Comments on: New CPSC Report: Human Factors in Table Saw Safety

By: Macn

Macn — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:26:34 +0000

Hi Robert,
What concerns me is that in all the demonstations of the SawStop at Shows and on Video a frankfurt or similar is produced from the refrigerator resulting in an obviously damp/cold product being presented to the Spinning Blade.
On the Video where the inventor demonstrates the SawStop he dips his hand a basin of cold water (and it is from memory quoted as being cold salted water) before presenting his finger to the blade.

Why is a room temperature frankfurt not used.

What happens if one has dry skin will the device still activate and has it been demonstrated to do so?

I would suggest that it is unusual for the average woodworker to have hands/fingers that replicate a damp/slimy frankfurt.

Looking forward to your comment
Macn

By: CGH

CGH — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:31:06 +0000

A little arogant, aren’t you!! I hope you never get your hand in the blade. You would have to eat a lot of words.

By: CGH

CGH — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:57:28 +0000

Just because some of you are perfect…Accidents happen to all of us. Have you never tripped on a stair or something else. I wasn’t distracted, tired or using the saw irresponsible, but it got me.
Sawstop asked other companies to license their stopping system. None of them wanted to protect the consumer.
So some of you only want airbags in high end cars?
This is what you are saying about the table saw industry and yes it takes going to “big brother” to get people (companies) to act responsibly.
Sawstop isn’t necessarily asking for THEIR system to be put on all saws. Just some type of safety system. If no one can come up with something else, then yes they should be rewarded for their invention. Wouldn’t you want to be paid your rightful dues.
We have all been taught, “safety first.” That should be at all costs.

By: rbsrig

rbsrig — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:22:01 +0000

The article by Robert Lang is most informative. I have no issue with the SawStop table saw accept for my opinion that it is inferior to the new Delta Unisaw that I purchased 3 months ago after having an INCA (with a riving knife) for more than 20 years, and after testing the SawStop and the newer Powermatic.
As a woodworker with 50 years experience (I still have all of my fingers) and as an ordinary American, I am of the opinion that the Government or its agencies can’t legislate against stupidity. Is the table saw dangerous, YES. The fact that the people using the saw stop have more incidents than other folks gives credence to my opinion. The Government does have a obligation to protect the public, but what the SawStop people are asking for goes beyond that responsibility. They are asking the Government to increase their market share (at least for the short term).
When I go to colleagues shops I almost never see a blade guard on their saws!
People need protection from unscrupulous manufacturers of inherently unsafe products ( i.e. the automobile). If SawStop really cared about safety, they would license the technology to the other manufacturers say for a nominal fee of $10 or LESS, AND would advocate that the device be an OPTIONAL addition to their saws! I for one would not use it. My respect for my equipment is such that I never work when I am tired, under the weather or distracted.
Robert L. Blum
Robert L. Blum

By: paulawest101

paulawest101 — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:10:57 +0000

There’s something inherently evil about a company that cries to Big Brother because “..nobody will license our invention”, so they demand Big Brother make the invention mandatory! Whether SawStop is a good product, or not is irrelevent. What matters is the whining designed purely to maximize profit. I for one find this reprehensibile.

By: Shellac07

Shellac07 — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:30:15 +0000

Having spent years in the computer industry fighting Rambus another patent shop who is know for their predatory and ambitions to control the computer industry through their broad patents I am discussed that SawStop is now joining their ranks. It is way too easy to manipulate patents and amend them years after the original to keep competition at bay in order to garner large royalties.

In general mechanical devices inherently have high failure rates as compared to electronic devices. Has anyone done a failure analysis of the SawStop device? I can not be guaranteed to work everytime; so what is the failure rate? Is it impervious to gum on the blade? I’m notorious for not keeping my blades squeaky clean. How well will this “flesh detecting” technology work if someone develops a non-conductive blade that is superior in cutting ability to today’s blades?

Thanks for listening!

By: measure twice

measure twice — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:37:23 +0000

I have had two tablesaws in my shop for a number of years. I use extra caution when using any powered machine and so far I’ve lost no body parts or blood. I was a machinest for 45 years and still have all my fingers. A SawStop machine would not change my habit of being very careful when using machinery. It would be a good “safety net” should I get lazy. However, the cost of a replacement blade/cartridge would keep me even more alert. My wife’s grandfather lost three fingers using his table saw some years ago. When she saw the SawStop demo at a woodworking show, she gave me permission to buy one, but, she didn’t give me the money..

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:44:15 +0000

Hi Dave,

A patent need only be 20% different to be authorized as a new patent for another company. Broad based means very little. The mechanics of the patent will be the deciding factor.

Lee

By: BRed

BRed — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:41:48 +0000

While there seems to be a majority of “professional” woodworkers opposed to any SawStop-like technologies being required, I question the logic. I am an avid weekend woodworker and respect all tools in both safety operation and maintenance. I have never had a significant injury and can account that to careful observation to standard safety measures. However, just because I haven’t doesn’t mean no one else has or will –and that’s what this technology is about –protecting the entire group, not just the skilled within. This is akin to survival of the fittest when we are looking to grow our base, not scare it away with headlines like; “Toolmakers win battle against safety technology” –what kind of message does that send to the onlooker.

As far as painting SawStop with the evil empire brush, let’s not forget that the founders begged the saw makers to adopt the technology long before going forward and launching their own saw. Had tool makers taken the technology seriously when it was introduces and viewed it as a means to help protect us, their users, they wouldn’t be lobbying so hard to stop the legislation today.

Full disclosure; Yes, I am a SawStop owner; wife liked it and I liked the #1 position in the quality ratings.

By: rnewton43

rnewton43 — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:55:04 +0000

I agree 100% with chuck I have been a professional cabinet maker and trim carpenter for 20+ years. I have my own Delta table saws and a DeWalt job site table saw. None of the saws in my possession have guards on them. I rip boards down to 1 inch and don’t use a push stick, I still have all my fingers and fingernails and have never even had a scratch from blade contact. In those 20+ years I have only had 1 board kick back on me, painful?, yes but no damage done. Just BE AWARE of what you are doing LOOK at where things are….. I am very aware of what I am doing, if I feel the saw start to vibrate a bit I slow down my feed rate, I take extra time when sawing through knots or big shifts in the grain patterns. I keep my saws in a high state of tune and do maintenance religiously my blades are always clean and razor sharp.