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SLAG HEAP

WARNING! Modifying your power tools can lead to serious injury or even death! Do not attempt to bypass or disable factory installed safety devices. This article is published for informational purposes only. The author of this article assumes no liability or fault for any person or persons who attempt the following actions. Performing these operations WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY and as such I do NOT recommend that you attempt them. Using power tools is inherently dangerous. Do not use any power tool without reading and fully understanding the user's manual.

  The Ryobi BT3100 comes equipped with several federaly mandated safety devices, one of which is a pair of anti-kickback pawls. In the top picture, at the back of the fence, the two black "wing" shaped pieces are the pawls. The idea behind these is that if the saw begins to "kick back", the pawls will be pulled down and into the board, thereby preventing the blade from lifting the board further, or throwing it back. The only thing they ever stopped on my saw was a decent scuff-free finish on melamine sheets. I have even heard of other users having boards gouged by the pawls when they were "activated" by a kickback.

I, being both foolish and handy with tools, decided that it was worth the risk of an occasional kickback to preserve the finish on my lumber products. I gently pried off the retaining washer, pulled out the pin, removed the pawls, and replaced them with a pair of washers on either side. After replacing the pin, I squashed the retaining washer back on, and voila! Pawl-free blade guard.

I can't stress enough that this is something YOU have to decide to do. I am not a professional woodworker, nor a safety consultant for OSHA or anything like that, so don't run out and start prying the safeties off of all of your tools just because you saw it here.