Table saw that won't take off your finger

bport · Jun 16, 2011

A buddy in the office took a chunk off his finger in the table saw the other day. His doctor told him that there were now flesh sensing saws that would prevent this kind of injury. I had never heard of it...but apparently it is true. I thought the DIY crowd might be interested!

[video=youtube;cTUOhYcw4ZY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTUOhYcw4ZY[/video]

You wouldn't catch me testing it :wow:, but what a great idea!

HUMPH · Jun 16, 2011

I would like to volunteer to be the rep and call on every school left with a wood shop! It should be mandatory to have that system in schools...

JerryS · Jun 16, 2011

That guy almost lost his weiner! :smt100

That is interesting, I just heard a piece on the radio yesterday about new regulations concerning table saws and that there was one mfg'r that already had the technology.

tbirdvet · Jun 16, 2011

I Saw this on This Old House but it was very expensive but might be worth the investment.

chuck1 · Jun 16, 2011

IMHO - This goes along with the government trying to make everybody wear a life vest.

sdarc · Jun 16, 2011

The product has been around for a few years. The inventor tried to sell to Delta, Powermatic, et al. They didn't go for it so he decided to build and market his own saw. As a safety feature, it does not interfere with the operation of the saw unlike blade guards and splitters.

It's cheaper than lawsuits and insurance premiums. I've seen more fingers fly than I care to in my career. You can be the most careful person in the shop but all it takes is a split second of inattention or brain fade doing repetitve work and it's gone.

stephenm27 · Jun 16, 2011

If you calculate the price premium over a standard table saw of like/kind quality and design and divide that increase by 10, you'll get a very reasonable "cost per finger" to ensure you keep them all.

Even at a $1000 premium, it only equates to $100/finger...that's a no-brainer to me if you're in the market for a saw.

:grin:

OldSkool · Jun 16, 2011

My buddy just bought the saw. I works great on any type of flesh. The saw blade stops instantly. Once the blade is stopped the entire stopping cartage must be changed as it is destroyed. (About 65-75 USD) The blade can also suffer damage as metal blocks are forced ito it. I have had my index finger "pinged" by a table saw blade. It took 12 months to mend and grow a finger nail back along with thousands of dollars in med bills to save the finger.

skibum · Jun 17, 2011

sfergson727 said:
Been around for a while now, but I haven seen any machines with this technology at Home Depot. I wonder what the hold up is?

This is a brand of saw called SawStop. The technology works great. The cartridge and the blade are both destroyed when it stops the blade. The saws themselves cost a good bit more than the regular Jet, Delta, or Craftsman saws do.

I heard that the company put a good deal of effort into trying to get the government to make the technology manditory on every new saw made. Seems to me that they were more interested in licensing their tech to other saw manufacturers than they were in just marketing their own line of saws. Somehow or another, their attempt to get big brother involved failed.

alwhite00 · Jun 17, 2011

The down side is that if you happen to cut some damp wood it trips the saw and you are out $100.00

LK

alwhite00 · Jun 17, 2011

Sorry, Double post :smt021

LK

66pony · Jun 17, 2011

My dad lost 4 fingers in a saw. $1000 would not even cover the ambulance ride now days. (He was flown in also.) $250,000 later he still was withouth 4 fingers. Could still use a saw well though.

Woody · Jun 17, 2011

My dad only had one arm. Us kids got safety and protection of body parts beat into our heads almost every day. So far, so good, I still got every thing I was born with.

Bel_Mar_Pointe · Jun 17, 2011

Maybe shop teachers will have all their digits one day.

Greg · Jun 17, 2011

Sounds like a good idea.

Gary, have you seen this? :huh:

Four Suns · Jun 17, 2011

Greg said:
Sounds like a good idea.

Gary, have you seen this? :huh:

Yes. I have a saw already.... And it scares the crap out of me.

The only thing I have been hurt in the shop with are nail/brad guns.... and sharp knives...

stephenm27 · Jun 17, 2011

While I don't think its use should be mandated by any agency, I do believe the saw represents an amazing value, especially for those of us who type as part a requirement of their income-making ability (e.g. software development).

The reason Delta, etc. didn't adopt/license the technology en masse back when the SawStop founder was simply trying to sell it to them was, according to third-party accounts, they were concerned re liability when the technology failed and an operator lost digits despite having the SawStop protection mechanism. At time, it was relatively new and unproven (ie he had only built prototypes).

OldSkool · Jun 17, 2011

stephenm27 said:
While I don't think its use should be mandated by any agency, I do believe the saw represents an amazing value, especially for those of us who type as part a requirement of their income-making ability (e.g. software development).

Good point. That's why the doctor wanted to keep my index finger. Typing and playing guitar. Which I can still do though I'm not very good at either. LOL

Prater · Jun 22, 2011

If you want to see one in person look for a local Woodcraft Store. I dont think these should be manditory, but if I was a cabinet shop owner I am sure its what would be on the floor. Maybe even get a discount on my insurance...

Ka1oxd · Jun 23, 2011

What ever happened to common sense and safe practice? I was in manufacturing for 15 years on the floor using lots of equipment that could tear limbs off. I was also a journeyman tool and die maker. I admit, if you loose focus on what you are doing, paying attention to the rules, and being distracted, this type of stuff happens. You cannot idiot proof everything and at some point you have to take ownership for your actions. That is what bothers me the most, it is always someone else that is at fault. Whether it is working on equipment or politics, one must you you limitations and accept your responsibility.

Sorry, just had to get on my soapbox! I deal with management idiots all day long.

Table saw that won't take off your finger

bport

HUMPH

JerryS

tbirdvet

chuck1

sdarc

stephenm27

OldSkool

skibum

alwhite00

alwhite00

66pony

Woody

Bel_Mar_Pointe

Greg

Four Suns

stephenm27

OldSkool

Prater

Ka1oxd

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