FWIW the original switch should have come with a disabling key. Safer but not as safe as the magnetic switches. Sorry to hear about the parts trouble. I looked at the grizzly site and they do make a magnetic switch for the band saw similar to yours, but the site is unfortunately hard to use unless you are buying exact replacement parts. It is good for that. I had a good experience recently ordering a new safety cover for my new jointer (by new I mean new to me, the last owner had removed and lost it… very bad idea as you describe)

One thing I like, IMO, that you advocate is something I have done in my shop. I have replaced all the switches on each machine to be consistent. All the table saws have the same style, all the shapers, etc. And placed them all in the same place. It makes a consistent action turning on and off, and is much safer imo. This did mean some light modifications on some tools.

 

I believe that all equipment should be equipped by the manufacturers with these "safe"switches.
There is no reason to safe a piece of equipment with an "unsafe" switch.

There is no key on my saw and even if I had one this would not make the switch safe.

 

Good to know Bert!! I plan to look for a paddle switch for my older 220V unisaw. Switch that's on it now is a smallish push button on/off, and tucked under the front of the table and is a PIA to get to. Paddle switch as you prefer, would be a nice/safe addition. I'll check to see if Woodstock makes the paddle for 220V

 

Interesting. I just checked the Grizzly site, and it now appears you have to go all the way up to the G0513X2BF, (Cast wheels, electric brake, foot pedal), before you get an honest magnetic starter type of switch. Looks like they made some money-saving changes. Mine has the magnetic starter, as does my Grizzly planer. My old Jet jointer has the type of switch you are replacing.

 

Yes they do, I just ordered one more

 

I agree the key-type thing (craftsman is big on those) isn't really a safety feature for the user. It can be used to keep children from hurting themselves if they wander in.

The grizzly switch pictured - I just looked at it on amazon. It says it is a regular switch, ideal for emergency shutoffs, and that is indeed what it is and what it is for. If Grizzly or Amazon describe what it "is" in their description, I'm not sure they should also have to describe what it "isn't." (Hopefully someone searching online for electrical components knows what he/she is looking for.)

It seems like just a simple mistake on your part. You talked about the safety of a magnetic switch, and then how you decided to install a paddle switch. They are two different things. Interestingly enough, when I pulled up that switch on Amazon it included a bunch of other type switches in the "you might also like" section, to include three magnetic ones.

 

Joe, The Woodstock switch is micro-magnetic motor switch with an incorporated solenoid or at the least it functions as one.

 

I'm confused then - the woodstock is magnetic, but you bought the grizzly?

 

Joe, I was thinking that the Grizzly switch,looking identical, was a magnetic switch also.
My point is that Grizzly should indicate that it is not magnetic and that they should equip all their machines from factory with "safe" switches, they have no excuse for not doing it.

 

Hate to be a ball buster, but I'm having a hard time thinking of a situation in which I would either A, leave the saw on and unplug it, or B, have my hands anywhere near a blade of a saw I am plugging in… Am I missing something?

 

Hey Supercubber, I think the idea is that if the power goes out while you're running the machine (for example, if you trip the breaker because you're making the machine work hard on a marginal amperage circuit) you don't want it to start up again when you reset the breaker. With the machine stopped people might not think to hit the stop button so that it doesn't run when the power is restored. If the stoppage were caused by a momentary loss of power in the mains, the machine might even restart as you are monkeying around with it trying to figure out why it stopped.

 

This switch (if the one withe one with the solenoid) is an added safety feature.
I do not say that we should be working on plugged equipment, but if by accident the equipment we work on is plugged in or the switch is on ( as it happened to me), this switch is an added safety feature as the equipment will not start with out being controlled, which is not the case with the other kind of switch.

 

Bob,thank you very much,exactly my point

 

Look at the silver lining Bert, now you know what to look for when ordering a switch. Next time you will make sure it says magnetic.
I thank you for sharing your mistake to learn the rest of us. At least now I know what to look for.
As far as the switch fitting the saw, I think you made the wrong assumption. I think it would have been noted somewhere as a replacement part for that machine if it had been meant to be.

 

Bert I hope you don't think of my response as disrespectful but I must disagree with you on your point.
So since Grizzly's paddle switch looks identical to a magnetic switch sold by others,isn't it up to you to read what it is you are buying or is it the responsibility of Grizzly to warn you that they are not magnetic switches?
I have that switch and installed it on my old table saw ,never had any doubt what it was and what it wasn't.

It is no different than using a hand grinder when the switch is on "lock" position for ease of use,it is up to you to make sure to unlock it ,how many times have you seen people plug a hand power tool and the tool start to run because whoever used it last forgot to unlock it.

 

Bert, I have to agree with distrbd on this one. They told you what you were buying. It is an on/off switch with a voltage and amperage rating. It is a paddle switch. Should they say it isn't a pin Cadillac so you will know? I know I am being silly here but I do inspections. I tell people what is wrong with the home they are buying. If the light doesn't function as designed then I tell them. If the light functions properly it goes unsaid. I can't have enough space to write all the other things. If Grizzly had bought that space on the Amazon site that switch would have cost thousands. Go back to what has worked in the past and get that.

 

Ah, thanks, Bob. That is a perfect example!

 

Well, whatever, this is a good thread and something I did not know about switches. I also agree it is a good safety feature, living out in the sticks where the power goes off once in a while. My question is, how do you know if the switches on your equipment is magnetic switch. Can you tell by looking at them or do I need to test them by shutting the power off while the switch is in the "on" position and them turn the power back on?

And what are we doing on LJ on Christmas Day?? Have we no life??

 

I can tell if a switch as a solenoid (Safe switch) or not by looking at it in my hand, not at a picture.

 

I guess you saved 200 bucks by getting the cheaper of the saws. You could have gotten the G0513X2B with the key lock and blade brake. (you say you want safety). Weren't you complaining in another rant that your saw was "tippy"? I have the G0513X2B sitting in a Shop Fox mobile base and have never had any trouble with balance.

I think I agree with distrbd, the Grizzly web site is very through with what you are buying and what you can buy. I think if these saws were as unsafe as you make them out, they wouldn't sell as many….......................

 

mike,
Key lock and brake would not help with the problem I describe.
I was not complaining about how top heavy the saw is,the saw is top heavy, no complain.
I asked other people what they did about it.
I installed my saw on 4×4, now it is very stable.
I bought the switch on Amazon.
I do not say that the saws are unsafe.
I say that they would be safer with a safer switch and that Grizzly has no excuse to not equip their equipment from factory with these safer switches.

 

I did a search on Amazon for "paddle switch" and the first result is a Grizzly swith, followed by what looks like an identical Woodstock one (and both look exactly like the one in the first post).. Neither say anything about having the solinoid.. in fact, of all the woodcraft switches that come up (110v, 110/220v, 220v), none mention anything other than rated voltage and current. Since I am in need of a switch, could you let us know what model woodstock switch has the solinoid?

Cheers,
Brad

 

A far as I know all of them.
So far I bought four 220 Volts from Woodstock and all have the incorporated solenoid.
They come without any instruction or wiring diagram but hey are easy to install. If the switch works like temporary switch,it is not wired correctly. Several years ago I posted on LJ a wring diagram for these switches.

Here is a wiring diagram that I found on the Internet

 

Brad if you want a magnetic paddle switch, search for "magnetic paddle switch". If you just want paddle switch, then just search "paddle switch." The Woodstock D4160 does say it's magnetic. It's in the product description.

 

MODEL H8243 is Grizzly paddle switch.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cpo4wungtdh8z74/h8243_m%20%281%29.pdf