Your shield does looks quick and plenty usable Frank. I always thought a smaller flip up one like yours that fits on the carriage cleanly would do a sufficient job of deflecting chips into the pan at the source.

Blue Healer, never had one but been around a couple of males. They have an interesting temperament that I've seen. Cool story about your critters, funny how things like that happen. Found a ferrule cat with kittens in a abandoned washer once. She was pretty banged up from some kerfuffle (torn ear and deep cuts) but turned out to be a cool cat with more attitude than the typical house lord, but got hit by a car a year or so later.

PJ