Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 27, 2003 01:05am | #1

   I have the Merlin on my old Jet contractor saw and like it.  What did you mean when you stated the Merlin "only works with thin kerf blades"?  For some reason, that doesn't quite compute for me.

   The only complaint I've heard about the Merlin is a hassle when ripping at 45 degrees.  I guess there can be some interference between the splitter (underneath the table?) and the saw.  I haven't messed around to see if it happens on my saw. 

   forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)  you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)

1. 
   alexlisa | Dec 27, 2003 03:52am | #2

   The blerb in the Woodcraft catalog says "Designed to accomodate the newer thin kerf sawblades, the Merlin splitter is only .075" thick." Wouldn't using an 1/8" blade defeat the purpose, allowing the wood to pull away from the fence by 1/32" or so? Is that enough to cause kickback? It's at least enough to yield a lousy cut. I switched to a thin kerf Freud blade for ripping because the 1/8" blades were bogging down in thick stock. I found the other thread going on this subject, sounds like the Merlin is the way to go for thin kerf blades. The Biesemeyer website specifically says "not for thin kerf blades".

1. 
   Ricky_Yu | Dec 27, 2003 01:15pm | #3

   I hope I'm not jumping in unwarranted as your previous post was addressed to fg, so apologies in advance. I don't have personal experience with the Merlin Splitter (so Jamie let me know if I'm off-base), but if it works like other splitters, than you only need to align the right side of the splitter to the right side of the saw blade, assuming the fence is positioned to the right of the blade and splitter. So with a .075" thick splitter and a .100" thin-kerf blade, a cut will have 0 clearence to the right of the splitter and .025" clearence to the left of the splitter. A blade will work with a splitter as long as the blade is thicker than the splitter. This is probably why the Biesmeyer will only work with standard-kerf blades or thicker as the splitter is thicker than thin-kerf blades.

2. 
   forestgirl | Dec 29, 2003 12:41am | #5

   q-sawn, sorry I'm late.  Took yesterday off to get married!  [more on this later]  I think Ricky is right in his post.  The main physical cause of KB is the "pinching" of the blade by the wood being sawed.  Remember, too, you'll have the anti-kickback pawls working concurrently with the splitter.  The Merlin comes with instructions on how to align it.  Mine has been good about staying in alignment, too, which is a welcome change from the stock splitter.forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)  you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)

1. 
   alexlisa | Jan 01, 2004 06:06am | #12

   Congratulations, Forest Girl. All the best to you and yours.  I hadn't thought about biasing the splitter to the right side of the blade, which makes perfect sense. As long as the wood stays tight to the fence, no KB. I am going to shop around a little to try to find something closer to that $70 pricetag!

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 01, 2004 09:48pm | #13

   Thanks!

   "As long as the wood stays tight to the fence, no KB."  This statement makes me a tad nervous, so a couple cautionary notes here.  Please keep in mind that it's not the splitter's job to keep the wood tight to the fence.  Also, you can get kickback even when the wood is "tight to the fence."  Most notably, when a piece of stock with internal tension pinches the blade after being cut.

   forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)  you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)

   Edited 1/1/2004 1:49:24 PM ET by forestgirl

2. 
   meikj | Dec 27, 2003 07:51pm | #4

   I just ordered the Merlin from amazon.com - on sale for $99. I looked at this and the Biesemeyer, and wound up choosing the Merlin - I also have several thin kerf blades that I wouldn't want to give up/replace. Can't comment on how well the splitter works, as it won't arrive for a week or two - but thought you might be interested in the sale price.

   John

1. 
   chillywilly | Feb 25, 2004 11:08pm | #14

   How's the splitter working out for you?  Getting ready to purchase on and it's a tossup between Merlin and Biesemeyer for me.

   Is it convenient to remove/put back?

   Does it stay aligned?

   Does it prevent kickback?

   How's it perform at different angles...especially 45 degrees.

1. 
   meikj | Feb 27, 2004 02:31am | #15

   Ron,

   Got the splitter a while ago, and installed it with only minimal problems. (The box came with two bolts that were the wrong size, so I reused the bolts that held on the original splitter bracket. Didn't even bother to call excalibur about it). The quality and fit and finish are very good, and the instructions clear.

   The installation and alignment was quick. I am using it with a zero clearance insert, and had to file out a little more clearance in the insert as the Merlin sticks "forward" a little farther.

   I had seen previous discussions that seemed to indicate that the splitter is dangerously close to the blade when the blade is raised all of the way, but I don't see this at all.

   It is very convenient to remove and replace. I didn't put a hole in my insert, but just lift the insert up to press the quick release on the splitter. I was initially concerned about being able to remove the splitter completely from the saw (I pictured it as just swinging back out of the way but still being attached to the back of the saw), but it can be completely lifted off of the saw very easily.

   So, to answer your questions:

   1. Very convenient to remove/put back.

   2. It seems to stay aligned well.

   3. I hope it will prevent kickback, but I haven't really tested that!

   4. So far, I have only used it with the saw at 90 degrees with a zero clearance insert. It does track smoothly as you tilt it, as it is attached the same way the factory splitter is attached, but other than testing out the tilting, I haven't cut anything that way.

   Further disclaimer - I got this installed just before the winter really set in and the shop got to be too cold to work in. So I haven't used it extensively.

   I would purchase it again. I'm also thinking of making my own special use splitters that would snap in to the Merlin receptacle, i.e. a low one with no pawls that I could use with a sled, etc.

   Hope this helps!

   John

3. 
   Mackwood | Dec 30, 2003 07:40am | #6

   q-sawn,

   Bought the Merlin at Rockler last month, on sale for less than $70.00 (+tax).  I plan to try the thin kerf option on my old 1 1/2 HP unisaw.  If it doesn't work out, I'll figure out some way to "thicken" the splitter. Maybe take it apart and rivet (solid rivets) a plate on it.  Maybe as simple as some metalic tape to build up the edge.  Haven't even seen the Bies. splitter but for me the price was right so I grabbed the Merlin.  Enjoy.

   Mack

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 30, 2003 07:55pm | #7

   Mack, that's exactly how I ended up with a Merlin.  Took one of my rare trips (car-on-ferry, expensive) to Rockler several months ago and the sale sign caught my eye.  It was a bit of a gamble, because they don't make one specifically for my saw, but managed to make it fit. forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)  you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)

1. 
   Mackwood | Dec 30, 2003 11:07pm | #8

   The one I bought was designed for Unisaw and Jet but the Jet was a specific model #.  I just put it on my restored "new" Unisaw and haven't used it yet.  Confidence is high!  Enjoy! Congrats again on your wedding!

   Mack

1. 
   Mackwood | Dec 31, 2003 05:00am | #9

   I happened to stop at Rockler this afternoon.  The store down on Stone Way in Seattle.  They have the Merlin splitter priced @ $109.99 but then 70% off!  The model they have (at least 3 units that I saw) is for a Jet something 250 and General International right tilt.  That would be less than $40!  Heck of a buy if you're in the area, have that type of saw and need a splitter.

   Happy New Year!

   Mack

1. 
   forestgirl | Dec 31, 2003 10:11am | #10

   70% off??????  Wow!  That is the store where I bought mine last summer.  I guess their first sale didn't clear the items out, eh?forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)  you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)

2. 
   Mackwood | Dec 31, 2003 08:28pm | #11

   Yeah, they have a number of items marked at 70% off.  Mostly gadgets, Sorby Universal Sharpening Jig is one I recall other than the splitter.  I went there for the thin kerf rip blade (other thread).  Lots of stuff 2 for 1 also.  Might even be worth a trip there if you have Christmas money burning a hole in your pocket!  Happy New Year!

   Mack