SawStop PCS Promotion

[Marks Machinery]

It's Official! SawStop is offering the Free Upgrades of a Mobile Base or Over-Arm Dust Collection System on all Professional Cabinet Saws purchased between March 1st and April 30th of 2016. So if you have been considering upgrading your table saw, this is a great time to do it. Mark's Machinery & More is a small, family owned business located in Fort Smith, Arkansas and is your source for SawStop, Festool, Powermatic, Laguna and a whole lot more. Give us a call if we can help with any of your tool needs. www.marksmachinery.net     

 

[#Tee]

perfect timing! ty for the heads up mark!

 

[Birdhunter]

I have the Sawstop Industrial saw and I would strongly suggest getting both the mobile base and the overarm dust collection.

I'm not sure how the PCS mobile base works, but my base has a pedal that, when pumped, raises the entire saw to engage the casters. It's easy to move. A press on the other side of the pedal gently lowers the saw.

The overarm dust collector is highly effective on most cuts. If I am just trimming the edge off a board, the dust collection isn't very effective. The only issue I have had with the overarm dust collector is sucking a small cutoff up into the blade guard. Loosening a few screws and shaking the blade guard dislodges the offending cutoff.

I traded a really good Delta Unisaw for the Sawstop. Even without the safety feature, the Sawstop is an amazingly great saw.

 

[estley]

I have the PCS, and I upgraded to the industrial base. I tried the PCS base at a Dealer once, the industrial base is absolutely worth the cost.

 

[butzla]

I have the Sawstop Industrial saw and I would strongly suggest getting both the mobile base and the overarm dust collection.

I'm not sure how the PCS mobile base works, but my base has a pedal that, when pumped, raises the entire saw to engage the casters. It's easy to move. A press on the other side of the pedal gently lowers the saw.

The overarm dust collector is highly effective on most cuts. If I am just trimming the edge off a board, the dust collection isn't very effective. The only issue I have had with the overarm dust collector is sucking a small cutoff up into the blade guard. Loosening a few screws and shaking the blade guard dislodges the offending cutoff.

I traded a really good Delta Unisaw for the Sawstop. Even without the safety feature, the Sawstop is an amazingly great saw.

I will echo everything Birdhunter says.  I took advantage of this same offer same times last year on a PCS 3hp.  I also traded up from a Unisaw and think it's much improved over the unisaw.

I purchased mine with both the overarm dust collection system and the regular mobile base. 

Dust collection, except for what Birdhunter speaks of is almost Festool-like.  It's the only blade guard I've ever had that I didn't end up throwing out the first week I got it.  If you detach the overarm hose and make a cut, all the dust comes spewing out the back port, even without the draw of a dust collector.  Looking at it, the channel inside the blade guard is reminiscent of Bose's Acoustic Wave design.  The airflow created by the sawblade momentum routes it out the back on it's own accord.

The PCS mobile base is totally enclosed inside the base so there's no additional foot print when added.  It works great too.  Just one step on the pedal and the whole saw raises up off the floor, including the legs on the Sawstop sliding table that I added.

If you're thinking about getting one, this is a great deal.

As a side note, those wondering if the coating on my Freud sawblade will interfere with the safety function, I asked a Sawstop rep about it at a WW show.  He assured me that it is not a problem with any Freud blades.

 

[RKA]

Did either of you consider the industrial base on the PCS?  I'm wondering if it improves on the one made for the PCS or if it's just beefed up to handle the extra weight of the Industrial saws.

 

[butzla]

Did either of you consider the industrial base on the PCS?  I'm wondering if it improves on the one made for the PCS or if it's just beefed up to handle the extra weight of the Industrial saws.

Apparently, estley likes his Industrial base, but I have no regrets whatsoever with my PCS base. 

 

[travisj]

I have the 1.75PCS and like Jim got it this time last year.  I too have the regular PCS mobile base and the overarm dust collection.  I concur that the dust collection is superb (I traded from a Powermatic).

If I recall correctly, the industrial base is a couple of hundred more to put on than the regular PCS base.  It also raises the overall height of the saw if that is of any concern.  I have the 52" fence/table and the regular base has caused me no issues.  Saw is very maneuverable.

 

[RKA]

Thank you!  Now if I can find time to rebuild my basement stairs and reorganize the piles of stuff in the basement, I'll have a new saw!

 

[Birdhunter]

I asked the Sawstop tech support about the coating on the saw blade. The guy said it would not interfere with the safety feature. Fortunately, I've never tested it.

 

[travisj]

When I bought mine, It was recommended that I use Freud blades with the exception of the thin kerf glue-line rip.  I was told that one comes apart should the brake engage.

 

[butzla]

When I bought mine, It was recommended that I use Freud blades with the exception of the thin kerf glue-line rip.  I was told that one comes apart should the brake engage.

I remember you saying that.  And I asked the Sawstop rep about that blade in particular.  He assured me there's no issue with any Freud blades whatsoever

 

[travisj]

Good to know.  I used to have that blade, but let it go with my Powermatic.  It was handy at times.

 

[Birdhunter]

I use Forrest in my Sawstop. I did a careless thing and triggered the safety. The blade was ruined, but it was intact.

Frankly, I can't see why any blade would come apart.

 

[travisj]

Honestly, I'm not too sure.  I was told the thin kerf would by a dealer.  The physics of the brake/blade engagement are pretty harsh.  That's a lot of force to stop a blade that quickly.  I never put that much thought into it, but the thinner steel, I believed it (and then repeated the apparent bad advice repeatedly).

 

[Marks Machinery]

Having installed many SawStop PCS mobile bases I would agree that the ICS mobile base is definitely superior to the standard PCS base on the promotion. Not only being more heavy duty it offers crazy wheels on all four corners of the mobile base allowing you to move the saw in any direction when the saw is raised. This is very convenient in tight quarters. However I will add the PCS mobile base is also a very nice base and more that adequate for most saw owners needs. We have both bases set up in our showroom in Fort Smith, AR if anyone is in the area and would like to stop by and see both in action. Then you can decide which base would be best for your particular needs.

The dust collection is also absolutely the best on the market. It rates right up with the Festool standards for dust collection. SawStop very rarely offers any kind of promotion, so if you have been waiting for them to go on sale this is about as good as it gets. Keep in mind if you purchase the PCS175 saw you must also purchase the Dust collection blade guard separately, but it does come standard on the PCS31230. If you have been considering a SawStop and have some questions feel free to give ma a call I will be happy to help if I can.

Now on to the coating on the blade question. I have been ask that, as well as "what if you are wearing gloves or what if you are standing on a rubber mat, will that make a difference. The answer is no and to prove that in one of our Hot Dog demonstrations I placed a rubber anti-fatigue mat on the floor and it made no difference. Here is a link to a video I made a few years ago with a fake hand filled with hamburger meat. Hope you enjoy it!   
 

 

[Birdhunter]

As I understand the Sawstop technology, The electronics create a static charge on the saw blade. If anything conductive touches the saw blade, the static charge changes and the brake is released into the saw blade.

Apart from wearing a glove while operating a table saw being highly dangerous, I would question the statement that a gloved hand would trigger the brake. I would think only after the blade cut through the glove and touched flesh, would the brake be triggered.

Just as it doesn't matter what you are standing on when you operate a touch screen mobile phone, I don't believe the Sawstop cares what you are standing on.

 

[grbmds]

I recently purchased a new blade for my Sawstop. It is a Freud full-kerf blade. I would have preferred a thin kerf blade. However, Freud's thin kerf blades are just a few thousandths thinner than Sawstop specs for their saws. I really doubt that any problems would occur with the Freud thin kerf blades even if the brake was tripped. However, why tempt fate and the Freud full kerf blades are great, especially the newer Fusion blades. I did check further with Sawstop and they stuck with their blade specs. The implication from their support section seemed to indicate that it had to do with the thickness of the riving knife on the saws rather than anything related to integrity of the blade. Sawstop would prefer that you buy their blades and, therefore are a reluctant to warranty that any other blades are OK. Still, I can't imagine that a few thousandths thin would make any difference at all.

 

[Birdhunter]

Sawstop does specify acceptable diameters for saw blades and, especially, dado blades. Dado blades require a special cartridge that is different than the cartridge for a regular saw blade.

I queried Sawstop technical support on acceptable saw blades when I first acquired the saw. Forrest blades were OK.

 

[travisj]

I inquired when I bought my saw as well (at the retail level).  I love my Fusion blades.  I ran them before and when I sold my Powermatic, I sold everything at once (all of my blades and most of my miter gauges) and started over with the Sawstop.