Freud SC-001 3-1/2-Inch Blade Stabilizer with 5/8-Inch Arbor for 7-Inch Saws or Larger

List Price: $22.80 Discount Price: $15.89

Features:

• An ideal stabilizer for use with saw blades 7-inches in diameter and larger
• Precision-machined and balanced for greater stability and less vibration
• Improves cutting performance
• 5/8-inch arbor
• Limited lifetime warranty

Accessories:
This Old House (1-year)	Creating a New Old House: Yesterday's Character for Today's Home (American Institute Architects)

Customer Reviews:

Best upgrade since I installed a LINK BELT [Posted on 2007-04-17]
I purchased this set because I noticed a little bit of wobble in my blade as I shut down the machine even though the blade is tight against the arbor. I had some doubt as to how much effect stabilizer would have on the blades performance. My package noted that these were two sets. I gave the other one to a woodworking buddy. I am completely satisfied and impressed with this stabilizer. It completely eliminated the blade wobble at start up and shut down of my saw. I had one thing that abolutely puzzled me. I installed the stabilizer on the outside of the blade on my right tilt saw. There should have been no change in the blade placement. My zero clearance insert would not go over the blade. It rubbed probably a 1/64th of an inch or so. I lowered the blade all the way down, put in the insert and powered up my saw. I then raised the blade. It cut the expected 1/64th of an inch or so and I let it run a minute to clear out the insert. I was amazed at how well the stabilizer worked. No more wobble. I own a Delta contractor saw with cast iron extensions and tons of add ons. I am completely sold on this product. I am certain that my old arbor flange was slightly warped, although I never noticed it. I highly recommend this product and it is so inexpensive.

Freud Blade Stabilizer [Posted on 2007-07-15]
Useless and overpriced gudget. Blade can't be placed on calibrated 5/8" shaft and sits over the thread. As a result balance is off and you can't turn on a saw without the risk of blowing your brains out.

Good product, but know the implications! [Posted on 2007-12-17]
The Freud SC-001 3-1/2-Inch Blade Stabilizer is a well manufactured, simple product. It certainly improves blade stability. The blade feels firmer once installed. However, adding these to your table saw will likely require a large amount of effort that isn't well mentioned in previous reviews, unless I missed it.

One reviewer recommends adding only a single stabilizer on the outside of the blade. I tried this, out of curiosity, and quickly discovered that this warps the blade by a significant amount, since the built-in stabilizer on the other side of the blade is likely going to be smaller in diameter (If not, I don't see how these stabilizers would serve much purpose, anyway!).

When I began to install the expected two stabilizer configuration, I had an 'uh-duh' moment, in which I realized that installation of the inside stabilizer shifts the center-point of the blade! Seemed pretty obvious a little later than I'd have hoped! This means that you will have to reposition your splitter, as well as replace any zero-clearance inserts you use, and in my case, may not be able to use your stock insert. In my case (a Jet JWTS-10), I had to shim all of the mount points for the splitter with matching washers, as the adjustment slots at these points were not wide enough to compensate for the stabilizer. Adding the washers and lining the splitter up with the newly positioned blade was an intricate affair.

There is also a small element of danger added when using these stabilizers, in that when bringing the blade up while spinning, which is called for, once in a while, the stabilizers can lift the insert, which would, of course, send it flying like a missile. Similarly, make certain that the added height obtained by the higher stabilizer when angling the blade does not bring it in contact with the insert; in some instances, the blade may have to be lowered when angling it, so that this will not occur. I believe there are adjustable stops inside the saw cabinet that can limit movement. At my next free chance, I will be looking to make such an adjustment to limit the risk, at least for the upper limit on the blade height.

I haven't yet determined whether the stabilizers affect the runout of the blade. I will look into this soon. Now that I've committed to using the stabilizers, I think this would be the only negative side effect that would prompt me to remove them. All the same, I'm not sure I would have started on this path if I could start again!

Not worth it [Posted on 2008-03-26]
I agree with the review that you should stabilize your saw and not your blade, but at some point you are going to want a blade stabilizer. If you do a lot of crosscuts/miters on your table saw it really helps out to give you that "shinny" crosscut. This stabilizer is the worst that could ever have been invented. Who wants to have their blade offset approx 1/4"? There are two stabilizers in the kit and I have yet to see a table saw that you can remove the original flange mounted to the arbor so you don't warp your blade with only one stabilizer. (The stabilizer is larger than most arbor flanges) Freud really should have thought out this design. They make wonderful blades, but this product makes them look like idiots. You have to adjust your fence to compensate. Homemade box cutting jigs are shot. The only nice thing is that they are not as large as other blade stabilizers. I threw this one in the trash and bought the forest 5" blade stabilizer. Does everything I want. I can use it with my dado. Which is a Freud. DO NOT USE ONLY ONE OF THESE. That can cause serious injury or death.

saw blade stabilizer [Posted on 2008-04-18]
Following some of the other review suggestions, I bought the set and installed one plate on my table saw and one on my radial arm saw. Between adding a link belt and the stabilizer to my table saw, I now have virtually no vibration in the table saw. With the radial arm saw being direct drive there was less noticeable difference for vibration, but the saw cut is beautiful. I especially like the 3.5" size of these plates in that they take away very little cutting depth from my 10" saws. I would recommend them as a simple and inexpensive way to upgrade the quality of your saws.

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