Technology that works.

In our maintenance department we have some pretty old tools. One bandsaw is stenciled inside the cover "1957".

But for a few years now I've been lobbying for them to replace the 1970's era tablesaw with one of the new ones from 'SawStop'. At 5 grand they aren't cheap but not terribly expensive either considering the grade of saw it is and how much a chopped off finger would cost.

They finally relented and we installed it last month. And yesterday one of the newer maintenance guys slipped while he was cutting a piece. He said he felt the smallest tingle before the blade disappeared. Literally didn't even break the skin.

It could have ended so much worse, back when I worked in an ER some of the nastiest hand injuries came from table saws. And with this technology they can be completely eliminated.

I've bit myself with a table saw. Just a nick. But I got lucky.

I also had some internal bleeding from kickback once.

If you had the money and space, I'd own a sawstop.

The sawstop is an amazing device.

I wonder how many people with rack up cost by "testing" the safety system.

There was a pic on reddit where a shop had a dozen or so units on the wall.

Totally don't know what you guys are talking about. A GFI for saw blades, what? I will consult der googles.

In reply to 1988RedT2:

Look on Youtubes. It is a cool product.

1988RedT2 wrote: Totally don't know what you guys are talking about. A GFI for saw blades, what? I will consult der googles.

They were big news a few years ago! My dad is getting one and selling his jet.

I'm on my phone and not at the computer for video embedding but YouTube has some good videos of the SawStop in action. Under ultra high speed cameras the inventor of the thing sticks his finger into a running blade and fails to draw blood. berkeleying amazing level of science.

I'm pretty sure I've seen it demonstrated with a hot dog! Didn't break the casing, it's that sensitive!

Having stupidly run a saw through my finger not too long ago I was talking about the stop saw with the ER docs while they were sewing me back together. Oddly they had never heard of it but I guess they wouldn't since there's no injury for them to deal with if one was in use.

After my admittedly minor (all fingers present and accounted for) run in I would definitely pony up for one if I used the saw as part of my day to day routine.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/h3fxrNRmUXc

I know a guy who is dead serious when he says that he is willing to trip his with his face. All he asks is that the person he is demonstrating to pay for the new cartridge.

That's either serious faith in technology, or insane.

Ok, it nicked the hot dog.

In reply to KyAllroad:

Yeah, they're pretty amazing. I didn't realize they were single-use. But even if they are, they're absolutely worth it.

Its amazing how fast they stop the blade. I think I read that bosch is coming out with a competitor soon.

Well hot damn.

How much does it cost each time it stops the blade?

The cartridge is about $60. I'm pretty sure I'd replace the blade as well. Not exactly free but SO MUCH better than the ER visit to have them knit your digits back together.

Now if only they could do the same for a band saw.

My father while a life-long carpenter always suggested that I look into other careers as the risk of bodily harm and lack of insurance was a sure fire way to make it a less than enjoyable career.

PHeller wrote: Now if only they could do the same for a band saw. My father while a life-long carpenter always suggested that I look into other careers as the risk of bodily harm and lack of insurance was a sure fire way to make it a less than enjoyable career.

I figure while still very dangerous, at least with a band saw you can get your hand out of the way before to much damage (relatively) is done. With a table saw....

Joey

Those saw stop table saws are pretty expensive, but even ignoring the stopping tech they are good table saws. If they stop, you WILL have to replace the blade, too, which adds more than just the cartridge cost. Still, i bet reattaching a finger costs more than the saw, an extra blade, and a cartridge, and wallet pain is FAR more bearable than sawing through your bone pain...

I berkeleying hate table saws. I use them, but it always feels like a 'when' not an 'if'. I'm super careful and have never gotten even a little close to the blade, but I still wonder when my day will come.

That's pretty amazing. I'm curious as to how it knows/senses what it's cutting.

In reply to Spoolpigeon:

Kinda like a GFCI outlet, it puts a small electrical charge on the blade and violently applies a brake if detects too much of that charge has gone missing.

yesyes.. replaceable cartridges and blades are much cheaper than an ER visit and post-trauma doctor visits. I would call it cheap insurance

Something something hootus?