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Saw Stop Table Saws

An avid woodworker with a PhD in Physics, Steven Glass, developed an electronic braking mechanism that senses a drop in electrical charge when human flesh comes in contact with the saw blade and shuts it down. Glass is also a patent attorney and after securing the patent he set about looking for a major table saw manufacturer to license the technology. Delta was the first of many to turn him down, citing a variety of concerns, one of which was “safety doesn’t sell.”

So Glass quit his job, got two million dollars in seed money, and went out and started the Sawstop Company. Their first offering was an industrial grade cabinet saw, which was met with universal acclaim. Later they introduced a lower priced contractor saw and a lower priced professional grade cabinet saw. If Powermatic table saws are known as the “gold standard” of the industry, Sawstop is the Rolls Royce. Before we look at some of the features of Sawstop table saws, let’s take a brief look at the technology that made them famous: the safety system.

The Sawstop Safety System

You can see their revolutionary braking system in action on YouTube and other Internet video sites. It is truly amazing. The now famous “hot dog” demonstration shows that the second the hot dog comes in contact with the blade, you hear a loud “pop” and the blade disappears beneath the table, as if by magic! Sawstop owner and founder Steve Glass can be seen using his own finger, instead of a hot dog, in a demonstration video. The end result? A small knick on his finger. This has been verified time and time again, with some operators experiencing knicks that draw a tiny amount of blood, while others experience only a scratch. Beneath the table Sawstop places its electronically controlled braking system. Human flesh conducts electricity and the braking system sends a small electrical charge through the blade which detects the loss in the charge when flesh comes into contact. In a matter of milliseconds the brake lurches into action, grabbing the rotating blade and stopping it cold.

In the event the blade is triggered, both the blade itself and the braking system will have to be replaced. A new braking system retails for around $70. Sawstop also employs a true riving knife, which is attached directly to the blade assembly and rises, lowers, and tilts with the blade. It is estimated that 10 people a day experience mutilating accidents from table saw blades. Check the Internet and you will find a host of testimonials from table saw operators who still have all their fingers because they were fortunate enough to be using a Sawstop table saw.

Sawstop ICS31230 Industrial Cabinet Saw

This saw comes in a variety of configurations, from a 3 hp 230v model to a 5 hp 480v model to a whopping 7.5 hp 600 v beast. The base model 3 hp saw retails for around $3450 while the 3 hp model goes for around $4250. Sawstop offers some optional features like a mobile base and a right hand extension table.

Sawstop CNS175 Contractor Table Saw

With the introduction of these saws Sawstop has made their safety system affordable to most table saw buyers. You can get the base system with a 1.75 hp motor and a 30 inch fence system for under $1600. A higher end model includes a professional grade 52 inch T-Glide fence system and a right hand extension table for around $1840. You can also get a jobsite cart for this saw for maximum portability. The cart retails for under $200.

Sawstop PCS31230 – TGP52 Professional Cabinet Saw

This model was designed for the home workshop with a standard 3 hp motor which reviewers have compared favorably to more powerful cabinet saws from competitors. It is highly regarded by both professional woodworkers who don’t need the added power of the industrial cabinet saw as well as the avid amateur woodworking enthusiast. It has the same optional features available as the industrial model: both a 32 and a 50 inch fence system, mobile bases, and right hand extension tables.

While Sawstop table saws may be the most expensive on the market, what price can you put on a finger?