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SawStop Inventor Walks the Walk

comments (11) June 18th, 2009 in blogs, videos

RYagid Rob Yagid , 
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We’ve all heard about the technology behind the SawStop tablesaw. A lot of us have even seen the famed hot dog video somewhere on the internet. I’m happy a tool like this exists. I’m especially happy that we have a SawStop back in the shop here at the office. But I have to be honest; I always questioned whether the SawStop would really work if my finger slipped into the blade. Well, after watching this video my skepticism has been quelled. The inventor, Steve Gass, demonstrates how the saw works with his own finger. Do any of you have the SawStop? Has anyone tripped the stopping mechanism? This video is wild.

-Rob Yagid is an associate editor for our sister publication, Fine Homebuilding


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Comments (11)

daan daan writes: I think we all have to remember the automakers didn't want air bags either and we've seen what they have done in decreasing fatal accidents. I am amazed at some of the comments about not being careful if you have such technology. Do you drive recklessly because you have air bags and seat belts? Do you know what it costs to replace the blade and stopping unit when the stop does go off?
Why are Saw Stop saws never in the woodworking catalog? Conspiracy?
The liability in schools using saws and not having this safety technology must be fantastic. I'm surprised their insurance doesn't require it.
Posted: 10:53 am on February 11th

twalsh341 twalsh341 writes: It's horribly unfair to criticize other powertool manufacturers for rejecting the technology. As was mentioned in a review by a different magazine, the costs of implementing a new technology like this into your existing product is tremendous business/financial risk. I'm a product designer, so I understand the how the designing, tooling costs, and market come together for a product. A switch like that would cost several hundred thousand dollars, and well into the millions once a production run and advertising, trade shows started. Like I said it's a big risk, lesser ideas have doomed companies in the past. Those companies weren't maliciously trying to keep their tool accident prone, they were just unable to take the risk to bring the product to market. Which worked out just fine for Steve Glass, I'm sure he makes more money with his own company than from selling the rights to Delta.

I agree that they are amazingly safe, I was really impressed by the video. However it is like OceanNavigator says, if you know it's really safe you stop respecting it and that transfers to other machines without the safe features. I don't want anyone to think I mean manufacture a DrillStop, PlanarStop, SandStop, BandStop etc.
Posted: 9:05 am on January 4th

SmiLar SmiLar writes: I truly believe in Saw Stops technology in the prevention of injuries using a table saw. I have seen a lot of advertisement and watched the demo’s and to this day am amazed how well it works. I also have read many of the comments made from many wood workers most positive and some oh well what we can say. Safe use of any power tool is of the utmost important criteria that must be taken before turning on the switch. I still have all my fingers with a few nicks here and there from close calls which were from stupid mistakes, a mental lax of this machine can harm me unless you treat it with respect. Metal and skin do not compete well at all, skin will lose every time. When I go to wood working Shows and watch demonstrations using tables saw showing off some attachment or how well a blade performs cutting some soft wood I cringe because of the way the person is handling the piece of wood as they are running it through the saw. I have seen their fingers less than a half inch away from a spinning blade time and time again. Thank goodness I haven’t seen any fingers saw off ”yet”, actually many times I just can’t stay and watch because of the poor use of safety. Sad thing is this is showing many people how they can use a saw and gives a idea of how safe saws are, falsely so, they are only as safe as the operator using them since they have no brains, the closest thing to having a saw with brains would be Saw Stop. By the way I don't use a table saw even though I have a hand-me-down contractors saw (collecting dust), I can't spring for a Saw Stop I use my old radial arms saw, hand saw and shaper, so far I been doing fine making furniture and many other projects, but am handy capped because of it. I still have my fingers and hands attached.
Posted: 4:31 pm on December 30th

SmiLar SmiLar writes:
Posted: 4:07 pm on December 30th

oceannavagator oceannavagator writes: Just to revisit this subject and clarify my experience; I began woodwork in the 60s in a small boatyard equipped with shop tools mostly from the early 19 century. Our bandsaw was a 60 inch ships saw with open wheels driven by a line shaft overhead that was powered by a 1950s Chrysler V8. The joiner had no guard and the 36 inch planer had none either. If a person could not recognize the hazards of these monsters they were as likely to die by bathing with an electric heater.
I assume that Mr. Marcomjl has a joiner and shaper in his classroom, if he has had numerous incidents with the saw stop, then why hasn't he had any worth mentioning with other tools? Seems to me that boys being boys; they may be intrigued by the violent action of the devise.(just saying)
And to mr. Robinmcc; my bladeguard and my splitter went to the dump the day I took delivery of my powermatic. I have all ten fingers and ten toes and have retained them by using what I have between my ears. I don't watch TV or listen to the radio while working, I keep my floor clear and rely on the training I received from old men who knew their trade from one end to the other and were able to build 60 ton wooden boats and place them in the water with only rudimentary equipment. I am not politically correct, but I am a hell of a woodworker, I believe this problem of fear is endemic in this nation, when I see a kid riding a bike on a sidewalk, wearing helmet, knee guards, shin guards, gloves, and elbow guards, catch a piece of his equipment in the bike and fall down, I wonder what the future has in store for this country.

Posted: 10:45 am on December 29th

pcbg01207 pcbg01207 writes: Whilst your video demonstrates the speed of reaction of the Sawstop device; it is a false situation to introduce your finger slowly fronm an angled vector. It would have been a much more powerful properganda tool had the inventor, Steve Gass, pushed his hand at working speed into the blade! Is he trying to con us with this demonstration to boost sales? However the hotdog demo tells it all.

The real issue is proper training and the use of the supplied safety devices that come with all reputable manufactured circular saws.
Posted: 1:38 pm on December 28th

bobnrox bobnrox writes: I have seen this saw in action in real life demonstrations. And while I agree that it is some amazing technology I have to agree with oceannavigator on many levels. I teach construction in a juvenile corrections facility. As with most teenagers, if you tell them that they can do what they want and you'll guarantee them that they won't get hurt, well...I think you get my point. If you could design a car to offer them and told them "drive however you want, you can't get hurt", they will. Then when they drive a different car, how likely is it that they will remember all the safety rules/precautions?
If the power tool industry is going to be held hostage by the Saw Stop inventor (looks likely) then we need to include the auto industry, toys, waffle makers etc.
Posted: 1:23 pm on December 28th

Marcomjl Marcomjl writes: At my school (NEIT), all the table saws in the workshop are saw stop cabinet saws. Since they've had them, my instructor told us 9 times they've gone off. That's 9 kids who saved there fingers. And trust me, half the kids in class are very careless and kick backs happen from time to time often.

I personally am aware of their safty when working with them but do not in the littlest feel safer near the blade. I still respect the machine and understand there is still a chance of anything can happen. That way I don't end up careless. But its good to know I'll have all my fingers at the end of the day. I'm going to buy a smaller saw stop as my first real table saw soon.
Posted: 12:01 pm on December 28th

robinmcc robinmcc writes: I have a SawStop and I was trimming 1/8" off the edge of a face frame (in place, stupid, stupid, stupid!). The carcase was wider than the edge of the table and I was balancing it. All of a sudden the blade was gone. I didn't have my fingers near the saw but I must have lifted the carcase and pushed the blade into the aluminum Incra fence.

While having such safety devices inevitably allows people to be lax on safety practices, the same could be said of guards. And when was the last time you saw the guard for you table saw? Be honest now!

Best investment I ever made.
Posted: 9:34 am on December 28th

oceannavagator oceannavagator writes: Don't get me wrong, this is great technology but it seems to me that it promotes a caviler attitude about safety in the shop. When you know that you can get closer to your blade; you will and the safety doesn't transfer to joiners, bandsaws, shapers or sanding machines.The gentleman above is an example; the saw doesn't prevent kickbacks, the injury that caused his alarm, and yet he now feels safer.
In addition; Mr. Gass's tactic using lawyers and courts in order to try and force this technology on people is distasteful to me. Mandating this saw to be used will result in fewer woodworking classes and fewer small shops. If this is a good idea, it will stand on it's own.
Posted: 6:05 am on December 28th

gusser33 gusser33 writes: I have this saw and i purchased it because i suffered a kickback that sent me to the floor, the Doctor and to have a catscan of my aorta. I had to trade in a 1 year old Powermatic 66 and a Vega lathe to do so, but, it was worth it. It is hard to explain the reduction in the level of stress. Not that you are any less careful, well, i am not, but just knowing that there is this safety factor built into the saw makes all the difference. I really enjoy working with my saw now. I very foolishly made one mistake while using the saw. i had cut off the end cuts and there were pieces on the table. STUPIDLY, i brushed them away with the saw running, and whatever i did, happened so fast that i really don't know what happened. But, I think my finger brushed the side of the blade as i cleared the wood away. I heard this loud bang and i couldnt' find the blade. It was gone just that fast. I just stood there wondering what the hell had just happened. So, its true. It does function as fast as they say. This is one great saw. Well made. Customer service is second to none. What amazes me is that this technology was presented to Delta, Powermatic and the others and they turned it down. So, Steve set up his own company and i do believe this saw will become the standard on which all other saws are based. I also find it equally amazing that every school in the country isn't mandated to used this product. The American manufacturers wonder why they are loosing the battle. It took them years to use a riving knife, a simple item like that wold have saved me a lot of pain from my kickback, but, they didn't use it. Now they turned this down. Perhaps they should learn from Steve. It is innovation, a very high quality product and great customer service that makes a company successful.
Saw Stop has all three. Its a great saw. Buy one with confidence. Your woodworking experience will be much more enjoyable, and forever changed.
Posted: 9:52 pm on December 27th

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