THE BEST Table Saw Zero Clearance Insert - Colliflower ZCI

In this episode of Today’s Craftsmen Jeff shows you an absolute must-have table saw upgrade. A zero clearance insert provides you with superior cuts and increased safety. This throat plate manufactured by Colliflower LLC is a high quality, made in USA, replacement that is available for many different tablesaws and miter saws. We hope you enjoy!

Check out our podcast: The American Craftsman Podcast

[pepper]

Love this tip! I have same setup but have forgotten how to cut for riving knife. Thanks again

[sapelesteve]

Excellent video Jeff! I think that the insert that comes with the saw is made that way to allow for dust collection. I make my own inserts as needed. 👍👍

[Woodworking]

Super clever idea. I made my own design on a CNC with a lot of back and forth, but now it’s perfect. This is definitely the SECOND best option 😊

[larryk]

I have a Grizzly cabinet saw and make my own zero clearance plates using half inch MDF, but I've always wondered how to make them to allow for the riving knife. Excellent tip! Thanks.

[jamiemajerick]

I have one on my miter saw and I do love it. I didn’t realize they make inserts for other tools. Now off to browses their website. Thank you again for the video. 😊

[ericklodnicki]

Great info, love the regular uploads now. Great job guys. 🎯

Question/comment:
. Could be that they don't ship with zero clearance because it ends up sacrificing the dust collection effectiveness around the blade I find. The stock plate provides the zero clearance on the down cut of the blade and maybe they don't see the necessity of providing zero clearance on the back of the blade at the point of upcut? Your point about narrow stock being a dangerous cut is absolutely a consideration though
. Hearing that they make plates for miter saws as well I think is going to send me shopping online this weekend!
Keep up the great work. 👊

[cjsawinski]

I just make my own out of scrap mdf/plywood, and even sometimes hardwood. I bought my cabinet saw used and it came with an aftermarket zero clearance plate (and some blades). So I just used that plate as a template and made a small handful of my own one day. Since I have a stack of them ready to go I just through them away when they get worn out.

[timzeller]

Thank you for the information. As always, thank you support for the woodworking industry.

[andrewbrown]

Great video, Jeff~! I looked at one of these for my SawStop PCS a few years ago, but it seemed like the throat plate was the only part ever in stock...not the inserts. I like the new material, so I'll look again at getting this accessory. Making multiple full-sized throat plates is kind of a pain. Did it with my old Craftsman table saw (pre-SawStop) and I don't plan on doing that again.
Thanks~!

[williamellis]

Great info, Jeff. I'll have to see if they make one for my old Jet saw.
Bill

[jaykepley]

Nice video. I'm enjoying all your videos. 👏🖖

[eatdrinkwineguy]

That’s great. I’m so sick Of cutting my own. Wish I could buy them for my machine.

[sethhamilton]

Saw Stop sells blanks if you like the clasp and levelers.

[fredmorady]

I gather you don't use the overhead dust collection accessory that SawStop sells. Do you not find that a lot of dust shoots back when ripping? Thanks for all of the great info you provide.

[Maker_of_fine_sawdust]

Does the Colliflower insert widen with bevel cuts or does it stay nice and tight?

[rickm]

You mentioned the old metal plate could be problematic. Have you ever had a false trigger of the safety system using the metal insert?

[atomictyler]

couldn't you just flip the whole thing length wise? front at the back and back at the front, but it'll be upside down.