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Considering Buying a SawStop - Thoughts?

7K views 105 replies 49 participants last post by  unclearthur 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm considering selling my 20 year old Delta table saw and buying a SawStop. I don't have any issues with my Delta, but I consider the safety feature of a SawStop some insurance in my next 30 years of woodworking. I don't know anyone who has a SawStop.

I'd like thoughts from SawStop and non-SawStop users to help me decide if it's worth the investment. What to you think?

Thanks for your help. Scott.
 
#2 ·
The Sawstop saws are fantastic table saws even without the braking feature. They're a bit more money than a comparable Unisaw, but they're definitely top quality saws. If I hadn't come across a very good deal on my Unisaw, I would own a Sawstop right now. I've used them at friends' before and they're fantastic.
 
#3 ·
At the end of the day, it's your call. if you can afford it, why not? The fit, finish, power, usability, and safety are fantastic (yes, I have one). The only reason I got one was 1) My old Delta contractor saw wasn't going to do what I wanted in the long run, 2) saw a very very experienced woodworker on YT (Mathias Wandell) have an accident and realized the Reality that it can happen to anyone regardless of experience (Diresta too). That was enough to push me over the edge. Don't regret it one bit. If you Do decide to get it, don't skimp on the accessories, especially on the Mobile Base.
 
#4 ·
At the end of the day, it s your call. if you can afford it, why not? The fit, finish, power, usability, and safety are fantastic (yes, I have one). The only reason I got one was 1) My old Delta contractor saw wasn t going to do what I wanted in the long run, 2) saw a very very experienced woodworker on YT (Mathias Wandell) have an accident and realized the Reality that it can happen to anyone regardless of experience (Diresta too). That was enough to push me over the edge. Don t regret it one bit. If you Do decide to get it, don t skimp on the accessories, especially on the Mobile Base.

- Rayne
In addition to those videos, and they are worth watching, I came across this video a couple of years back.



Not a well-known YT channel, but he's run a cabinet shop for over 40 years. Notice that he's using quite a good safety set up, but still makes a big mistake.
 
#6 ·
I'm for it!

Love mine and it was a pretty good stretch when I bought it. I could not justify one accident or mistake not being avoided. The fit and finish of my PCS are excellent. I had fun with her all day today! Get a good blade and enjoy!

The Forest WWII is very good.
 
#7 ·
I'm all for safety (also motherhood and apple pie), but I've never liked the way SS achieves it. From the beginning, I was convinced it's not necessary to stop the blade, it only needs to drop beneath the table. Slamming it into that sacrificial aluminum block is like stopping your car by driving into a bridge abutment.

Bosch came up with a rival design (I actually saw one in the flesh at my local hardware store), but I believe SS sued and shut them down. Too bad, because I like to see any monopoly challenged. Videos of Bosch's looked good, and much easier and cheaper to reset in the event of a triggering. And it didn't ruin the blade.
 
#8 ·
I m all for safety (also motherhood and apple pie), but I ve never liked the way SS achieves it. From the beginning, I was convinced it s not necessary to stop the blade, it only needs to drop beneath the table. Slamming it into that sacrificial aluminum block is like stopping your car by driving into a bridge abutment.

Bosch came up with a rival design (I actually saw one in the flesh at my local hardware store), but I believe SS sued and shut them down. Too bad, because I like to see any monopoly challenged. Videos of Bosch s looked good, and much easier and cheaper to reset in the event of a triggering. And it didn t ruin the blade.

- runswithscissors
I'm not a fan of what they did, but the founder was a lawyer, so that's what happens. Festool's parent company actually bought them, so I'm interested to see what happens when the patents expire in a year or two. The Bosch saw is still available here, but it's only in a contractor saw, so it's pretty limited.
 
#9 ·
6 year owner of a SawStop 3Hp Cabinet Saw. I agree with all the positives above. They are quality machines. Fired mine twice. Once saved a finger with a nick so small it there was no blood. The other was a short that I caused but was not a safety issue. SawStop replaced the first cartirdge and the Forester WWII blade was repaired and resharpened by Forest. Forest is a great company making excellent blades and has great services.
 
#11 ·
Scott,
I am in the same position.
I have a 15 year old Delta hybrid saw (that's working fine) but I keep pondering replacing it with a SawStop PCS.
If my saw had a riving knife I don't know if I would be thinking about replacing it or not.
My saw is accurate and repeatable so for me the SawStop would be strictly for the safety feature.
 
#12 ·
I'm buying one in the next few weeks. Several years ago I would have said you don't need it. Over those years, a few friends have had accidents, so my mind has changed. Now that I've started my business and want to upgrade to 3 hp, it seems like the right time to bite the bullet. I say do it and don't look back.
 
#14 ·
I have a SawStop 3 HP PCS. I'd buy it again without question. It's a great saw.

I view the SS as insurance. It cost some, but the potential savings is huge. Is someone stupid for not having a SS? Of course not. Just like I don't have anti-lock brakes on my truck. But, I'd be better off if I did.

In the end no one is perfect, and we all make mistakes. Most of the time we get away unscathed, but every once in awhile, luck runs out and something bad happens. No one is immune from this. I see the SawStop safety feature just like air bags in a car. Odds are you will never need them, but if you do, you'll be darn glad you have them.
 
#16 ·
When the SS patents expire, I would expect to see the same feature on almost every saw…we can only hope that others implement a system that's as well thought out as what SS has on the market. They are great saws; just as important they have great CS is you even need them. I just hope that doesn't change over tiem with the new ownership.
 
#17 ·
I am not certain when the patents expire but would not expect every saw to have it. It is not just the Bradbury the entire mechanism that must survive a large shock to stop the blade and lower it. Also, any company that has such a device will need expensive and thorough testing and hefty liability backing. If a brake fails to activate, there will be large lawsuits.

I have had my Sawstop for a number of years and love it.
 
#19 ·
Scott: I have a 3hp Professional SS and love it. As everyone else has said, the fit, finish and overall quality are second to none. After I assembled everything, I checked the miter slot to the blade and fence to the miter slot with a dial caliper. Each time, I set the caliper to zero and moved it the entire length of the slot and then the fence and the reading remained zero the entire length. I was extremely impressed.

As far as the cartridge brake, I activated it just the other day (first time). My plug outlet is in the ceiling above my saw (being changed Monday) and as I ran a long board through the blade, the end that was extended beyond the left side of the table contacted the cord hanging down and pulled the plug from the outlet. The cord fell straight down into the blade and the brake went off. Of course, I never saw any of this and it took me a few seconds to figure out what happened. Anyway, the spinning blade only nicked the cord's covering and none of the wire inside.

For what it's worth, that feature alone justifies the saw to me.
 
#20 ·
Another 3hp PCS owner here. It's a great saw. The premium for the brake is quite reasonable for the insurance you get. I like Clin's anti-lock brake analogy - you don't have to have it, but it sure is good to have when you need it.

If the SawStop was a crappy saw with a good safety feature, it would be a hard decision. Fortunately, it's a great saw.

I also don't like the was SawStop went about marketing the saw and the legal nonsense they tried, but it doesn't change the fact they currently have something no one else does. That's how the patent system works. I do hope, and expect, the other big tablesaw manufacturers will add this feature when the patents expire. But, for now, if I was in the market for a saw, as I was a couple of years ago, I'd go Sawstop.
 
#21 ·
At the end of the day, it s your call. if you can afford it, why not? The fit, finish, power, usability, and safety are fantastic (yes, I have one). The only reason I got one was 1) My old Delta contractor saw wasn t going to do what I wanted in the long run, 2) saw a very very experienced woodworker on YT (Mathias Wandell) have an accident and realized the Reality that it can happen to anyone regardless of experience (Diresta too). That was enough to push me over the edge. Don t regret it one bit. If you Do decide to get it, don t skimp on the accessories, especially on the Mobile Base.

- Rayne
Thanks Rayne, that's very helpful! Scott
 
#24 ·
Have you had an injury with the Delta? How many years have you used it?

- therealSteveN

No injuries, and have owned my Delta for 20 years - bought it new. Hoping to sell it to help pay for the SawStop

- WoodshopTherapy
That's what I did. Selling the Delta was supposed to be the SS fund, but because it was a contractor saw, it became the SS Accessories fund (ICS Mobile Base, overarm dust collection [didn't buy it when it was free], extra brake cartridge, dado cartridge, and ZCI for Dado).
 
#25 ·
"If the SawStop was a crappy saw with a good safety feature, it would be a hard decision. Fortunately, it's a great saw."

Well said, John.

The fact is that to drop the blade, the saw needs the inertia from the blade to do it. And the saw MUST be excellent in build quality to handle the beating and still work like new. It is as good as any saw in the price range if not better.

Good luck Scott. Let us know how you like it when you get one!
 
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