[runswithscissors]

SawStop technology will not prevent kickback, which is probably encountered more often than run-ins with the blade. That's what a riving knife is for. And yes, I'm aware that SS has a riving knife.

Without faulting the safety of Sawstop, I still say I like the Bosch technology (Reax) better. If you can simply drop the blade below the table, why slam it into an aluminum block to stop it, likely damaging the blade, and (I can't help wondering), maybe other components too, such as arbor or bearings?

 

[AlaskaGuy]

I'm not against anyone buying SawStop. I'm not against anyone not buying SawStop. It's you decision, your money. I didn't care for Grass's tactics.

How safe is SawStop? I don't know. I have read/heard many times that anything electronic will fail sooner or later.

 

[AZWoody]

SawStop technology will not prevent kickback, which is probably encountered more often than run-ins with the blade. That s what a riving knife is for. And yes, I m aware that SS has a riving knife.

- runswithscissors

You are correct but kickback is one of the leading ways that a hand gets sucked into the blade so, besides the riving knife, it does have added protection for kickback.

 

[Bohaiboy]

I have a SS cabinet saw. Luckily I haven't experienced an incident with flesh. However, I was cutting a tricky angle with a tenoning jig and wasn't paying attention on setup. The blade touched the jig (dado insert and blades) and disappeared abruptly as soon as the metal made contact with the blade. I could not see even a paint chip on the tenoning jig. The brake slammed up and the inertia retracted the blade before I knew what happened. $89 for a new aluminum brake, blade was salvageable. Fingers, I still have 10. If a high quality saw sells for the same price as other high quality saws, and throws in tis safety feature, why not buy it. As someone mentioned earlier, your ER bill will be far more expensive than the saw, not to mention the embarrassment of having to explain that your circumvented safety because you thought it was a gimmick. Why risk it. If the saw were an inferior saw, well maybe a case. But this saw is fantastic and will work one to one with any saw out there.

 

[MrUnix]

If a high quality saw sells for the same price as other high quality saws, and throws in tis safety feature, why not buy it.

Absolutely… unfortunately, there isn't one on the market at this time.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[playingwithmywood]

I hate their business practices and how they sued to keep other manufactures out of the market place with similar technology

I also will never own a Apple product for how the run their business and how they have negatively effected the technology sector and Apple fighting against #RightToRepair

I try to avoid Evil Companies but it is getting harder and harder to do at this country is in failure mode

 

[Woodmaster1]

It is safe. I own a Unisaw use the guard, riving knife and push sticks. Would I buy a Sawstop yes but I doubt I will because I love my Unisaw and disliked the Sawstop pcs 1.75 that the school had were I taught. The 3hp would have been better but the Unisaw has features I like. The front controls on a Unisaw are great and the 5hp motor cuts anything without bogging down.

 

[wormil]

I find it's simpler and cheaper to follow the rules of tablesaw operation and not have to worry about paying extra to save me from my own stupidity.

 

[Redoak49]

It is amazing that this same topic with the same responses comes up about once a month. The same people have the same things to say.

 

[craftsman on the lake]

Someone above mentioned…you can bet that when a SS fails the news will spread like wildfire through forums and other social media. I m sure there s a chance, but it s extremely small. One other thing, I always wondered about the "shelf life" of the cartridges…apparently there is none; good to the day they are tripped. I know a fellow on another forum tripped his. It was the original in the saw; purchased in 2006.

- Fred Hargis

Each time you turn the main switch on it does a system check of the mechanism for that session and verifies it's viable. Little blinking light stops and that's your cue to go ahead and start it up.

 

[edapp]

One point about the kickback/riving knife. Before I got my sawstop i never used the riving knife in my old Hitachi. I didnt use it because it was a pain in the neck to install, align, and remove. When i needed to remove it the first time, it never went back in. And yes, I have had a kickback on that saw.

The sawstop on the other hand, and some of the other modern cabinet saws, has a simple, easy lever to install and remove the riving knife. Also the table insert is easy to remove and reinstall with no fasteners (my old saw needed a screwdriver). These simple, non electronic things make my operation of the sawstop safer, and encourage the use of safety features.

Similarly the fact that you can use the saw in bybass mode, but have to turn the key every time you turn the saw on (cannot "leave it" in bypass mode) is a safety feature i like. Again encouraging safe habits.

 

[Carloz]

You will find that most people who do not have it tell you how bad it is and how a Unisaw is better. People who do not own Mercedes will tell you that their Honda does everything a Mercedes can and some more. A frog in a puddle will croak you that it is better than a lake…

 

[bonesbr549]

I did not read all the replies, so if I duplicate sorry. I do own one, and would not want to cut without it. In an early article on the sawstop the inventor shopped it around to all the big guys on the block, and story goes, they did not buy for that very reason. However he did not give up and built one heck of a TS around it. They regret not taking the offer now.

As to will it work, lt will. Worst case its just a TS and would be no worse than without. It will work. Great investment. Had mine a good amount of time now and love it.

Cheers.

 

[Markmh1]

I own a Sawstop PCS. I look at the safety feature as I would the safety on a firearm, that is, no replacement for proper handling.

My wife, doctor, and insurance guy are all happy I have a Sawstop. I really don't think about the safety feature. When I bought the saw, I thought the safety feature was a gimmick. I bought the saw for the saw's construction. It is a nice saw.

As far as growing complacent because the safety feature will protect me, the thing I think about most is, it's about a $150 excursion to trip the brake. I don't need that expense, or the delay to get a new cartridge and blade.

When I use the saw, the second thing I'm thinking is how nice it is and why did I wait so long to buy one.

Mark

 

[doubleG469]

always that one guy…. * * ( for Alaskaguy so he recognizes sarcasm)

- doubleG469
Always that one guy without a sense of humor and has a need to chastise other for their sense. Just saying.

A good sense of humor is a sign of psychological health.

https://qz.com/768622/a-good-sense-of-humor-is-a-sign-of-psychological-health/

- AlaskaGuy

Exactly, look in a mirror. it's funny but i see you trolling a lot of comments in different forum posts. I guess it's how you get your jollies.

Edit: maybe I should have put a smiley face behind it so you would understand sarcasm..

 

[Planeman40]

Apparently SawStop does the job. However, good sense and proper precautions also do the job. I began using a table saw about 1967 and today after 50 years I still have all of my fingers. The use of proper jigs and fixtures to handle unusual cutting situations, well designed push sticks, and the ingrained use of exaggerated hand motions to be sure the hands are clear of the blade at all times have served me well.

On the other hand, if you are a shop beer drinker, an alcoholic, or just generally incompetent, the Saw Stop is for you! : )

 

[RobS888]

Apparently SawStop does the job. However, good sense and proper precautions also do the job. I began using a table saw about 1967 and today after 50 years I still have all of my fingers. The use of proper jigs and fixtures to handle unusual cutting situations, well designed push sticks, and the ingrained use of exaggerated hand motions to be sure the hands are clear of the blade at all times have served me well.

On the other hand, if you are a shop beer drinker, an alcoholic, or just generally incompetent, the Saw Stop is for you! : )

- Planeman40

...or don't have 50 years experience and only get to spent 10 hours at most in the shop per week, or need your fingers for you day job with a keyboard.

You guys remind me of life long smokers that haven't gotten cancer yet.

 

[Planeman40]

I didn't start out with "50 years of experience" and I am a home type woodworker. But I was very careful to train myself in shop safety in the beginning and I use good sense and care when working. And I do value my fingers as I use them all day and every day. Accidents most often happen when someone is trying to make a cut without proper jigs or fixtures or "just getting this one cut" without using a proper way of holding the work.

I am not against a Saw Stop. But most of us home-type woodworkers can't throw that kind of money into a table saw. But safety can be achieved without a Saw Stop by good sense and good practice. To me Saw Stop makes sense for schools and manufacturing businesses where the users are all types. And if you have the cash, by all means, buy one!

 

[RobS888]

I didn t start out with "50 years of experience" and I am a home type woodworker. But I was very careful to train myself in shop safety in the beginning and I use good sense and care when working. And I do value my fingers as I use them all day and every day. Accidents most often happen when someone is trying to make a cut without proper jigs or fixtures or "just getting this one cut" without using a proper way of holding the work.

I am not against a Saw Stop. But most of us home-type woodworkers can t throw that kind of money into a table saw. But safety can be achieved without a Saw Stop by good sense and good practice. To me Saw Stop makes sense for schools and manufacturing businesses where the users are all types. And if you have the cash, by all means, buy one!

- Planeman40

Thanks, I did.

 

[wormil]

...or don t have 50 years experience and only get to spent 10 hours at most in the shop per week, or need your fingers for you day job with a keyboard.

You guys remind me of life long smokers that haven t gotten cancer yet.

- RobS888

Using a saw safely is a choice, not experience. But there are people who want the safety feature and I have nothing against it. Just don't pretend like it's necessary and we all should have it.