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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/wood-riving-knife-def

What does a riving knife on a table saw do?

It keeps the cut open so the wood cannot pinch the blade.

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  1. It collects sawdust from the blade
  2. It measures the blade angle
  3. It keeps the cut from pinching the blade ✔

Why: A riving knife is a curved steel plate right behind the blade. It stays inside the cut so the two halves of the board cannot squeeze the blade. Pinching is a leading cause of kickback.

Huh, didn't know that: SawStop's manual says the riving knife sits below the top of the blade, so it can stay on for rabbet and other non-through cuts.

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Why can't Christmas trees sew? They always drop their needles.
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References

Answer: It keeps the cut from pinching the blade. A riving knife is a curved steel plate right behind the blade. It stays inside the cut so the two halves of the board cannot squeeze the blade. Pinching is a leading cause of kickback.

  1. Rockler Table Saw Basics www.rockler.com/learn/table-saw-basics
    Riving knife: Crescent-shaped steel plate mounted immediately behind the blade.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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