SawStop Saw

[tedkitch]

I just tested out our new SawStop saw at work today and I have to say that this thing is the best built saw that I have ever seen. They have thought of so many things that make this saw well worth the money (outside of the safety features). I recorded a video of my own hot dog test.

Before everyone comments about blade height, my hand locations, long fingernails, etc. This was just to get the hot dog to touch the blade and see what happens. The blade is gone before my fingers flinched. There is a pop when the brake stops the blade, but it all happens so quickly that one may not even know that they touched the blade. I'm considering replacing all of our table saws with the SawStop saw (obviously for the safety features), but I wanted to see for myself that it actually works as advertised. It wouldn't be nice to see that it doesn't exactly work as advertised when someone cuts thier finger off.

The nick on the hot dog is so miniscule that I can't even photograph it.

This is a really cool saw! Highly recommended to anyone!

[Russianwolf]

how much was the replacement blade and brake?

[p8ntblr]

Wow congrats on the new saw. It's definitely one of my first purchases when my lotto numbers come in

[cgallery]

I have to agree that safety features and politics aside, it is an impressive saw. I did watch a demo at the local woodcraft where the nimrod employee showing the saw actually had such poor technique that I wouldn't recommend any other saw for him.

[tedkitch]

how much was the replacement blade and brake?

Blades are whatever you want to use. The brakes are about $80.

[TheRic]

Is there any damage to the blades? Can any blade handle the sudden stop? Blades have a max RPM, would the sudden stop, and quick drop have any impact on blades??

I'll like to see a post a year from now on how often the brakes need replaced, specially the first couple of months! I can just see (specially since it's new/rare) people playing with it to get it to brake. Like I wonder if this will do, or that, or let me try it. Can also see the "I double dog dare you to use your real hand!"

What are the other great features?

[atgcpaul]

Is there any damage to the blades? Can any blade handle the sudden stop? Blades have a max RPM, would the sudden stop, and quick drop have any impact on blades??

It's my understanding that the blade is toast after it "engages" the brake.

[Pappy]

I read or heard that any metal in the wood and wet wood, like pressure treated, can trigger the brake, too.

[mpc]

It's my understanding that the blade is toast after it "engages" the brake.

That's my understanding too... I read about the brake process somewhere. Basically a soft metal chunk is shoved into the blade teeth and the sudden "jerk" from the blade's rotation being stopped instantly breaks some other piece and the momentum ends up yanking the brake+blade downwards. The blade teeth are pretty much shot though after chomping into a block of metal.

mpc

[Uncle Cracker]

IMHO, a $70 blade and a $70 brake mechanism are a small price to pay to save your fingers, but the false triggers are expensive. I suppose there's no absolute way they can engineer those out of the equation without increasing the risk, though.

Looks like a heckuva saw, albeit a pricey one, even without the safety aspect.

[Hellrazor]

Well its going to be a long time before people can afford that saw for home use.

[Eagan]

Saw Stop contracter saw

This saw is going to be less expensive; still sounds sweet. It is suppose to be out "later this year".

http://sawstop.com/products-contractor-saw.htm

By the way; the saw is suppose to have a way to test for wood that is wet enough to trigger the stop - and you can turn off that safety feature when you want.

Every review I've read sure makes this saw sound awesome. I THINK Wood magazine that posted a series of videos showing different tests they put the saw through

[jspelbring]

Sawstop

I attended a live demo a couple of months ago at my local WoodCraft. Works as advertised, and is build like a tank. Well, a very shiny, smooth, and well finished tank.

I did some research, and you can "test" wood to see if the moisture content is high enough to trigger the brake - and, as noted, you can disable the brake as necessary.

When the brake engages, the blade is indeed, toast. I would love to have one, but there are several other big ticket items that I need first.

[LinuxRandal]

Over on Sawmillcreek several members have them.

I thought it was $80 for the brake, plus the cost of whatever blade you bought.
One member did send a blade (WWII) back to Forrest and received it back fixed. But no one is sure that all the blades are capable of that.
The Contractor saw is now more then a year overdue. (been watching)
There is a switch, that you use, you have something with a light that signals the wood is to wet. You hit the switch and it disables the brake, to eliminate false (and positive) trips.

[Russianwolf]

There is a switch, that you use, you have something with a light that signals the wood is to wet. You hit the switch and it disables the brake, to eliminate false (and positive) trips.

I can see this switch getting moved to the off position and then forgotten. Defeating the main purpose of the saw.

I'm not a fan. I'd much rather get one of the nice European style saws that don't have the sawstop feature, but all the others as they have for years.