Rank: Forum user 
|
Hi
has anyone any experience of a product called Sawstop? It's an easy Google search to find more details but on initial viewing it looks pretty good. Given the high number of industry wide incidents (and especially in the US) with table saws I was just wondering what peoples opinions of such products were.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
It is totally amazing the lengths people will go to to avoid using a Crown Guard
Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Wouldn't say that accident stats are high in woodworking anymore. You cannot compare the US with the UK.They have different standards of H&S (mush below ours I believe)
In the UK you are expected to use A crown guard, riving knife, push stick and take off table as well as be properly trained. The whole focus is stopping fingers coming into contact with the blade not stopping the blade if contact is made. So in that respect this saw stop would not comply with UK legislation if used as sole means of protection.
Personally I wouldn't risk using it. Would you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
I was in negotiations with SawStop a couple of years ago with regard to becoming the UK importer.
There were so many more updates and modifications to the machine to make it saleable in the UK/EU that it was not at the time economically viable.
SawStop are still working on this now with a specialist CE marking consultancy.
We will see them in the UK/EU soon, but not quite yet.
As Clairel says and you can read between the lines of my post even with this device, there are still many other requirements in the UK/EU that the machine did not meet.
It is impressive though and I believe that combined with the UK safety culture and the machine standards over here it would be impossible to get severe injuries.
There are other investigations with regard to fitting this technology to other machines.
However, the mechanics of the table saw lend themselves best.
None of the big EU based machine builders seem interested in the system, so that must say something?
Oh the cost too would be extensive, I believe that I had and still have a market where this machine would sell though.
Not on an open forum though!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Wow, I have never come across that, and while it looks impressive, would I trust this in preference to physical, visible guarding already mentioned. Nah! I would always have the niggle at the back of my mind about whether it was going to work when I needed it to.
Mind you I was particularly impressed with the creator of the gadget who was confident (stupid?) enough to put his own finger in this to demonstrate it. Braver than me!
Paul, please tell me that you weren’t going to import this as a kitchen gadget for cutting hot dogs up; it doesn’t work J
Many years ago as an apprentice, I recall that EVERY one of the workers in the wood mill, full of planers, thicknessers, spindle moulders, mortisers, table saws, cross cut saws etc etc, had something missing!
Glad things have moved on since then. They have haven’t they?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Agree with all of the posts above, and having been responsible for a wood machine shop some years ago, and the upgrading that came through PUWER98 I can confirm that fixed and moveable guarding, limited projection tooling, DC braking and restricted access to moving parts by fixed panels or electrical interlocks has greatly improved safety.
I too remember the days (apprenticeship) when a machinist wasn't considered any good if he had all his digits entact.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Interesting - but how do you pre use check to see that it will operate as required?
David
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
What if the hand slips forward into the blade, theres not way it would reactive in time. The video looks impressive but I imagine most injuries would occur when hand slips not when it moves slowely towards the balde
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
I agree with the earlier posts, the emphasis should continue to be on preventing contact with the blade, not on reducing the severity of the resulting injury.
I looked at these a couple of years ago, and felt they have too many dangerous failure modes to be very useful. In the USA, where it is normal to use unguarded circular saws for trenching and rebating, they might have some use, but only with a suitably designed saw bench. I can't see that they will ever be useful as a retrofit device.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.