Symptoms
- Wood binds against the riving knife during cuts
- Riving knife visibly offset from the blade when viewed from above
- Kickback happens despite the knife being installed
- Knife rubs or drags on the wood
Likely causes
- CommonRiving knife bracket loosened or bumped out of positionThe mounting bracket can shift from vibration or being bumped.
- CommonWrong riving knife thickness for the blade installedRiving knives are matched to a specific kerf width; a mismatched one can bind or gap too much.
- PossibleRiving knife height not matched to blade heightThe knife should track just below the blade's top for most cuts.
What to do
- Unplug the saw before adjusting the riving knife.
- Confirm the riving knife's thickness matches the blade's kerf per the manual; using the wrong one is a common cause of binding.
- Loosen the mounting bracket and align the knife directly behind and in line with the blade, viewed from directly above.
- Adjust the height so the knife sits close to but not touching the top of the blade at its current height setting.
- Tighten the bracket firmly and spin the blade by hand to confirm there's no contact with the knife.
- Make a test rip cut in scrap to confirm the wood no longer binds against the knife.
Tools and parts
- Table saw
- Wrench for riving knife bracket
- Straightedge
Riving knife matched to blade kerfSearch: “table saw riving knife replacement”
When to call a pro
If the riving knife won't align properly with adjustment, a tool repair shop can check the mounting bracket for damage.
Safety
Use caution
Never remove the riving knife to work around a fit issue; it's a key kickback safety feature.