Pictures and Quick Impressions of SawStop PCS 1.75 HP w/ 36" Extension

DavidCBaker

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May 31, 2010
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I decided to upgrade my table saw, from a crappy poorly-made one to the new SawStop PCS 1.75 HP Professional model, with a 36" extension table. I also upgraded the fence and the blade guard. The latter has a built-in dust port, so you can hook the Festool dust extractor to it and then I hook the Fein up to the 4" port in the base of the cabinet.

I put it together this morning (I was intentionally slow and deliberate, and it took about 4 hours to assemble and true it--a real man would have done it in 2 hours) and then used it just a bit this afternoon. All that to say that I don't have complete impressions yet.

First some pictures:

entire.jpg


I got the optional wheeled stand. You can get an hydraulic one, but I don't see the point. It's very easy to push down with your foot.

stand.jpg


I also upgraded the fence. Wow, is that thing smooth and rock solid. It's loose while you move it, but once you lock it down with the red knob, that sucker doesn't move at all.

fence.jpg


Here's a picture of the hook where you hang the blade changing wrenches and the push stick.

hook.jpg


Here's a picture of the blade with the guard off. That lever you see is a quick release for the riving knife or guard/vacuum. Just out of sight on the other side of the blade is a bright yellow adjustment for the integrated brake (their safety system).

blade.jpg


More pictures...

status.jpg


side.jpg


wheel.jpg


First impressions:

1) The build quality is stellar. Just absolutely exceptional.

2) Lots of fine usability engineering went into the design. Placement is well thought out and all the adjustments are very easy to make.

3) The setup instructions are superb. Everything is in a color-coded blister pack with good drawings.

4) The legs under the extension don't match the quality of the remainder.

5) The wheels should probably be a little bigger to make it easier to roll.

6) This thing cuts like a hot knife through butter.

7) Regardless of what you think of the safety feature built into these, it's a saw that would stand against anything else in terms of quality.

More info coming as I get used to it. Very happy so far.
 
David

I have the contractor version, I've been very happy with it.  Your observations are spot on.

My wife saw the ad and said, get one.  Every time she hears me fire up that beast she says, "I'm so glad you bought that"

Doesn't hurt that I use it to cut wood instead of hot dogs    ::)
 
Brice Burrell said:
Let us know how well the dust collection works for you.  Is that a Diablo blade? 

No, it's the new Freud thin kerf 40-tooth do everything blade.
 
Jay Knoll said:
My wife saw the ad and said, get one.  Every time she hears me fire up that beast she says, "I'm so glad you bought that"

My wife said the same thing. My uncle was over for breakfast and I pointedly asked him how he lost his middle finger and the tip of this thumb, knowing how it had happened, but figuring my wife needed to hear that. :)
 
I had pre-ordered the 3 hp PCS and love the saw.  Completely agree with everything said (including the free crate of hotdogs for the price).  The legs under the extension are a bit flimsy looking, but so far, I have had no issue with them and I do move mine fairly often.

My one caution is when you by a dado stack.  The saw's dado brake assumed an 8" stack.  My Dadonator from Infinity is about 8 1/8" and that extra size gets you close to the brake; if you don't check and adjust, you might set it off immediately (annoying, but still user-error).

I also blogged about concerns with staples.  Click here if you have insomnia :)
 
Great looking shop David!  The floor looks very comfortable to stand on -- is it difficult to vacuum up sawdust?

 
RonWen said:
Great looking shop David!  The floor looks very comfortable to stand on -- is it difficult to vacuum up sawdust?

The dust comes up quickly with the floor vac attachment. It's called RaceDeck--I've been very happy with it. The sawdust actually sinks into the tiles and you don't track it around, but it cleans up easily.
 
Nice saw! I still say Festool can not compare to any true table saw for much work. It seems you agree.  :)

I think the race deck looks great, but I could not stand on it that long. I went with a 1/2" rubber floor puzzle mats and it made a noticeable improvement on my back pain and was less than 1/3 the cost of the race deck. It looks fantastic as well. It is so soft and nice you can run out in the garage in your socks no problem(if one wanted to do that) and it is not cold at all. It acts as a great insulation from the moisture in the concrete as well. I put down 6 mil plastic and then covered the floor wall to wall with the interlocking mats.

It is on its 6th year and still going strong.
 
I recently bought the contractor version with cast iron wings and 36" fence (the 1.75 hp pcs was announced a month after I bought mine - I would have waited had I known it was coming :-(.   I would concur that the saw quality is top notch and came w/ the best assembly instructions I have ever seen.

Consider adding the wixey digital readout to your fence.   Its a very nice $100 upgrade.   Also consider replacing the marginal miter gauge with an Incra 1000SE miter gauge.   Its a huge improvement, also priced around $100.

Just be careful not to get the incra fence too close to the blade - guess how I know that.    My dad was over to help me a week ago and was cross cutting a piece of corian and decided to move the miter gauge from the left side of the blade to the right side without thinking about the fact that I have a metal fence instead of the sacrificial wood fence he has on his unisaw.   Got almost thru the cut and BAM!.  

I can report with full confidence that the brake works extremely well.   I have two hair line scratches where the teeth of the HATB blade made contact with the incra miter gauge fence.   You can barely feel them with your fingernail.   Unfortunately my blade is toast as a tooth broke off right at the bottom of the gullet while trying to extract the blade from the brake.

The blade was an HO Schumacher (made by Leitz I think) 80T HATB variable pitch blade that I really liked, but can't find anymore.   Any suggestions as to what to replace it with, Freud, Forrest, ???

Fred
 
bruegf said:
The blade was an HO Schumacher (made by Leitz I think) 80T HATB variable pitch blade that I really liked, but can't find anymore.   Any suggestions as to what to replace it with, Freud, Forrest, ???

Fred

Fred,
Try Mike Jackson at Leitz in Grand Rapids.  I've gotten all of my HO Schumacher & Sohns blades from him via his clearance sales and also love my 80T HO S&S blade for crosscutting and plywood.  If he doesn't have them anymore he can suggest another blade with the same geometry and performance.
mjackson@leitztooling.com
 
nickao said:
Nice saw! I still say Festool can not compare to any true table saw for much work. It seems you agree.  :)

Yes, absolutely. There are just too many times when a TS is the easiest tool to use in a given circumstance.
 
bruegf said:
Consider adding the wixey digital readout to your fence.   Its a very nice $100 upgrade.   Also consider replacing the marginal miter gauge with an Incra 1000SE miter gauge.   Its a huge improvement, also priced around $100.

Thanks--I'll check into those.

For the blade, check out the newer 40-tooth combination narrow kerf blade by Freud.
 
DavidCBaker said:
My uncle was over for breakfast and I pointedly asked him how he lost his middle finger....

He's a much nicer guy on the road these days, or so I'm told.  ;D
 
David just wondering why you did not go with the 3 HP version, money?

I have a table saw my wife purchased, delivered and dragged into my shop herself so I can never get rid of it, it's sentimental. She put a big bow on it and it was in the shop for Christmas morning. As a 1.75 HP cabinet saw the only gripe I do have is its slightly underpowered for some things.

If I ever get the Saw Stop it will be the 3hp.  :)
 
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