Thread: Another blade stopping tech

Originally Posted by LanceC

Interestingly this safety technology has been available in production bandsaws used in meat processing facilities for a while, so it's certainly achievable. My understanding is that upon activation tension is released from the blade to allow the wheel to "slip", which takes most of the kinetic energy out of the picture.

See the Australian and NZ examples. BladeStop Bandsaw - Reducing bans saw operator injuries » Scott (scottautomation.com),
and The Guardian Bandsaw - YouTube

I think the Guardian system is brilliant though, as the feedback/metrics provided to a meat room really drives a safety culture and processes rather than it just being a technology fix.

Not sure how that would translate to a table saw. And relatively slow moving band saw without a ton of kinetic energy driving it. But on a table you would need something like a magnetic clutch (or motor off) to disengage, then a brake or clamp to come on for it to stop instantly.

That guardian one is cool.

Please,point out the part where anyone mentioned about NOT having guards and safety devices, and also the part about anyone who has an accident is obviously an idiot.

or, maybe, I might be an idiot, as I’ve been the unlucky recipient of a spinning metal blade injury, twice, but both times using all appropriate safety guards and precautions. Luckily I had great surgeons who could repair the damage so that people don’t label me as a woodworking idiot.

Personally I can understand them not wanting to give out too much information until they have some patents in place. Even with patents, the patent system is so deeply flawed that this is little practical protection for your IP. It seems the patent system works for patent lawyers and does nothing for inventors. Plus the Chinese shameless steal everyone's PI anyway.

Obviously they expect a legal challenge from SawStop, so they need to have their ducks in a row. They are not yet shipping internationally so there is no threat to us outside North America of a scam. Just don't order it until it is more established. Simples.

Personally I would love to have something on my band saw and on any future band saw. Especially in the price range they are talking about. I love how this is designed to fit most existing machines. At least that is the claim. I really like my SawStop table saw, but I couldn't afford to by a high quality machine for every machine in the workshop.

I wonder what happens when you put wood into the band saw that is not fully dry.

The other two machines I'd like to have similar fail safe technology are my jointer and my SCMS.

The guardian system is very impressive. Not all that practical for a hobby woodworker in a hot climate unfortunately.

This "just keep your hands away from the blade" is being misinterpreted I think. On the face of it, this sort of comment is not the appropriate attitude to safety. However perhaps the author only meant, that one of the biggest risks is that too many people put their hands too close to the blade. Not that other safety features/opportunities should be ignored.

One scary moment I had with the bandsaw was when a work piece rolled out of my hands and I had not anticipated this. (I should have anticipated it). My hands were away from the blade but in a different circumstance they could have been pulled over into the blade.