On Guard!

[barb.j.enders]

I have a DeWalt 788 and, as I think every one here has done, I have removed the upper hold down.  I have finally gotten around to replacing the blade clamps with my Pegas clamps.  As I was doing so, the black vertical "guard" under the table was getting in the way.  What is it's purpose and has anyone removed it? 

[dgman]

It is a guard to keep your hand

away from a moving blade under the table. It is the second thing to remove from a DeWalt scroll saw. The first being the hold down foot. 

[Wooden Lace]

I don't actually remove them....just bend the crap out of them so they point kind of sideways.  Then it's in the perfect position to hold a small plastic tube that's connected to the shop vac for dust collection.  It points right up under the table toward the hole.  Connects by a Y connector to the one on the top of the table.  That way, both top and bottom of the table get ALL the sawdust pulled away, and I don't have to breathe any of it.  Kind of my version of a Scrollnado.

[Rockytime]

That's thinking out of the box. You did great!

[CharleyL]

My guard is also my vac hose support. I zip tied the vac hose to it.

Charley

[Newsawontheblock]

I removed the blade guard from my saw as well. 

It was always getting in the way!

[heppnerguy]

I never found it to be a problem. If fact for me, it was like it did not even exist. I did, of course remove the upper hold down piece, that is a given

Dick

heppnerguy