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Sawstop, best saw on the market.

4K views 62 replies 30 participants last post by  Plain 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
So I finally got my 220V and started assembling the saw. The right extension wing is absolutely flash with the table at the ends but quite lower in the middle. Enough to make the hand feel uncomfortable when running over it. Bummer. I am unscrewing the wings , and swapping them in a hope that the other edge will be flatter. Same thing. I reach for the straight edge and here it is, the table top is convex. I did not measure how much but enough the look through the gap between the straight edge and the table top and see that my neighbor thinking that I cannot see him is pulling his dog onto my grass ! Give me a break !
Also when tightened the wing sags down so I would have to shim it. My cheap Grizzly 715 was way much flatter out of the box and did nor require shimming ! To add to the injury the Sawstop customer service does not work on Saturdays.
So back it goes. Fortunately Amazon has quite amazing return process.
Not sure if I should get a replacement or a refund.
 
#4 ·
If you get another saw with a flat top.It might have other shortcomings.
It might have a bit more vibration or a bowed fence.
Will you regert send back your first saw?

- Aj2
I read that Sawstop is a highest quality saw. If it has a bowed fence it will get a new fence I guess. If it has excessive vibration it will go back too.

I admit that the table could get damaged in shipping or production. In fact I see a small scuff on the table bevel that I would pay no attention to if the top was flat. Seems like it was dropped somewhere after machining and packaging.

However I pay top dollars for the saw and expect top quality.
 
#5 ·
I suggest that you return it and move on to another brand so we will not have to read through your future list of issues with the saw. Your comment about viewing your neighbor through the gap between the straight edge and the table is so bogus that it convinces me that you are just making things up as you go to either get laughs or slam a manufacturer on the Internet. Either way it does not add much of value to the Forum.
 
#6 ·
It's probably still a top quality saw. If you don't think it will cut to your satisfaction then you shouldn't keep it.
Only you can make that choice.
None of my machines I bought new were perfect.But they do what they are designed to do.
My older machines have their issues too.
Just play the hand your delt.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have to lean toward agreeing with Kazooman.

They are high quality machines so I just don't see how can it SO far out of flat you have to return it. What?
You'll have to post some pics for me to believe the machine is unusable.

How many machines have you purchased?
Woodworking tools are not necessarily machined to tolerances most machinists would find acceptable.

I agree with Clin wait and call Sawstop before you send it back.
 
#10 ·
The wings not lining up (leaving a lip in the center) would bother me. The slight unlevelness of the top probably wouldn't bother me as much.
I would have to have it in my hands to decide whether it should be returned or not.
Maybe you could bolt the center and one end then pull it into shape?
It's my opinion that you should be able to line the wings up flush when you spend that much for a quality saw.
 
#11 ·
Returning a saw at this stage seems extreme. It's very common to have to coax the wings into being perfectly flat with the table. They're actually reasonably malleable, and can often be persuaded into position. Try loosening the middle bolt(s) a little, and tapping with either a rubber mallet or a hammer with a board to buffer the impact.
 
#12 ·
Convex would aggravate me too. My Delta has a low spot, couple thou, doesn't bother me but convex means wood will rock (and not in a good way). Shimming the wings for level is pretty common I think, my Delta needed it.
 
#13 ·
Convex would aggravate me too. My Delta has a low spot, couple thou, doesn t bother me but convex means wood will rock (and not in a good way). Shimming the wings for level is pretty common I think, my Delta needed it.

- Rick M.
Exactly, The straight edge rocks back and forth. so I imagine the wood would too.
I actually don't quite get why some forum goers perceived this as a personal offence. I would like to see anyone who paid close to 3 grand and then decide live with a perceived defective merchandise.
( actually I paid $180 more than I could buying from another seller just to have peace of mind knowing that I am treated well in case problems like these arise).

Sure I could try to stress the extension wings to make the seam even ( right now it is probably more than half mm out) but that could actually deform the straight item ( wing ) instead of the curved item ( table top).
Besides if the saw did fall so bad that the table bent who knows what else could get messed up.
 
#14 ·
Well, you were debating about returning the saw due to what you perceived as inferior packaging without even looking at the saw… so now you have another reason. And maybe the experience will lower your apparent unrealistic expectaitons - the Sawstop is not 10 times better than any saw on the market, nor the best. It is a good machine, and the company is a very, very small fish in a rather large ocean - so QC should be better… but stuff happens all along the supply chain, even to the little guys.

Cheers,
Brad
 
#15 ·
I think that he will be ruining it on 220 by connecting two 110 outlets.

Seriously, I hope he is happy with something. Given his posts about the Sawstop, unfortunately, he will not be happy with it. It is much better when you get a new tool and are pleased with it rather than have all the "problems".
 
#16 ·
Returning a saw at this stage seems extreme. It s very common to have to coax the wings into being perfectly flat with the table. They re actually reasonably malleable, and can often be persuaded into position. Try loosening the middle bolt(s) a little, and tapping with either a rubber mallet or a hammer with a board to buffer the impact.

- knotscott
THIS!!!!

My main table is reasonably flat but one wing was a little concave and the other was a little convex. It wasn't enough for me to box up and take to the UPS store and return to Amazon, but enough that I noticed..

I just went out and introduced my new table saw to the Mr. Mallet. It's not perfect, but I can now slide an old nickel from one side to the other without being caught on the ridges between wings.

I slightly loosened all four bolts and used 1-2-3 block to square up narrow edges that face the fence rails.
Then I clamped the 123 blocks (3 side) to each end of the wing
Then I smacked down (or up) the center of the wing until the middle was flush with the table
Tightened the center bolts
tightened the end bolts

Thanks Knotscott!! (I didn't know cast iron wings could be manipulated)
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
If it were dropped hard enough to bend the top, it would be evident. The way the machine is packed the table and cabinet are fully supported in foam, then wrapped in cardboard. I would guess to have enough force hit the table top to bend it, the machine would have had to have been unboxed, so either before or after shipping. And there would be marks.

Likelihood is that there was some machining error. It could also be getting pinched by the mounting hardware that holds it down. If you decide to talk to sawstop, they could tell you how to check. Or they may send you a new top.

Brian
 
#20 ·
We use incra miter gages in both of our saw stops because both factory ones are sloppy and have no set screw in the bar edge ti adjust them (or any other means) other than that we love them.
 
#22 · (Edited by Moderator)
If you get another saw with a flat top.It might have other shortcomings.
It might have a bit more vibration or a bowed fence.
Will you regert send back your first saw?

- Aj2

I read that Sawstop is a highest quality saw. If it has a bowed fence it will get a new fence I guess. If it has excessive vibration it will go back too.

I admit that the table could get damaged in shipping or production. In fact I see a small scuff on the table bevel that I would pay no attention to if the top was flat. Seems like it was dropped somewhere after machining and packaging.

However I pay top dollars for the saw and expect top quality.

- Plain
Tables don't get bowed in shipping. They may get chipped, scratched or cracked, but never bowed. That is factory fault. I would suggest not replacing it with another SS because returning it over and over, the cost of shipping will be on you and you know how much shipping costs. It is always best to buy locally or within a reasonable driving distance.
 
#23 · (Edited by Moderator)
I must express my disappointment with some of the replies made. Too many people are willing to accept less than perfect when they spend what this saw cost. If it happened to me, it would go back for a refund, not a replacement. These companies have to be held accountable for poor service and selling inferior merchandise. Don't forget, these companies are out to make money and service cuts into their profit. One should deal only with reputable companies, not Amazon or other "second" layer dealers. I have had this discussion with people and friends from other parts of the world and they all agree; they work hard for their money and will not throw it away on faulty goods. That is the difference between what Germans or Japanese will accept and what Americans accept. Although my machinery buying days are over, I have in the past bought only old made-in-the-U.S.A. machines and have never looked ahead at the "newer and better" junk being hawked to us. The SS may be a good machine, but it is far from being the best. For the best, you either have to look to old machines or have a fat wallet. I know some of you can only afford to spend a limited amount and I'm sorry that is the case. Every time I read a horror story about poor quality and poor service, it only collaborates my views. I guess if everyone felt the same way I do, there would not be any machine tool dealers in the U.S. as there would not be anyone to sell to. Sorry for the soapbox.
 
#24 ·
To imply that Sawstop isn't a reputable company can only mean you haven't dealt with them. I have, and found them to be most professional, courteous, and accomodating as possible. Other companies could take a clue from them. Just my opinion, I'm commenting on the current situation, only that Sawstop (despite the founder being an arsehole) bends over backwards to help their customers.
 
#25 ·
MrRon: Nobody is suggesting that a purchaser accept a clearly defective piece of equipment. However, "less than perfect" isn't reality for something that you have shipped to your door and then assemble yourself. You want "perfect"? Pay to have a technician from the company come to your site and install the equipment. Typically that will still not ensure "perfect" in the real world. There is a whole lot we do not know about the OP's situation. He was recently posting about mounting his new saw on a different manufacturer's mobile base. Did he do so? How did that go? Did he flip it over a half a dozen times to make it fit? He said he checked the top with a straight edge. Is it really straight? I just went downstairs and checked the table on my SawStop saw and it is dead flat with my best straight edge. I also tried another good quality aluminum bodied level I have. The top is dead flat with one edge of the level, but the other edge rocks a bit. OH NO! My saw is defective! Or perhaps my "straight edge" isn't so straight. There is no way to know what is going on with the OP's saw without much more information. Several replies have addressed their own experience in getting the wings on a saw in alignment with the top. All with success. I think they are trying to give the OP the information he needs to get his saw set up and running well. Absent following some of the advice the only other option seems to be sending it back and trying another brand or another SawStop. Eventually one will meet the expectations without needing any adjustment.
 
#26 ·
My sawstop is dead on flat right since when i put it together right out of the box ove three years ago. If you feel the extension is not flat then you should request saw stop to replace the extension first before sending the entire saw back. Give them the benefit of the doubt to make it right and then determine what their customer service is like.
 
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