMAN HYBRID ZERO CLEARANCE INSERT by Peachtree Woodworking PW 946

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This insert is just what I needed, but with the Craftsman saw (and apparently some but not all others, according to the instructions) when you lower your saw blade all the way, it doesn't create enough vertical space to then lower down and safely screw in the insert.

Their suggestion is to install a smaller blade, use that to cut through the insert, then switch blades and cut the rest of the way through. A bit of a pain, but fine (assuming you have another 5/8" arbor, smaller-diameter blade hanging around). However, a small blade (at least the 3 I had on hand) has a thinner kerf, so my 10" blade still wouldn't poke through the insert.

So after removing some material with the small blade, I switched back to the 10", and I was forced to lock the back of the insert in (luckily it was a pin to keep it down) and slowly lower the front of the insert onto the spinning blade. This worked, but I hated doing something dangerous like that.

The manufacturer should simply form the insert with a recess in the back (like my regular factory insert has) so that all this is avoided.

I have not used a zero-clearance insert for years, and forgot that it creates ungodly amounts of sawdust in your face. It makes you appreciate the fact that most of that mess goes inside the saw under normal conditions. So be prepared for that!

Other than the above, the plate is great to have for minimizing tearout.