Contractor Sawstop - Is it worth waiting for?

There are a lot of fellow Texan’s here.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

the sawstop has a over all good rating.but i think what sells it is you wont lose a finger>lol. if a was getting a new saw it would be a powermatic.they have a great track record with alot of people.

-- danny s "the first to lose are the first to give up"

From what I have been hearing, and reading, the CS is made every bit as well as the Cabinet model. If you like the safety feature, it will be worth your wait.

Thanks for the feedback. I have waited this long so might as well wait aother 3 months. As things happen yesterday I was cutting a a piece of maple plywood for a drawer bottom and as I took it off the table saw …...... well not sure what happened next but the end result is the plywood (small piece 8.5 in by 14) accerated to about 2000 MPH and struck my upper thigh causing a serious bruse. No stitches but….. I was lucky. And yes I had the cover off because it just doesn’t work well. I was thinking that wouldn’t have happened with new European splitter we are seeing on the SS, Powermatic and some others.

-- Charlie, Humble Texas

Humble TX…... isn’t that an oxymoron? :-)

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

CharliieM – LOL, yes I think that would be. It’s pronounced “Umble” like the old Humble Oil company.

-- Charlie, Humble Texas

If you can live with the tablesaw you have now, the Sawstop is worth waiting for. The saw, from what I’ve heard and seen, is just as good as all the other major brands. And coming from someone who has lost a finger to a tablesaw, I wish the tablesaw I was using back then was a sawstop. I’m currently saving up for a Sawstop cabinet saw for my next big shop upgrade.

If you want a SawStop for the safety features, then waiting is really the only option.

For me, I just try to be careful. SawStop doesn’t make bandsaws, or routers, or jointers, or planers, or drill presses….

-- Mark

I see on the Sawstop website that they have a band saw and chop saw in developement. Working models that look very different compared to traditional equipment

-- Charlie, Humble Texas

If you are a contractor, with several workers on a site, the Sawstop would be a good investment. It is indeed scary to see how these guys use their saws. Since the saw guard will almost never be on the saw, it won’t stop the kick-back injuries, but at least it will save the fingers.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

I recently read an article by Ian Kirby about tuning and safely working with a table saw. In some of the pictures in the article, there was a guard suspended over the blade but it is not clear how the blade guard is attached to the table. Anyone aware of options like this? I too have removed the guard and splitter from my Rigid contracactor saw.

Charlie, As for the SawStop, you should wait and get what you will be most comfortable with. I think having the SawStop will provide a bit more confidence when using the saw. But, probably not too smart to get TOO comfortable.

-- Hutch - North Dallas, Tx - Safety First

Fine woodworking has a video the new contractor saw. I’m impressed!

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I just saw the contractor version on Ask This Old House the other day.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Penn State has a suspended guard?

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Dick, that is exactly what I was thinking.

Thanks

-- Hutch - North Dallas, Tx - Safety First

Hutch,
Thanks for the feedback. I think I will wait for the SS contractor model considering my latest “accident” with the table saw is still painful. In the meantime…....... a knowledgeable workworker friend of mine told me about the Micro-jig GRR-Ripper system. Anyone use it?? This product would have preventd the kickback accident I had the opportunity to experience. I checked it out and ordered one. I’ll provide some feedback on the product shortly.

http://www.microjig.com/

-- Charlie, Humble Texas

Check out:

http://lumberjocks.com/topics/805

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

thanks Gary, I read the entire string. Glad I ordered the GRR.

-- Charlie, Humble Texas

It does look pretty good, but costs a lot.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

The micro jig and two Grrrippers are in use in my shop. It has greatly increased my confort at the saw table, especially with cuts that get even a little close to the blade. I also feel it protects from the kickback, which I’ve not experienced and don’t really want to.

Yes, pretty pricey, however I feel pretty good about these saftey additions. Regards, Jusitn

Feedback on the GRR Grippers. I have used it numerous times and like it a lot. I bought the one with all the bells and whistles and doubt I will use them. The basic model (cheaper) would probably be fine for most LJs.

-- Charlie, Humble Texas

I don’t know about the contractors version, but I own a 5 horse cabinet saw. I sold my Jet 5 horse for it. I am madly in love with it, and feel better teaching my kids about woodworking. One less tool to worry about them cutting their hand off. Although ALWAYS safety first.

-- Anchul - Warrensburg, MO: As a Pastor, I am just trying to get closer to Jesus. He was a woodworker too.

One thing to think about when stepping up to the larger HP saws. They have so much power that things happen VERY fast and can do some serious damage. I had a 5 HP Powermatic for some years and gave it much respect. Never get your body in a position that will put you at risk. Keep the blades extremely sharp to avoid the blade trying to grab the wood and throw it. The Gripper system is a good idea. I would also recommend an excalibur or other type of sliding table setup when stepping up to a higher HP saw. I now use a 7 1/5 HP sliding saw. Be safe and enjoy. John

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

I see that Saw Stop is being sold to many high-school shops. This is good and bad. Good, in that kids will be safer, but bad in that I’ll no longer have a frame of refernce for the shop teacher’s expertise. You see, my dad always said, “Never trust a shop teacher with all his fingers, he hasn’t learned anything.” Ho will I know if this guy should be teaching my kids? ;)

-- New to the craft and loving every minute!

I wonder if they tell the students about the safety feature. I could see it causing some people to be careless (especially if you are taking the course because you are required to, not out of interest). I think a healthy level of fear is a good thing. Maybe respect is a better word than fear…

I had a shop teacher tell me that when they get their sawstop they will not tell the kids about the safety features. They are afraid that the will not work safely and will be doing the hot dog test themselves.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I have been trying to figure out Sawstop’s rationale for pricing a Taiwanese contractor saw with stamped steel wings at $1500 just because it has that safety feature. They could corner the market on contractor saws if the saw were priced fairly, forcing their competiters to to licence the technology from them. I chose a 3 hp cabinet saw with riving knife and blade shroud for $1600.
My 2 cents.

Karson, If you were told that they will not tell the kids about safety due to the saw stop, lift your foot and kick this A-hole in the crotch. Repeatedly if necessary to prevent him from ever spawning more of his kind. Of course safety is still paramount, the SS is just an extra layer in the whole of it. MAN, why is it that you have to buy a license to catch fish but any mouth breathing dip stick can have and teach kids?

ramon, the pricing is no doubt due insurance liability the dip $#it mentality of employers and “teachers” to which Karson and others allude. When this item came out over 10 years ago now the estimated price of including it OEM on saws was a 50 dollars. NOT ONE mfg. picked them up. My guess is that no one wanted to accept the liability of failure if the dang thing didn’t work. The &itch is if it didn’t work the user would receive the same injury as if it wasn’t included. But that is how Maury Povitch, Rush Oxycontin chompin Limbaugh watching moronic juries work in our “fair” country. The mentally competent get out o f jury duty, refusing to take the financial hit, and leaving us with “baby daddies” and those to whom this is an active part of their daily social discourse vernacular to decide the fate of others. Stupid is as stupid does, and then it procreates, repeatedly, and incessantly. . .then buys NASCAR tickets and a sparkly boat and goes Bassin’ along the way