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Hand Work Hand Tool Blog

This is what happens when Roy Underhill meets a SawStop

Matthew Kenney, senior editor

58 users recommend

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I don't think I could describe this adequately. Let me just say these few words: Roy Underhill, SawStop, Fried Chicken.

On a side note, I used Roy's treadle table saw when I was at his school two summers ago for a photo shoot. He guarenteed me that if my finger went into the blade that it would stop spinning. Hell yes it would, because my foot would stop pumping! (And that was his unspoken joke. He is a funny guy.)

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Comments (14)

JimRoth53 writes: I just saw this demo for the first time, there's a reference to it in an e-mail from Highland Hardware, who apparently now carries the Sawstop.

First, I enjoy Roy, with his corny sense of humor and his love of hand tools. But I was very surprised to see him doing this demo, given his non-power persona. The lack of safety equipment is simply unacceptable, no matter that it was a demonstration for the Sawstop (which I do plan to buy at some point in the future).

The other thing about the demonstration that bothers me is that the chicken leg was moved into the saw VERY slowly, as seems to be the case in the other hot dog demonstrations I have seen (in fact I think that the guy who threw a hot dog at Tiger Woods got it from one of the Sawstop demonstrations). I would like to see a more realistic demonstration where the meat product travels quickly at the spinning blade. Would the result have been any different? Anyone have any information on this?
Posted: 3:27 pm on October 14th

RiverRockWS writes: This is a very funny video, but I agree, with that many people around, some additional safety concerns could have been addressed; it is a good (and very funny) demonstration of the SawStop safety mechanism though.

I do not own a Saw Stop, but if I could afford it, it would be in my shop. A SawStop is essentially the difference between putting a band-aid on your finger and getting back to work, (after many minutes of deep silent thought on how lucky you are) or picking your fingers up off the floor, rushing to the ER, and taking a chance that you may never work with wood again.

Safety is always the primary issue in any shop, and you can do a lot to mitigate a dangerous situation, but if that one "moment" comes when you aren't paying enough attention, or a tragic accident occurs, I say forget how expensive the saw blade is, I'll keep my fingers on my hand.
Posted: 2:09 pm on January 6th

cosmec502 writes: I think it's a cool machine, regardless of the noise, My hearing will eventually return but my finger just won't grow back.
Posted: 8:55 am on December 7th

BdhSdfCr writes: I just can't get excited about a product that destroys a expensive saw blade like that. Granted, a saw blade costs less than a trip to the ER, but I would like to have my finger saved, close my eyes and say a prayer, then get back to work. Now if a competitive product came out that would just drop the blade below the table and cut the power I'd be all in. Especially if it could retrofit to the table saw I already own.
Posted: 9:19 am on November 17th

justahandyman writes: That's Highland Hardware in Atlanta! Recognized some of some of the employees that have been there, I'm guessing, since the earth cooled.
Posted: 10:26 am on October 28th

bradrosin writes: Get a life, it's a chicken bone. I think this guy probably has enough experience to perform this EXTREMELY difficult maneuver.
Posted: 10:43 pm on October 26th

tpobrien writes: SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) suggests that Roy's demo gives a good reason why you don't want a street-facing window on your shop (for the distracting purty gal to appear in).
Posted: 7:36 pm on October 26th

Fabuladico writes: I guess the bad thing about this, is that he can only do this once. After that, the saw is inoperative.

I imagine being a hand tool sort of guy, Roy's not accustomed to such things as ear and eye protection. I should think ear protection would be an absolute must. The noise emitted when the Sawstop is activated must be high in decibels indeed.
Posted: 2:06 pm on October 26th

mchristo writes: No hearing or eye protection, or fence or miter guide either? Guess the Riving knife makes Saw Stop completely idiot proof? Saw Stop looks like a nice tool, but is no substitute for safe working practices.
Posted: 1:39 pm on October 26th

Andy8106 writes: While I concur with all of the safety issues, we are wood workers, most of us home hobbists and I for one really appreciate Roy's sense of humour (note Canadian spelling). I have a Sawstop, which I bought after a very close call with my previous table saw (and a visit to emerg) and it is not only a great tool, but it is also a huge improvement in table saw safety.
Posted: 10:23 am on October 26th

Char50 writes: Sorry, but the sound of the blade dropping like that sounded like a gun shot and scared the crap out of me!
Posted: 10:21 am on October 26th

JPFH writes: It is inconceivable to me that a video about such a great safety product would include such obviouslly unsafe practices as no safety glasses or hearing protection.

Underhill and SawStop should be ashamed of putting this out
Posted: 10:08 am on October 26th

kfb writes: I agree with GEide; all safety areas should be addressed, ie. ear and eye protection. The SAW STOP is a wonderful devise and would be nice to have it as standard equipment on new saws.
Posted: 8:20 am on October 26th

GEide writes: Maybe it's just me... but I'd put some eye protection on if I was trying this at home (and had extra $$$ to burn on blades and cartridges).

Even though it's a safety device, metal meeting metal still seems freaky to me. I stood way far away from the saw when we tried the hot-dog trick at the end of this video:
http://www.finewoodworking.com/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=30456
Posted: 1:58 pm on October 25th

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