How to Make Throat Plates for a Table Saw

A table saw throat plate provides support for materials in the area immediately surrounding the saw blade as it extends up through the table. A standard throat plate is included with the saw. But a do-it-yourself replacement offers the builder tailor-made options for the size of the opening allowed for the blade and can accommodate wide dado blades or special thin kerf finishing blades. Building the throat plate allows the builder to utilize scrap lumber to make his saw more versatile.

Scrap plywood, approximately 6 by 12 inches
Table saw with small blade
Band saw

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the existing table saw. This commonly involves removing four screws from the top surface of the throat plate, although this may differ depending on the model.
- 2
  Confirm the thickness of the throat plate. Measure from the top of the throat plate to the bottom of the supports the plate rests on. Find a scrap of plywood the same thickness as the throat plate.
- 3
  Trace the outline of the throat plate on the piece of plywood. Cut the perimeter of the wood throat plate with a band or scroll saw. Use a belt sander to sand the edges of the throat plate to the marked line.
- 4
  Lower the table saw blade to a level below the throat plate, if possible. If the saw will not adjust to that level, use a smaller diameter blade in the saw. Place the wood throat plate in the proper position in the saw and fasten the table saw fence in place over an edge of the throat plate but away from the area where the blade will cut through the plate.
- 5
  Turn the saw on and raise the blade, cutting through the wood throat plate. Extend the blade as high as possible.

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