Not blacksmithing, though still safety

[Daryl]

I know this may not be blacksmithing, though this is still safety-related. I encourage anyone who does woodworking, or knows someone who does, to check out SawStop and watch the demo video. A product such as this is a godsend.

[Candidquality]

I can imagine the price would be exceedingly high, but if it stops a major injury like that, would be nice to have.

[RegionalChaos]

I've seen this before and was very impressed with it. I believe it was developed here in Oregon. It works by detecting electric conductance. As soon as it detects any it shuts off. Very impressive.

[irnsrgn]

Only got bit by a table saw blade once and that was on a friends table saw that had that stupid, dangerous, impractical, vision impairing supposedly safety cover that sets over the blade. I will never, never ever use another saw that has that stupid thing fitted on it. Besides my table saw is home grown.

[Marc]

The SawStop works by detecting conductance, as RC said, but it doesn't just shut off. That wouldn't work, as the blade's inertia would just finish cutting off the finger. It jams an aluminum jaw into the blade, and then mounting of the blade swings, letting the blade's inertia swing the blade beneath the table. This whole process ruins both the jaw and the blade, but saves the flesh.

[ThomasPowers]

OTOH the cost or replacing the entire *saw* is generally much cheaper than microsurgery on the hand... just having to replace only a blade and jaw is gravy!

(I have a friend who has had both index fingers reattached from table saws---14 years apart IIRC)
Thomas

[RegionalChaos]

Marc, thanks for the info.

Thomas, My welding instructor was missing the first part of his pointer finger on his right hand. I didn't have the heart to ask how it happened, but it seemed as though he had done A LOT of shop work throughout his life..

[Rusty]

My father is missing two fingers on his left hand from an accident with a table saw, and his old partner has all the fingers on the left hand the same length sexcept the pinky and the thumb, not sure what from. This looks like an awesome and immensely useful product.

[easilyconfused]

It's true what they said in the video about being at a higher risk with more experience. A neighbor's brother was a professional electrician for 40 years and got killed changing a light-bulb in his house. Remember to always think things through and never think that because you've done it so many times before that you don't need that safety precaution. Tools and machinery can be replaced easily than body parts.

[Daryl]

I spoke with a salesman at one of the local hardware stores regarding this sawstop; the replacement cartridges are about $180Cdn (I can stand correction on the price, though if I remember, it's close) plus a new saw blade - I think that's super cheap considering. I hear that the technical schools in Saskatoon are buying them up.