Daryl Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candidquality Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 I can imagine the price would be exceedingly high, but if it stops a major injury like that, would be nice to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Jim Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irnsrgn Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Jim Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 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.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easilyconfused Posted January 13, 2007 Share Posted January 13, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daryl Posted January 14, 2007 Author Share Posted January 14, 2007 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 So? Has anyone ponied up for this? It is amazing technology, and the points about it being cheaper than a lost finger are valid. I've read about it, and it does work exactly as advertised. It's also been rated as an excellent saw with or without the safety feature. But it also has a potential for false triggers. If only working with dry wood, probably you'll never have this problem. I just get occasional use of my saw, and sometimes need to cut up pressure treated, damp, whatever. A false trigger not only puts you out around $200, but puts you out of business until you get it fixed. I could see this in a cabinet shop. I would probably make it mandatory if I were running a shop. But I would seriously think hard about putting these in schools. While the immediate value is pretty clear, I would worry more about a false sense of security. Once these students hit the streets, the SawStop may not be the saw they end up using. Would it be better to really teach safety? Luckily, I'm not in such a position to decide what tools go where. This would be a tough decision to make. But since I'm just an occasional wood mangler, I'm scared enough of my saw to be pretty careful. My only close call so far was due to a kickback, which this saw can't help with. No stitches in that one, but I'm still a little scarred and have a numb spot on my thumb. By the way, I think it's not conductance it senses, but capacitance. Something like, or maybe exactly like, those touch lamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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