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Fine Woodworking Magazine
A Safer Tablesaw
As one company prepares to take its safety-centered cabinet saw to the mass market, here's a look back at an early demonstration of the technology
by the editors of Fine Woodworking
It rips, it crosscuts, and it might just save you from losing a finger some day. That’s the promise of the SawStop cabinet saw, a safer tablesaw new to the market that was recently tested by the editors of Fine Woodworking.
The SawStop is built with many of the same features as a traditional cabinet saw. It has an enclosed cabinet, heavy-duty belt drive, and cast iron trunnions, and it is available with a 3-hp or 5-hp motor. But what sets this saw apart is its safety features. The most notable is a brake that stops the blade instantly when it comes in contact with the operator, activated by an electronic sensor that senses contact with human flesh.
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In 2002, Fine Woodworking editors caught up with the fledgling company SawStop, LLC (www.sawstop.com) for a demonstration of its technology. A representative showed attendees at the Association of Woodworking & Finishing Suppliers show in Anaheim, California, how it worked by feeding a hot dog into the spinning blade to illustrate what would happen to a wayward finger. Remarkably, the blade stopped the instant it touched the hot dog, allowing the dog to escape with no more than a light scratch.
For a review of the SawStop cabinet saw, read Kelly Mehler’s article, "A Safer Tablesaw Finally Arrives," in the Winter 2004/2005 issue of Tools & Shops.
Video: Gary Junken
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The Table Saw Book
Expert furniture maker Kelly Mehler helps you get the most out of this essential tool
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The Bandsaw Book
Lonnie Bird delivers in-depth, practical information on bandsaw setup, tuning, choosing blades, and operation
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