Here is an interesting article on an alternative to the SawStop Fixing The Cutting Edge: Innovation Meets Table Saw : NPR
Wade
Wade
The sawstop is not expensive as all get out. When you compare it to similar quality saws (Powermatic), it is often LESS expensive.Great if it works, but the actual sawstop saws are expensive as all get out.
Plus if not careful you can set them off in other ways. I kicked one off in my shop class and the teacher looked up at me, i put my hands into the air and let him know I never touched it (was in fact saveral feet away) upon close inspection, there was an industrial staple that fell down by the blade, and the touch of metal broke the current that set it off. It was scary as hell. I've heard of 4 going off in my school just last year.
That being said 2 of them were actually fired on account of students fingers
the fourth was a similar experience to mine, done by our head carpenter, there was a loose bolt in there and it touched the blade and set it off
Absolutely. Can you imagine what the cost of 2 student fingers in tablesaws would be? Im not talking about the injuries themselves, thats a given. I mean the potential lawsuits and, as usually happens, shutting down programs because of liability issues.
Of course, it has a bypass mode so how long until someone is cutting a piece of metal in bypass mode, then cuts a piece of wood and looses a finger and sues Sawstop because there wasn't a "warning".
Build something idiot proof and the world will build a better idiot.
The biggest problem with the 'Whirlwind', aside from not being available, is that is works like the standard guard on machines that are often removed. If your factory guard is installed it will act very similar to the 'Whirlwind'.
I think SawStops are great but I have issue with how Steve Gass is trying to push them to market (through the gov't) and holds all the vauge patents that prevents others from trying to compete with him.
Of course, it has a bypass mode so how long until someone is cutting a piece of metal in bypass mode, then cuts a piece of wood and looses a finger and sues Sawstop because there wasn't a "warning".
Build something idiot proof and the world will build a better idiot.
The only way that would happen is if you left the saw running after cutting the metal. If you turn it off, it automatically reverts to "stop mode."
Another plus: if anything that shouldn't be is in contact with the blade (a hand, a piece of metal, etc.) the saw will not turn on.
Side note, The SawStop folks tried to strongarm Delta,Porter Cable and B&D the parent company into putting them on their saws and they politely told him where to stuff it.
That being said, I wish my cheap Delta 10 inch table saw had , had one on it when I removed part of one finger and made the middle finger of my left hand only useable for one common gesture for use when in heavy traffic!!
The heck of it is, I've heard that the Saw Stop pattent is owned by an Attorney, and that several years ago he was trying to round up clients that had been injured by table saws that"Could have been equipped with the Saw Stop",
I would gladly pay the 1000.00 or so for one of their saws if I could have use of those two fingers back.
Between the Dr's and Hospitals, my insurance paid out close to 30,000.00.
It was clearly my fault I just had a major lapse of reason and intelligence.
The funny part (if there is one) I was making a pen for my Doctor.