Thread: Saw stop

Let me say a few things about Saw Stop and its inventor.

The inventor is a lawyer.

The inventor has used all kinds of legal maneuvering to force his invention upon the industry.


I have read the original legal submission to the US CPSC. The numbers quoted do not seem logical to me. The pictures (Very graphic) included in the submission appear to be maul lings rather than cuts. The submission just doesn't seem to be correct in my mind.

The common belief is that if a manufacturer adopts the Saw Stop technology it will open the flood gates for multiple lawsuits because there are no retro fit plans for older saws. Even saws that were made 50+ years ago.

The inventor involved himself in a law suit brought by someone that cut fingers off. The saw was a bench top (a.k.a. Job Site) saw. There was no blade guard, no splitter and no fence on the saw at the time of the accident. The user had never been trained on the proper use of the saw. The user was ripping a narrow piece of timber. (Flooring I think.) The jury found in favor of the victim based upon the original saw manufacturer had declined to incorporate the flesh sensing technology in their saws. (And you thought that your juries were FUBAR.)

The inventor is at it again in state legislatures attempting to get the technology made into a legal requirement.

I am probably considered a victim of a table saw accident. If one searches any injury data base for "Table Saw", my accident would offer a hit. I did lose a body part, my thumb nail. I have an old table saw cast iron wing standing on edge in the garage. While cleaning the garage I knocked this cast iron wing over and fortunately my thumb was perfectly positioned to cushion the wing when hitting the floor. So, there you have it, a lost body part and table saw within 50 words of each other in the data base. Counts as an amputation. (Sarcasm intended)

The flesh sensing technology is perhaps the most significant technical achievement in safety for the woodworking shop, EVER.

I was part of a team that installed 10 of the industrial (5 HP) models of the Saw Stop cabinet saw. The fit and finish is as good as almost any other major brand cabinet saw. I haven't been able to use one of these saws yet but they are an impressive saw.

When the Saw Stop first became available I decided not to purchase the saw because Saw Stop does not offer a right tilting model.

Looking at the Video I think it would encourage unsafe work practises and complacency.