Feds tackle tablesaw safety - Higher prices are on the way?

[Rob Z]

One thing I have read is that the Sawstop braking mechanism requires a really substantial upgrade to all the parts that are affected when the safety feature is triggered. 

I've always wondered if this will be practical on portable table saws....meaning will the 70 pound portable DeWalt/Bosch/etc table saw end up weighing 150 pounds by the time all the engineering is in place to make the SawStop mechanism work?

 

[bruegf]

One thing I have read is that the Sawstop braking mechanism requires a really substantial upgrade to all the parts that are affected when the safety feature is triggered. 

I've always wondered if this will be practical on portable table saws....meaning will the 70 pound portable DeWalt/Bosch/etc table saw end up weighing 150 pounds by the time all the engineering is in place to make the SawStop mechanism work?

My sawstop contractor saw weighs upwards of 350 lbs, so its not really portable, but I do have the 36" fence and cast iron wing options installed.  Without these the weight is more in the neighborhood of 250 lbs.  Still not very portable, but a very well built saw indeed.  It runs as smooth as a cabinet saw.

Fred

 

[tbellemare]

Isn't your saw parked in a basement, Fred?

Tom

 

[VictorL]

Here is interesting article in the Popular Woodworking

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/editors-blog/safety-rules-for-tablesaws-the-pti-pov?et_mid=512571&rid=3330723

VictorL

 

[irvin00]

I'm a hobbyist, but if I were a professional spending a significant amount of my working time operating a table saw, I would RUN to the store to get something that guarantees my hand's safety. The table saw has to be about the most dangerous woodworking tool - regardless of operator expertise. Paying an extra 200 or 300 bucks for my safety and peace of mind is a no-brainer in my book.

I have no problem with the government madating the technology be implemented on all table saws - it's good for professionals (less competition from those who think they can impersonate a pro by buying a few cheap tools at Harbor Freight) and it's good for hobbyists like me (like most hobbyists, I lack the experience and expertise that makes safety habits second nature). It's probably not good for manufacturers because they will no longer sell so many of those under-$300 saws. They are the ones pushing against the initiative.

 

[bruegf]

Isn't your saw parked in a basement, Fred?

Tom

Yes it is, and it wasn't much fun to get down there either

Fred

 

[otis04]

The initiative has been pushed by the owner of the SawStop technology.  I recently read that he is a patent attorney and has locked up all the possible variations of the technology so if the law passes he stands to make millions.  It is worth noting that other manufacturers are working on alternate technology that will keep fingers away from the blade.  The inference in the article was that this is more complex than a blade guard.

I am all for the free market but this is using the government to sell your product (known by economists as "rent seeking").  When I replace my saw, I will buy something with the SawStop technology but I want it to be MY choice. 

 

[fdengel]

Yeah, I come across videos and photos all the time of people using tools unsafely and calling these things instructional.

I recently got a spray gun and noticed that in all of the video footage and photos that came with it, nobody was wearing safety glasses or a mask of any kind -- to spray paint...

I also cringe a bit when I look at the photo on the Festool site of someone running a board over the HL 850 in planer configuration -- only the workpiece between their hand and the blade...  that thing kicks back one time...

 

[semenza]

Yeah, I come across videos and photos all the time of people using tools unsafely and calling these things instructional.

I recently got a spray gun and noticed that in all of the video footage and photos that came with it, nobody was wearing safety glasses or a mask of any kind -- to spray paint...

I also cringe a bit when I look at the photo on the Festool site of someone running a board over the HL 850 in planer configuration -- only the workpiece between their hand and the blade...  that thing kicks back one time...

In planar config. or jointer config (in bench unit)?

Seth

 

[fdengel]

In planar config. or jointer config (in bench unit)?

Seth

Oops, yes, I meant the jointer config -- in the bench unit.

Somewhat less of an issue the other way around... well, I would *hope* someone wouldn't be stretching to hold the piece up from underneath while running the planer over it...

 

[semenza]

In planar config. or jointer config (in bench unit)?

Seth

Oops, yes, I meant the jointer config -- in the bench unit.

Somewhat less of an issue the other way around... well, I would *hope* someone wouldn't be stretching to hold the piece up from underneath while running the planer over it...

Yeah , thats what I was picturing when I read your post but then I saw the pic and thought ..... hmmmmm.  [eek]

I have never used the bench set up, but I would imagine that the short bed in jointer config. would make it difficult to use push blocks for longer / heavier pieces.  Of course the solution in that case is to add in feed / out feed supports so that pieces can be pushed across safely with blocks or the like.

Seth