[wapakfred]

Besides being a very nice saw, SS has very good CS....glad you sent them the brake for inspection (and glad they replaced it).

 

[JCamp]

Never heard of electrical noise with one of them but glad they replaced it. I’m sure the inconvenience and some additional costs are annoying but the first time you aren’t paying attention and you accidentally touch the blade and it operates you’ll be glad you have it.
My truck doesn’t drive itself either but I do have air bags in it!

 

[Unknowncraftsman]

You guys sure know how to justify the shortcomings of a sawstop.

 

[northwoodsman]

You guys sure know how to justify the shortcomings of a sawstop.

Any tool can break or malfunction. I would rather have the sensitivity dialed in high enough to have it misfire when not need rather than not fire when needed. I have a Saw Stop, for me the safety feature was an added bonus. The quality of the saw alone was worth the price for me.

 

[bbc557ci]

I really appreciate the "Caution Hot" inked on McD's paper coffee cups.

 

[newwoodbutcher]

It seems to me, that while the SS is a much safer saw than the rest, that safety comes at a price, or I guess a few prices. The premium purchase price is well kown but SS table saws appear to be a very well built premium tool and for that reason they might be priced fairly. However, I've worked with a SS cabinet saw in my buddies shop for more than a few hours. I don't like the way the zero clearance is open in the back to allow the riving knife. In my work I make a lot of small pieces and I have lost a few down that hole. Also by some reports it seems to me there are a fair amount of misfires for various reasons and they cost $$ as well. Finally my friends sliding table attachment has never been very good, he's now using a Dubby Cross cut saw instead. All in all If I needed a new table saw I din't think the SS would make the final cut. Pun intended.

 

[Spitfire1]

Hi LJ,

I was just using my Sawstop PCS 3HP to cut on some tenons on some cherry using a dado blade. I had made over a dozen cuts by this point with the current dado blade/brake setup when all of a sudden heard a loud bang. I jumped. Them realized the brake had fired. Honestly, cannot figure out why. I took about a dozen pictures from every angle thinking perhaps my miter gauge had touched the blade, but NO. Checked out the piece of wood for signs of metal nothing. The piece of wood was kiln dried so should have had a low moisture content plus had already made dozens of cuts using wood from the same board with no problems.

Has anyone else had this issue? Have you had any luck contacting SawStop? Will they replace the brake and blade? View attachment 3856475
View attachment 3856476
View attachment 3856474
View attachment 3856472
View attachment 3856473

Update: I did call SawStop. Didn’t get any promise of a new blade or a new brake cartridge. The technician I spoke with said they only send out new cartridges in the event of a finger strike which this wasn’t. He did say I could send them the brake cartridge at my expense and they would download the data. He also mentioned that I could try and see if I could replicate what happened in bypass mode. The saw would indicate a brake activation code even though it would not actually trigger the brake. I have been trying (in bypass mode) and regular mode with a regular blade and brake but no results.

For the dado stack I was using I am wondering if it’s actually ruined. After pulling the brake off the blade, the blades and chippers seem to be in remarkably good condition. Haven’t tried cutting with it. Looking at the price of replacement components though ot looks like I may as well buy a new dado set. Price wise it would be almost the same once taxes and shipping are factored in.

Update 2:

After receiving the new Dado brake free from SawStop I contacted them again to ask if they would be willing to give me a free or discount on a new dado stack. I was not expecting a new replacement honestly but doesn’t hurt to ask. To my surprise they sent me a brand new SawStop brand dado set free of charge! I have to say I am beyond impressed with the customer service at SawStop.

 

[Knothead62]

Not a fan of SS. I'm a firm believer in the 11th commandment: Thou shalt not get close to the blade.

 

[JackDuren]

Not a fan of SS. I'm a firm believer in the 11th commandment: Thou shalt not get close to the blade.

I wish that was the answer..

 

[QC Inspector]

Update 2:

After receiving the new Dado brake free from SawStop I contacted them again to ask if they would be willing to give me a free or discount on a new dado stack. I was not expecting a new replacement honestly but doesn’t hurt to ask. To my surprise they sent me a brand new SawStop brand dado set free of charge! I have to say I am beyond impressed with the customer service at SawStop.

May I ask if the dado set they sent you have chip limiters like the one you lost the first time?

Thanks
Pete

 

[QC Inspector]

I went to the SawStop site and see there are no chip limiters on their blades. So I have answered my own question. I had them ground off the Freud set I had by a saw sharpening business locally.

Pete

 

[jimgilreath13]

Definitely report it to SawStop. They often will send you a new brake in return for the one that tripped so they can analyze it. I'm afraid you're likely on your own for the blade.

No blade, maybe a brake cartridge, MAYBE. I had 3 go in less than 24 hrs. 3 Forrest WW 2 blades. Go price them. All happened in first minute of use The 3rd event occurred less than 5 seconds after start up. Nothing on saw, not touching with any part of my body. Not cutting wood, just spinning in the air. Sent 3 brakes in for testing at my expense. 3 weeks later was told testing indicated an electrical trigger. Meanwhile I completely disassembled the 3 hp pcs and took lots of photos which I sent to SS tech. I had to replace the impact bar where the arbor hits when it drops the blade below the table. I tested wiring and determined some current leakage in the cable which connected the switch to the brake module. The power cable has a grommeted hole it goes through to the switch, but the other cable goes through a tight hole without a grommet. I found a post about this cable being pinched and damaged on someone else's saw so I ordered a new cable and other replacement parts at my expense. SS gave me a brake for my troubles, but only one and admitted no fault. I think I paid the shipping. My saw was down for over 6 weeks and I called or emailed the SS tech every other weekday to keep the pressure on which didn't seem to work. In the meantime I bought a 3hp Laguna Fusion 3 to get me moving. I use both now. Cut quality is the same. Dust collection is a bit better with the SS. BIG difference in price. The USA Laguna folks were great to work with and had my saw shipped from their nearest warehouse to my local vendor within days. The Laguna miter fence is very nice and much better than the SS. Fit and finish is good and rip fence is nice, BUT you can not place the fence to the left of the blade due to the convertible high/low fence. That has not been a problem for me
Advice: send cartridge to SS, send blades to quality sharpening service to sew if they can repair or just buy a new dado set. Go buy a brake because you may not get one soon, if at all. Good luck
Jim

 

[marvinlee]

I had a defective cartridge out of the box, didn't loose a blade since it did not work. Sent it back to Sawstop and was shipped a new one fairly quick. The issue with the sawstop and fingers, I have had 3 friends that sure wish they had one. Two were professionals and just made one mistake. Dan

Each of us must decide which risks we take. I choose to avoid liquor and tobacco but play with power tools. At 86, I've never injured myself in the shop and credit that to planning, pushsticks, and focus.

 

[bill_6238]

I can honestly say this was not the case for me (miter gauge touching the blade). The tech I spoke with on the phone also mentioned cases of rivingknife coming loose or static electricity buildup.

I've had unexpected brake trips three times! No apparent explanation for this. Your comment about "static electricity" is a new one for me and my Saw Stop. Could be, makes sense. I live in a dry environment (Central Arizona); we do get static. I e-mailed Saw Stop and have had no response so far. I'll call them next. Meanwhile, at $90 plus the blade per pop, this is getting expensive. So I ordered a Dewalt 8-1/4" blade saw. Three SS brakes and blades are more than the cost of the Dewalt. I'll just have to watch my fingers a lot more. I'm 77 and I've still got all 10 of them, somehow. BTW, I've had an Incra 1000 for several years. Great tool.

 

[CaptainKlutz]

I've had unexpected brake trips three times! ......

Two comments:
1) Send the triggered brake(s) to SS!
They can query the microchip and see the data collected during the trigger. Data exists to protect SS liability in legal matters.
If trip was not due human contact, or user mistake; they were providing free replacement brakes as part of warranty.
In early days, they would even send a new SS combo blade that was better than cheap BORG blades. But users report this stopped?

2) SS had a bad batch of brakes at one point, due a mfg quality issue with a new supplier. Was never publically admitted, but user posts in WW claim direct discussion with CS staff.
Hence, ANY unusual brake trip should be sent to SS as warranty claim. Worse they can do is say, Not a warranty issue.

 

[Chashint]

It seems to me, that while the SS is a much safer saw than the rest, that safety comes at a price, or I guess a few prices. The premium purchase price is well kown but SS table saws appear to be a very well built premium tool and for that reason they might be priced fairly. However, I've worked with a SS cabinet saw in my buddies shop for more than a few hours. I don't like the way the zero clearance is open in the back to allow the riving knife. In my work I make a lot of small pieces and I have lost a few down that hole. Also by some reports it seems to me there are a fair amount of misfires for various reasons and they cost $$ as well. Finally my friends sliding table attachment has never been very good, he's now using a Dubby Cross cut saw instead. All in all If I needed a new table saw I din't think the SS would make the final cut. Pun intended.

I solved the issue of small pieces falling through the back of the insert by switching it with a dado insert. Once you cut through the insert use a jigsaw to extend the cut so the riving knife fits through without interference. I have one for 90-degree and 45-degree cuts.

 

[jkeith]

I'm 59 and still have all my digits. I'll update y'all on the status of my digits when I turn 71, 77, 86, and 88.

 

[EdDantes]

Wouldn't be a SawStop thread without people trying to tell others how to spend money, or how much piece of mind is worth.

I've never gotten in a significant car accident, but it's hubris for me to suggest it will never happen (regardless of how careful I am). I'm "wasting" money on car insurance because I know it could happen.

 

[gdaveg]

Last month I had a brake trip while changing from a dado setup to 10" blade.. could not get the saw to start. The flashing light patterns said side door was open. Shut the side door. tried to start saw, nothing doing. Took brake out and carefully reinstalled. Tried again to start saw. Did not start. I touched the blade and heard a small pop and saw a spark from the blade to the brake.

So installed new blade and brake and saw ran fine.

Called SS and told him my story. Sent the brake back to SS. They replied that the brake was defective and was sending me a new brake. Glad the blade was a reasonably priced Diablo not a Forest.

 

[JackDuren]

I used the Sawstop for 7 years and never put dados on the saw. I was concerned about running dados on it. At home shop I have a router table for dados in cabinetry.