Sawstop problem????

[jttheclockman]

I read this on another woodworking site and it is something of a concern. Now I do not own one of these table saws so I have no reference to go by. But if you do,it maybe worthy of paying attention to. With electronic circuitry you can get false triggers or other weird happenings. I believe with all the technology being put in cars today we are one of these false triggers from disaster. There have been examples with recalls.

Just a note about the saw though and here is the link.

Sawstop problems - WOODWEB's Architectural Woodworking Forum

 

[bmachin]

John,

Regardless of all the problems that can occur with technology, cost benefit ratios, failure rates, redundancy, etc., what struck me was that the OP in the link, when faced with a situation which could produce a serious/lethal injury, chose (apparently) to look for a solution to the problem by going to a web forum rather than the manufacturer.

This is not a "How do I align my drive belts/tailstock?" sort of problem.

FWIW

Bill

 

[jttheclockman]

Bill from what I read he did go to Sawstop and they are looking into it. I know many people on those forums have told him to. I think he was asking if it has happened to anyone else. Even if it has not it is something to be aware that is possible. Even with all technology, things still can go wrong and we should not get complacent in the work place or anywhere else. Hopefully the disclosure of the conversation with Sawstop will be published. Maybe you will also see some sort of warning from the company or even a recall. Time will tell.

 

[Brian G]

Maybe nobody that has the good sense to uplug their saw when changing blades or fiddling with the setup ever had the same thing happen because their saw was unplugged while they were changing blades or fiddling with the setup.

I'm not going to mince words: failing to unplug a tablesaw (or any machine) when adjusting the blade or fiddling with the setup is flat out stupid. Yes, that comment is an insult. Here's to hoping the insult prevents somebody else from injury.

I'm not excusing or marginalizing the danger of unexpected starts, which is a problem that the manufacturer should examine and fix.

 

[Curly]

Brian if you had a SawStop you would know that there is an isolation switch before the electronics and regular switch to lockout the saw for maintenance and blade changes just like industrial machinery. Now that doesn't excuse one from being safe on another brand of saw that doesn't have a lockout switch to isolate the saw and unplug it. A hard wired saw will have an isolation switch or be locked out at the electrical panel.

Thanks John for bringing this to our attention. I'll follow this thread to see what is happening with the saw to see if it applies to mine when I get to use it again.

 

[Brian G]

Pete, if I had a SawStop, I'd still unplug it.