Sawstop w/out brake? Incra or SS fence?
Hello all,
I have been green-lighted to make the plunge for a sawstop cabinet saw by my beautiful ex-wife (loooong story with a happy ending…).
I’ve got a couple of questions that I haven’t been able to find answers to in the archives. My apologies if i’ve overlooked something.
First, can the SS be run without a brake, say when the brake fires and another is not on hand? In other words, will it run as a regular cabinet saw or is it too “smart” for that? I’m asking in part out of curiousity and partly because I’m wondering whether to pony up $80 for a spare cartridge that could be better spent now…
Second, I currently have an old powermatic contractors saw with an Incra system on it. I like the Incra system a lot, but it does have some drawbacks and it will cost about $100 to convert over to the SawStop. I’m considering selling the contractor saw with its old fence and keeping the incra, selling the old and incra and buying a new incra already set up for a SS from Woodpeckers, or going with the SS fence. Does anyone have particular warnings for putting the Incra on a SS and or have strong feelings about the stock fence that comes with SS?
Thanks in advance!
Chris C
PS for anyone in N. Idaho or surroundings, I’ve posted my old saw on the moscow/pullman craigslist tools section (under washington).
Replies
Chris,
I know that the Sawstop has an brake override feature which would be used when cutting non-ferrous metals or particularly green wood. I do not know if the saw can be used without the brake cartridge installed, though I recall a morning when we had a "Sawstop emergency" where we had to get a cartridge installed so that work could continue. I don't know if this is because we weren't allowed to use the saw without the brake or if the saw wouldn't work without it.
My knee jerk reaction to using the Sawstop without the brake was "why not buy another saw then?" but then as a reread your message, it sounds like you're trying to put of buying a spare cartridge for the time being.
I'm sure you'll get some better help soon.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Thanks Chris! Yes, I'm not planning to run the saw without a brake in place, but would like to know if I must have a spare on hand to avoid saw stoppage (pardon the pun...)
Cheers,Chris C.
Chris,
Back in high school, there was a rule that power tools could only be used if a qualified shop teacher was present. The power outlets in the shop was contolled by a key. When the shop teacher was away and an unqualified substitue was present to "babysit", we'd have to devise ways to continue working, otherwise it was a day of dreadful sanding. For smaller tools we'd run an extension cord from the hallway into the shop. The tools would have to be quiet, or else we'd get caught. The other thing we conjured up is a manual powered tool. This worked best with the lathe. We affixed a handle to the outboard faceplate and one person would crank the handle while the other would turn. This was better and worse than a treadle lathe. The movement was continuous, but also tiresome. A treadle lathe would have been very difficult to rig up given the 30' ceilings.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
The current SawStop (ICS) will not run without a break... but I am not sure about the older models. I found this out when I purchased my saw in March, 08. I purchased one break and had to go back when I installed my Dado blade(s). Even in bypass, the saw will not start.
My suggestion is to buy one regular and one dado break - unless you are a production shop where the down-time will cost you more than the cost of a quick trip to the store.
As for the Incra, you will need to be extra careful. One small bump and you'll be buying a new break and blade. On the other hand, the SS fence isn't cheap and the 100 bucks to upgrade the incra doesn't sound bad. I went with the SS, 52" fence/rails, mobile base, one dado and one regular break. $4,300. About twice of what I wanted to spend but I do not regret it.
Maybe I'm cheap but my fears of replacing the break and blade have made me a safer woodworker.
Thanks Tbagn, sounds like I'll want to buy a spare since there's not a local dealer within 90 miles. If I stick with the incra, I'll definitely add an aux fence to avoid any expensive mistaken metal-metal contact.
Chris, you story about HS is great! Perhaps I can run the 220 line from my neighbor's...
Thanks all!
C
"Perhaps I can run the 220 line from my neighbor's..."
If only!Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
You say that the SS will not run without a brake. But just for clarification, can one run the SS with a dado blade and turn the brake off? So in other words, if I don't have a dado brake, but want to use a dado blade, can I do this? My assumption is yes, since you can run the SS with the brake turned off for wet wood.
I don't think you can run it without the brake cartridge installed and since the dado set won't fit in the standard brake ............
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London
SawStop and Incra
Thank you Tbagn for you input. I have chosen the SawStop 3hp cabinet saw with the Incra combo including the router table. I have searched the internet over and cannot seem to find any information on exactly how to set this up. There seems to be some discrepancy in terms of how to attach the Incra and to what side and exactly what items to order from SawStop as well as Incra. I was hoping you could help considering it looks like you have close to the exact setup that I will be purchasing.
Any assistance you can offer is greatly appreciated.
I swithed from a Jet with the Incra fence to the SS with the SS fence. I would have prefered to keep the inrca fence but space was an issue so I went with the stock fence from SS. The stock fence does fine for me. I am 99% sure you cannot run the saw w/o the brake or if the brake trips.
Charlie
Hello Charlie,
Could you be more specific about why you would have preferred to keep the incra and why the SS does fine? i.e. is there anything you miss or don't miss about the incra or prefer about the SS fence? My sense is that I can't go wrong here, but... :)
Thanks in advance.
Could you be more specific about why you would have preferred to keep the incra.
Maybe because he has it and was expensive! I have one and a wonderful tool for the job if it fits the job at hand!
Sorry to be late on a reply it's been a rough week. I liked the accuracy and repeatability of the incra fence along with the micro adjust. In addition I have my router on the side of my tablesaw and liked using the incra fence with my router. You can accomplish the same with the sawstop fence just not as quickly sometimes. If I had the space to the side of the table I would definitely stuck with the incra. If you have more questions feel free to post them I will try to check back at lunch tomorrow.Charlie
Thanks Charlie and all for the replies. Charlie, sorry to hear it's been a bad week...
Yes, I love the incra for the reasons Charlie mentioned. I was reminded of that today because I had the chance to kick the tires on a sawstop with the stock fence. The ss fence is definitely solid and looks accurate, but I immediately reverted to the "tap the fence" to get to just the right spot on the tape. As of now, I'm planning to keep the incra (and yes, it was pricey, but I was lucky to get a deal on the one I have...).
Cheers,Chris C.
Even if the saw could be run without the cartridge in place (sounds from above like it cannot), I would still vote for buying an extra cartridge or two up-front. Human nature being what it is, procrastination is likely. Weeks could go by before the new cartridge was ordered, negating the safety feature completely.
Human nature being what it is, procrastination is likely.
As in the first BIG horse I ever rode. I have NO idea what breed.. Almost as big as a the horses that haul the Budwiser beer wagon.. But not the same.. She was a VERY friendly horse! NO, you never thought of hurting her! She would stomp you to death in a moment!
My friend in the Army.. He saw this horse.. And his father (rich I'd guess) leased a train car and a Vet to go with her from Texas to Ohio to give her a new home..
Damn that horse was big! I only rode her once.. I Ohio after I got out of the Army, My friend and his father were BIG folks.. I was the skinni guy!
If the SS won't run without a brake cartridge, in a pinch can it run with a damaged brake cartridge that's already been triggered if in the "bypass" made? (Assuming the assembly is intact enough to still fit in place)
Edited 9/2/2008 10:42 pm ET by Knotscott
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