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Finally Broke Wind & Ordered a SawStop

3K views 39 replies 27 participants last post by  StumpyNubs 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have been thinking about a SawStop for a while and never did any more than think about it until this Sunday while at the New Orleans Jazz Fest. Anytime my wife and I have a booth at a show I just have to stroll around and check out all of the other artists there. While doing my customary booth visits I had the great opportunity to meet a fantastic person, woodworker and artist Archie Smith.

Archie had a run in with his table saw last year and did some substantial damage to his fingers. Archie lost his middle finger and was able to have two others re-attached to get limited use. Archie now has a Saw Stop and after our conversations I went back to my booth, pulled out the Ipad and ordered my Saw Stop. It will arrive Thursday and my Grizzly cabinet saw will be listed on Craigslist.

I don't plan to review the Saw Stop…there are enough reviews…my fingers mean much more to me than the few thousand $$$ a saw costs.

Check out Archie's web site if you get a chance…
 
#7 ·
Congratulations!!!

I know many woodworkers cringe at hearing someone bought a sawstop due to their politics, and while I don't agree with how they are going about it, I'm all for the additional safety it offers. Plus it's a really fine machine.

It only takes a second of distraction to have a lifetime of loss.

Good move.

Lee
 
#8 ·
I wasn't a big fan of Sawstop when they were trying to get their technology forced on the market. But they changed their tune and did it the right way. They developed a top notch saw and let the market decide. I think they repented, and I am willing to forgive and forget.
 
#12 ·
I think they repented…

More like they lost the lawsuit that would've forced this on everyone.

Still, I hear only good things… (Except the price)
 
#15 ·
DS- Once, when I was a kid, I wanted pie so bad I stole some from from the kitchen counter. I got a beating. Now I get my pie the right way. You could say I only do so because of the beating. I say I learned a lesson the hard way and changed my ways. Either way, I'm not known as a pie thief anymore.

I met the guys over there. They made a good impression on me. They also make the best saw I've ever used. So I base my buying decisions on those two factors rather than their short lived, misguided legal case.
 
#17 ·
I know there are a lot of politics involved with the SawStop and it most certainly does rub many the wrong way when someone tries to force something on anyone….my thoughts are that my fingers and body parts are much more important than any persons politics…and the fact that it is a top quality saw just puts the icing on the cake (or the filling in the pie). never read any negatives about the saw quality and the ones I saw in person looked good.

Stumpy…I bought the 3hp professional model. I plan on using my Incra fence with it. I bought it on Amazon and it will be delivered to my house…no shipping and no taxes

Bretts…I am selling the Grizzly for $500.

Thomas…sales at Jazz Fest made it a real easy decision…but I would have bought it anyway after visiting with Archie. SawStop should give him a commission.

Joein10assee…he sure does…Archie's work is awesome…

Jamie…the time was definitely right.

Charlie…sorry we missed seeing you there. It was a fantastic Jazz Fest and we were set up between the Blues Tent and the Jazz Tent…so no lacking any music and definitely not lacking for any good food. The rain didn't even stop anything…amazing how people there will sit and stand in the down pouring rain and listen to good music.

DS…no one likes the price but look at the price of any quality cabinet saw with equal specifications and there is not much of any price gap…throw in the medical costs and related of an accident and it was an easy decision.

gtbuzz….agree

GregD…I have never heard of anyone not liking it after owing it and hope to add my name to that list
 
#18 ·
I work in a high school and have some very rowdy teenagers going in and out of my shop. Just to give you an example, last week a student got hit in the face with a rolled up paper towel while operating a jointer, because another wanted to practice his paper-towel-basketball skills. Regardless of how much I stress safety there's a knucklehead in every class….

The Sawstop is a great saw. a few minor complaints, but the reassurance I get with having that machine in the shop is well worth it.
 
#22 ·
congrats on the new saw,hopefully one day i'll get one.
seems all the reviews are good,thats what i wondered about awhile back when i researched them.if the cost was for a mediocre saw with technology or a good saw with technology.as i've learned and read more reviews i think they make a top of the line saw.enjoy your new saw,congrats again.
 
#25 ·
I have the ICS and I love it. You will not regret buying it. There are only a few improvements that SS could make. One is the zero clearance insert. When you run thin stock, the stock has a tendency to stop at the end of the insert plate because the insert plate gets pressed down by the pressure placed on the stock. It can't be adjusted out with the set screws because the material isn't rigid enough. I ordered an Infinity ZCI plate and it solved the problem because it's made of billet aluminum and is rigid.

I do love the SS, however, I purchased a used Felder CF 741 last fall and I've been using it the last few days. I'm still getting used to the slider but I must say it is a fine piece of machinery that is very safe. I made some rails and stiles today using the shaper. The power feeder and cross cut fence is a dream to use. The slider glides effortlessly. Although my hands rarely get close to the blade I wish it had the saw stop technology. If I could only have one saw, I'd take the felder but it costs much more $$ than the expensive SS.
 
#26 ·
DS, to my knowledge, Sawstop hasn't lost any lawsuits (or, for that matter, been a party to any lawsuits) about the technology. Their founder was an expert in the Ryobi lawsuit, but the jury agreed with him in that case. Which lawsuit are you thinking of?
 
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