Aligning the Riving Knife - Overview with Example

This is an example photo to demonstrate a riving knife that is out of alignment and how to fix it. In the example, the alignment issue is due to the screws closest to the blade not being screwed in enough causing a narrower gap on one side of the riving knife bracket. On the opposite side, there is a wider gap because those screws are threaded in more. The below photo summarizes what must be done and the next photos demonstrate the issue and what can be done to correct it.

The next two photos demonstrate the issue where the riving knife is angled to the right of the blade. There is a visible gap between the straight edge and the teeth of the blade on both sides displaying the misalignment and the goal is to close this gap so that the riving knife is centered to the teeth.

Likewise, the opposite side also has the gap indicating the blade is angled to the right too much and is out of alignment.

1. To fix this, loosen both the upper and lower cap screws in the center of the bracket (highlighted in green in Fig. 27 diagram) and then slightly loosen both the upper and lower set screws on the side shown in the photo at the rear of the bracket(facing from the front of the saw) so that there is no tension on them and leave them slightly loose until finishing adjusting the upper and lower set screws at the front of the bracket (closest to the blade) in the next step.

2. Then tighten both the upper and lower set screws a quarter to half turn to widen the gap that was previously more narrow and check with a straight edge to see if the riving knife is starting to straighten out with the teeth of the blade. 

3. Once it appears aligned with the straight edge against the riving knife and the teeth of the blade, check both sides to side if there is a bigger gap on one side or the other with the goal of getting the knife as centered as possible. 

4. If you go a little too far in tightening the set screws in step 2. then the riving knife should now have a bit too much of a gap on the opposite side and this can be fixed by backing the set screws closest to the blade out about an 1/8th to a 1/4 turn counter-clockwise. Minor adjustments are better with this and be sure to check with a straight edge after each minor adjustment. 

Now it is aligned and you can see from both photos that the knife is now centered with the teeth of the blade. 

5. Now that the riving knife is aligned, tight the upper and lower cap screws in the center of the mounting bracket that were loosened in step 1. (highlighted in green in Fig. 27 diagram) and then check again that the riving knife is still aligned with the blade. 

This completes the adjustments and the riving knife should now be aligned with the blade.