Finally a saw the kids can use.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bfd_1176295520

 

I've seen that before. I wonder how much it cost.

 

Bunch of nonsense...back when I was a kid we didn't have no fancy safety features. The way it use to be, kids weren't too good to cut a finger off like the adults...and if we did cut off a finger or hand, by god we liked it.In fact, you weren't considered a man until you did. Besides, why do you think you got two hands and ten fingers...that's called intelligent design, it allows you to mess up a few times and learn from your mistakes...cut off a finger and by god you'll be more careful next time.

Tim

 

Unique perspective you have there, Tim!!!!


I just noticed. . . Greeneville, TN.
Are you anywhere near Eastview Elementary School????
(I lived right behind there, as a little tike!) No, not last week! Ha!

 

I'm on several different woodworking forums, and from time to time, a discussion of the SawStop comes up. It's a neat idea, but...

This guy couldn't sell his system to any of the major saw manufacturers. He then tried to get his safety system legislated, and when that didn't work, he tried to go through the Consumer Product Safety Commision to get it mandated. The guy is a lawyer.

Now, if you want to buy his saw, be prepared to pay about double what a similarly-equipped (minus the SawStop system) cabinet saw would cost. (Think roughly $4500-5000 vs. $2000-2500.) Plus, the blade-brake cartridges are $50ish, and if it fires, it will destroy your blade. So, if you are in a production setting when it fires, you better have an extra cartridge and an extra blade on hand ($150). Otherwise, you would have to wait for your cartridge order to come in. Nuisance trips, while not common, do happen, so if one does, you're out $150.

It's all about the risk factor. I'm comfortable enough using just about any tablesaw, because I have used plenty over the years. I don't fear them, but I do have a healthy respect for them. Some would even say that such a safety system would give the user too much confidence and lead them into developing unsafe habits on a tablesaw.

Jason

 

It's a really good idea but unless the price drops considerably, it won't ever catch on.

 

He didn't try to sell his system, he tried to license it (big expensive difference) at 8% of the cost of each saw, if I remember right. He is a patent lawyer and specialized in that before going into the saw business (from the run around), and yes he did try to legislate it into being (and patented other similar idea's).
When they first came out, there is a sensor that tells you if the wood is to wet so you have to shut off the safety. It was malfunctioning, but sounds like it has been straightened out since.
His contractor version is way behind schedule (and that is the one that might take off, IMHO), and he seems in no hurry to get it out, as he has had a lot of school districts and commercial shops order before and after accidents.

 

I'm terrified of table saws. Of all the dumb and dangerous things my grandfather did*, the only serious, permanant injury he got was from a table saw, where he lost a finger, and most movement in the one next to it. And I'd gladly pay $150 to replace the blade and safety rather than lose my finger.

But, I can't say as I'd buy that saw. Seems to me as though it's too likely to have an expensive "false alarm," and the fact that the guy tried to get it made a requirement makes me not want to give him a dime.

*Just ask, I've got lots of stories...

 

As a 22 year shop teaching veteran, I can see the value of this tool, but I don't think I'll be ordering one anytime soon. I prefer to teach kids to use the saw in as safe a manner as possible instead of teaching them to rely on safety devices to protect them.
When using a table saw, it is completely possible for the operator to conduct sawing tasks safely if he/she obeys the rules.
At $150 a pop for false alarms, I couldn't afford it anyway as the kinds of kids I usually have in class would soon figure out a way to trip it "accidentally". I'd truly rather have them respect the saw than to know that they could now behave more recklessly with impunity.
For insurance purposes in an industrial/commercial setting, I see it as being very useful.
Sorry it took so long to finally respond. Being shy a few digits doesn't prevent you from typing, just slows you down!

 

From the people who have worked for school districts that have posted, in the various forum's I've visited, the kids and their parents sign a waiver, that makes them financially responisble for every trip they cause, whether it saves a finger, or they do something purposely.
The insurance is the reason a couple of them mentioned swapping saws in the school, one teacher was happy, he was looking at getting the old one.

 

I wonder why the guy in the video uses a wenie instead of his finger. I'm with thorseshoeing...real men don't need no stinking safty features!

 

You said it right there Jason! Respect! Whether it be a saw or truck or motorcyle......you must have respect for the machine as to what it can do to you if you are not safe with it. Safety and respect go hand in hand!

 

neat idea, but a waste of money (in my opinion). have your local schools' shop teachers spend a day teaching them the saftey aspects of machines/tools, quiz them later on, and go from there. they goof off or mess up on machines, warn them once, second time no more priveldges. worked at my h.s. "back in the day"...

kinda funny seeing the screwoffs getting sent to another classroom where they were learning about baking when the "guys" where having fun building cabinets and work tables

 

ROFL! Thats hilarious

 

I respect any power tool I use. We have a Powermatic table saw at work. I've seen it throw full pieces of 3/4 plywood at people that didn't know how to use it. It wasn't the saws fault it was the operator. I don't see this safety ever becoming a common part of table saws. Its too expencive & used properly a table saw isn't very dangerous. I fear a skill saw more. Its not fastened down & is more dangerous IMO. I know more people that have been cut with one than I've known to be hurt with table saws. I've spent over 30 yrs in home construction & all the powertool injuries I witnessed of were caused by careless operators.