Author Topic: Amazing Auto-Stop Saw (Read 4277 times)

Robert Zambelli · « **on:** January 08, 2011, 07:24:59 AM »

A friend told me about this.

Anyone have one?

Bob Z.

http://www.sawstop.com/howitworks/how_overview.php

George · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2011, 08:15:48 AM »

Amazing piece of equipment!

George

Alan Resinger · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2011, 08:35:22 AM »

As someone who has spent a lot of time using a table saw and even teaching table saw safety and proper usage. I've used and seen first hand the Auto-Stop system. I always spend more time figuring the safest way to make a cut than doing the actual procedure. Over the years I've had a few near misses with the mighty table saw and I am probably one of the most careful users ever. I've worked in wooden boat and cabinet shops and seen more accidents than I like to remember. One of my friends down in Oregon worked in a cabinet shop most of his life and waited til he retired to stick his finger in a saw. My own cabinet saw doesn't have an Auto-Stop, but I highly reccommend them. One thing they don't show is what happens to the blade when the stop is activated. Oh well, blades are cheap compared to fingers.
Alan Resinger

proparc · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2011, 11:30:12 AM »

As a guitar player, Auto Stop is the only saw I would consider for a big shop saw. The feature has been licensed to other brands so you can look for it on other makes.

Forgot to add: If, I was going to use a BIG shop saw. I personally believe that, the Micromark size saws, with their smaller blades and gazillion small teeth, are significantly safer than the big ones.

Leester · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2011, 11:43:43 AM »

Only draw back is a contractor saw is 1500.00 + and a cabinet is 2500.00, to 4000.00 + I realize fingers etc. are hard to put a price on but that's a chunk of change. Pro's will pay that but your average joe will be hard pressed to talk the powers that controll the purse strings into one.

kenneth cook · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2011, 12:54:09 PM »

As a carpenter myself, I witness several saws in use every day and I met the inventor of this device personally a few years back. I laugh when I see examples this one included showing safety related items. For starters, NEVER should that blade be extended any more than 1/4 of an inch above the material being cut. I know in this example its to show the hot dog. That blade is inches high. The operator should also be using a crosscut mitre gauge for that small of a piece of plywood. I was in my apprenticeship when I watched my good friend cut off half of his hand while doing the same thing this fellow is doing. As the piece was passing through, it somehow twisted between the fence and blade shooting back and hitting him in the groin. This caused him to fall on the blade. I won't even mention the fact that his cuff is loose as well. The other point is that he is pushing the piece with his left hand while not firmly pushing the piece with his right. His entire hand is flat on the piece while he is using to hold the hot dog. This is a big no no as the piece on the right should just be left floating as you exit the cut piece through the fence. This is just what my friend did. I find it hard to believe that this is being used for a safety demonstration. The other point is that there is no kickback gaurd in place or a gaurd over that blade. Pretty stupid if you ask me. As for the device, I think its well thought out. What I find equally important is good safety training. This video lacks exactly just that. Unfortunately my father after 46 years as a machinists just suffered a career ending accident to his hand and I don't want mine to end the same way. Ken

david beazley · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2011, 07:22:11 AM »

Fingers are hard and costly to replace. I have seen demos of this saw in action and they are impressive. one detail left out of the sales literature is that once the safety stop has been activated, the saw is no longer usable until the safety stop cartridge is removed and replaced. Ths saw has to be dismantled to change the cartridge and there is a possibility that the blade may be damaged as well. I have heard that the replacement cost upwards of $100/ea. I can see the justification for the unit but there is no substitute for good safe practices in the shop. But like the old commercial says "pay me now or pay me later".

John Stiles · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2011, 07:28:21 AM »

Hogwarsh....I bought a 2hp tablesaw several years ago, and immediately took off the guard and threw it away. Then on one successive useage, I stuck my thumb in the 10" blade......made a sound familiar only to a seasoned vietnam vet like myself. Straight to the emergency room!

Then I took the guard off my skil-saw.....and on one of my plywood cutting adventures, it jumped backwards across the board and into the top of my thigh..........almost got the femoral artery. Had to clamp it shut with my right hand while making the 1 hour drive to the emergency room.....man was my hand tired!

George · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2011, 07:54:57 AM »

Quote from: kenneth cook on January 08, 2011, 12:54:09 PM

...The other point is that he is pushing the piece with his left hand while not firmly pushing the piece with his right. His entire hand is flat on the piece while he is using to hold the hot dog. This is a big no no as the piece on the right should just be left floating as you exit the cut piece through the fence. This is just what my friend did. I find it hard to believe that this is being used for a safety demonstration...
Ken

Well Ken, they did use some hot dog for the demo!

George

john e. holliday · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2011, 08:01:37 AM »

Shop safety is learning to use the safety features that come with the equipment. I have a Shop Smith sitting in the corner waiting for me to fire it up again. Just need room.

John Stiles · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2011, 09:29:26 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on January 09, 2011, 08:01:37 AM

Shop safety is learning to use the safety features that come with the equipment. I have a Shop Smith sitting in the corner waiting for me to fire it up again. Just need room.

Shux, Doc....I thought safety features were designed to prevent idiots like myself[whom don't know beans about how to correctly use a machine

] from injuring ourselves. Can you stitch me up next time?

john e. holliday · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2011, 01:39:38 PM »

A bottle of CA will be brought along. Then next time you will be more alert.

Greg McCoy · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2011, 02:47:49 PM »

One drawback, this will not work with aluminum.

John Stiles · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2011, 02:57:59 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on January 09, 2011, 01:39:38 PM

A bottle of CA will be brought along. Then next time you will be more alert.

Ouch...I see your point!

stephen hollier · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2011, 02:17:33 PM »

I saw this work last year at a Safety conference impressive I'll say.

David Hoover · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2011, 03:30:53 PM »

But I'm not going to give up my push sticks and push blocks any time soon!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #16 on:** January 12, 2011, 04:12:58 PM »

Quote from: stephen hollier on January 12, 2011, 02:17:33 PM

I saw this work last year at a Safety conference impressive I'll say.

Did the demonstrator actually put his finger or thumb to the blade?

stephen hollier · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2011, 11:41:28 AM »

No we tried getting him to use his finger but it was a hot dog.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2011, 07:50:14 PM »

Shows how much he trusts his product.