Sawstop Reviews

[james bell]

After my wife saw the Sawstop demo at a recent show, she is demanding I give up my Unisaw and purchase one. The recent reviews have been very kind to the Sawstop, but my question to those who own one is:

If it did not have the braking system, would you still purchase it?

I can't determine from the reviews I have read whether the reviewers are giving too much credit to this one feature (yes, a nice feature).

[Philip Rodriquez]

I own an ICS SawStop and I've had it for almost two years.

1. I've never triggered the break. I actually find that I am more aware of the blade and the materials I'm sending through it.
2. The sticker shock wears off. I upgraded from a DeWalt hybrid, so I cannot give a fair comparison to your Unisaw. However, I remember a post over at FWW where John White (former Shop Manager for FWW) had said that the ICS was, in every way, a 4K saw that happens to come with a breaking mechanism.

It is very easy to adjust and it keeps the settings. The overall quality is extremely high and yes... it is worth the money if you can justify the purchase. With that said, it is just a saw. It won't make your projects come out any better.:eek:

[Kevin Groenke]

Though the machine is top-of-it's-class IMO, without the braking system it probably would not represent the best value: just another saw (among the best) in a crowded field. If it weren't for SS, we would probably have sliders.

SS was among the first cabinet-saw style machines to offer true riving knifes and effective quick-change blade guards which, a few years ago, were fairly unique and added some value. Of course, those features are becoming more common recently though SS arguably has the most refined versions.

-kg

[Prashun Patel]

You should check out the latest issue of Wood Magazine (May?). They do a review of cabinet saws.

The Sawstop and the new Unisaw ranked top. They felt the Sawstop was in a league of its own - price notwithstanding.

Another nice feature on the SS is the integrated dust collection in the blade guard.

I'm saving up for one m'self!

[John Coloccia]

After my wife saw the Sawstop demo at a recent show, she is demanding I give up my Unisaw and purchase one. The recent reviews have been very kind to the Sawstop, but my question to those who own one is:

If it did not have the braking system, would you still purchase it?

I can't determine from the reviews I have read whether the reviewers are giving too much credit to this one feature (yes, a nice feature).

If they removed the premium for the brake, absolutely. I think what you're asking is if you had your choice of any saw money and safety aside, would you pick the saw stop. Yep...any day of the week. The only think I wish I'd sone differently is buying the PCS instead of the contractor saw.

edit: I just wanted to clarify that there's nothing wrong with the contractor saw. It's nicer than any "hydrid" saw I've seen or used. I just decided in retrospect that I would have preferred the PCS since I don't really move my saw around anymore.

[james bell]

Thanks for the fast responses - not sure I have a choice in this matter as the demo spoke for itself, but knowing that the saw is a good value regardless of the brake speaks for itself.

I read the recent review plus the one in Feb Woodworker's Journal, both of which recommended the SawStop.

Note: last year we got all of my wife's jewelry appraised for insurance purposes ($2,000 for the appraisal) and let it sit around. Then in January she took all of them (don't ask me why ALL) to Miami in preparation for my daughter's wedding and they were stolen. She mentioned this at the show after seeing the demo - putting something important off is not wise.

[mreza Salav]

I have the early model of ICS. It has bigger tables and turnnions than similar top saws. Brake thing aside, what I liked about it a lot is everything on it is adjustable. I had to disassemble the whole thing to take it to my basement shop by myself. So during re-assembly I had to adjust everything and it was nice to see how easy it is to adjust the top (no tapping needed).
But these all come at a price (it is more expensive of all). If you can afford it and will get over it get it. I have seen the PCS model and it looks just as nice (although a bit smaller).

[jason lambert]

I have used almost every saw out there and lets face it they are not overly complacated machines so there are many good ones. If the saw stop didn't havethe break I would buy it, Yes with out a doubt. I find it has some features that are more convient than some other saws

Quick changing riving knife (now tool less)
There new dust colection shroud for the top collects almost all the dust.
Hydrolic mobial base, I move mind sometimes.

The other nice thing is they keep on improving it and make the improvments retrofit the old saw. I don't see this form many brands they seem to be the only ones trying to continue to improve there product and improv the old ones.

[Peter Aeschliman]

I'm going to add to the general consensus.

I just bought the SawStop PCS, and man it sure is amazing. I upgraded from a Jet contractor saw, so maybe I would be just as thrilled with a delta or powermatic, who knows.

Would I still spend as much as I did if the saw didn't have a brake? No way. It's a really nice saw, but not that nice. Of course I'm like the OP- my wife saw the video and insisted. She never would've green-lighted the purchase of a powermatic, so it's not a fair comparison.

So assuming the SS had no brake and no related price premium, I think it's a better saw than the other cabinet saws in its class

The dust collection, quick release riving knife and blade guard, the quality of the paint job, the smoothness of the t-glide fence, etc really make this saw shine. I feel like smiling every time I start it up...

The customer service, owners manual, and packaging are all incredible as well.

Assuming you have the budget to buy the machine, you won't regret it.

[george wilson]

I bought the Industrial model for my shop at work before I retired. I regret that it would not alw me to use my guitar fret blade (6" dia,.020" st the last 1/2" of the rim.)

However,it is a beautifully made and very heavy duty saw.

I still have my old Dewalt (Clausing) 600# saw that I bought as my first serious power tool in 1964. It has always been a smooth,and more accurate saw than the Delta Unisaw. I couldn't bear to part with it,so I guess I won't be buying a Saw stop for home. That,and the fact that I can't use special blades.

[Prashun Patel]

Man, if I was the marketing team at SawStop, I'd start advertising in Cosmo and Redbook. If I had a nickel for each time a guy said "my wife heard/saw/read about SawStop and insisted..." I'd be able to afford to buy a SawStop.

I'm going to print some of these threads, and insert them casually into her mags tonite... Wish me luck!

[John Coloccia]

I bought the Industrial model for my shop at work before I retired. I regret that it would not alw me to use my guitar fret blade (6" dia,.020" st the last 1/2" of the rim.)

However,it is a beautifully made and very heavy duty saw.

I still have my old Dewalt (Clausing) 600# saw that I bought as my first serious power tool in 1964. It has always been a smooth,and more accurate saw than the Delta Unisaw. I couldn't bear to part with it,so I guess I won't be buying a Saw stop for home. That,and the fact that I can't use special blades.

I kept an old Delta contractor saw around for my fret slotting blade. When it's not being used, I made a wooden top for it, put my miter saw on it, and put the whole thing on wheels.

[Paul Ryan]

Man, if I was the marketing team at SawStop, I'd start advertising in Cosmo and Redbook. If I had a nickel for each time a guy said "my wife heard/saw/read about SawStop and insisted..." I'd be able to afford to buy a SawStop.

I'm going to print some of these threads, and insert them casually into her mags tonite... Wish me luck!


Isnt that the truth. One of my wood magazines was open that is how my wife found about sawstop.


I love my PCS saw and have reviewed it many times. I think it is an excellent saw in every way. But would I have purchased it if it didn't have the blade brake. I would say NO. It is a beautiful saw better fit and finish than anything out there I have seen. Functionally it is excellent. If the saw was 3K with out the brake noway would I buy it. I would by a PM2000 in a second over it. If the PCS saw was 2k with out the brake I would consider it but I think I would still buy the powermatic. The PM2000 is a really nice table saw. It isn't as clean (fit and finish) but that doesn't cut wood. Dust collection on the PCS is better from what I have heard. But the powermatic has a larger table, a 5 year warranty, included mobile base, and it is mustard. Mustard is the color to have. The uni even though I always wanted a uni. Would still not be in the mix. A PM2000 can be picked up for under $2000 on really good sales (I haven't seen it for that price recently though). A new uni is going to run over 3k. IMHO no way is the uni a 1k better saw. Construction it may be a little heavier than both other saws, but other than that it doesn't have anything over the othe saws.

Add on the blade brake, and to my wife, and eventually myself, it is a no brainer. The PCS is a really really nice table saw that at this point has the best saftey features of any saw on the market. Since it is such a good saw and only really gives up table size to the powermatic I think it is worth the extra money on the PCS. 27" deep table was the standard for many many years. Only until recently have we begun thinking that we have to have a deeper table. Table depth has never hindered me in any way. Good luck if you chose the sawstop you will never regret it. It is a ton of money to put down on a table saw, but you shouldn't ever need to buy another one.

[Prashun Patel]

Press Release:

"In an attempt to duplicate Sawstop's success with women, Powermatic has upped the ante with the release of the new PM2000W 3hp Professional Cabinet Saw. The PM2000W will sport all the features of it popular PM2000 predecessor, but features an 8ct diamond-encrusted Biesmeyer fence, a sidemounted Prada blade storage pouch, and mobile feet in the shape of Jimmy Choo Leather Slingbacks."

[Ray Bell]

"Man, if I was the marketing team at SawStop, I'd start advertising in Cosmo and Redbook. If I had a nickel for each time a guy said "my wife heard/saw/read about SawStop and insisted..." I'd be able to afford to buy a SawStop.

I'm going to print some of these threads, and insert them casually into her mags tonite... Wish me luck"!

Now that made me laugh!

[Daniel Shnitka]

I have the Sawstop Industrial Cabinet Saw. In every measurable category excluding the the braking system it comes out ahead.
I started researching the table saws nearly four years ago. After many visists to the local dealers and countless searches on the net I decided to buy a Canadian built General, model 650. A couple of my friends and I head off to the annual woodworking show.
As we were driving to the woodworking show with all the major manufactures my recently retired friend gave me some advice, "make sure the saw you buy has a riving knife that is quick and easy to add or remove".

His advice was based on a piece of wood that kicked back and narrowly missed his eye. The splitter on his Unisaw was just to time consuming to install and remove for the different opperations. The splitter was not installed when the kickback incident occured.

At the different booths of the big NorthAmerican power tool manufactures not one of them had a riving knife currently available and on their table saws.

The General sales man said for $150 and a six month wait they would have a unit available for the model 650.

Well I kept my $3500 in the bank and on the Monday after the the show I walked in to the local dealer for Sawstop and began the process anew of digesting all the info I could on Sawstop. With calipers, dial indicators and straight edge and a couple oth other measuring tools I concluded the sawstop would meet or exceed all my requirements.
The Sawstop Industrial came out ahead in:
1. Flatness of the table and smoothing matching of the cast iron extension wings.
2. The matching of the bolts holes and the proper sizes nuts and bolts for the designated attachment of extention tables and rails.
3. The perfect straightness of the fence and smoothness of sliding.
4. The out of the box readiness of the saw. No need to adust the blade for square on 90 degree or 45 degree.
5. The heavey duty height and angle adjust wheels with no slack or back lash. This has much to do with the fit of the gears and the gas shock system for the saw.
6. The dust collection system above and below the table. Until I got this saw I never realized how much good practical design for above the table dust removal has added to saving time cleaning up the shop.
7. The size of the table is so nice compared to what Iwas working with before.
8. The smoothness of the saw due to the flat ribbed belt which transfer power to the blade with less vibration.
9. The fit and finsh of the saw and the gauge of the hardware, stand, rails arbor, trunions and unbeatable mobile base. No short cuts or cheaping out.
10. The customer service was friendly. They just make feel you are so important to their business. I was almost embarassed asking them a couple of questions.

[John Sanford]

From the Wood review, it sounds like it's a toss up between the new Unisaw and the SawStop, safety mech aside. The Uni is a more user friendly saw with the controls up front, easiest change/removal of the blade guard, excellent miter gauge. The SS has better dust collection, bulletproof fence. Were it me, sans braking mech, I'd go for the Unisaw. The improvements in the Unisaw wouldn't be enough to lead me to replace an existing Uni. And, if I already had a Uni (which I don't), I'd hesitate to 'downgrade' to a SS Contractor's. But there would be no hesitation in going to a SS PCS or ICS from a older model Uni/PM66/Jet/etc, etc.... In short, with the exception of the new Unisaw and perhaps the PM2000, the SS PCS is an upgrade from any other common (i.e., non-industrial/non-commercial) cabinet saw.

Now, if I could get a Unisaw with the blade brake technology.... oh, and it has to run on 120v.

Most importantly in your case, She Who Must Be Obeyed, well, must be obeyed. Git on with picking yer SawStop (PCS or ICS).

[John Neel]

Another vote for the quality of the ICS. I upgraded from a Dewalt Portable 18 months ago. I was, and still am not, a highly skilled wood worker. However, I was able to make all adjustments easily and it has stayed where I set it. [I too had to do some disassembly to get it through a narrow door.] Of course compared to the portable, it is a magic saw. Customer service has been superb. I call and within a minute someone is answering my question.

Like others, my wife was very encouraging of the purchase. She had seen the results of my friend's 3 finger amputation on a portable saw with one finger reattached in the thumb position to give a semblance of a grip. I think she only wanted to hold hands with a whole hand. If your wife likes the idea, I don't think you would ever by unhappy with the purchase.

[Keith Albertson]

I've had my Sawstop PCS (3400 bucks with 52 inch fence, a few extra blade inserts, and a Dado brake) and am absolutely delighted. It eats anything I push through it, without spewing dust all over the place. The fence is crazy accurate. After years of using a Delta contractor saw, I suddenly feel like I've joined the varsity woodworking team.

I love everything about this saw. Yes, I would pay $3400 for this saw without the brake. Any day. No question. In a heart-beat.

The only drawback is that I can no longer use my saw as an excuse for a crappy project!!!!

Get it, you'll love it, and you'll never regret it.

[Dave MacArthur]

I own a Powermatic 66, and have used a PM66, Delta Unisaw, and SawStop all three in one shop at once. The saw stop is hands down the best of the three, although the PM66 and Uni were both > 10 years old.

That being said, I do love my PM66 at home! But every time I mess with dust collection, I find myself saying "why can't they retrofit some rubber/plastic doofers for inside this cabinet to collect dust like the SS?"

[Brian Penning]

That being said, I do love my PM66 at home! But every time I mess with dust collection, I find myself saying "why can't they retrofit some rubber/plastic doofers for inside this cabinet to collect dust like the SS?"

Interesting, the dust collection is the only complaint I have about my SS.

[John Coloccia]

DC is universally lousy on table saws without collection over the blade. The new SS blade guard fixes that. It's not out for the contractor saw yet so I'm using the SharkGuard, but SS says it should be out very soon.

[Paul Ryan]

Interesting, the dust collection is the only complaint I have about my SS.

I have very little sources for my information on dust collection. But from what I have been told, the PCS has much better dust collection than the ICS. That is even with out the Blade guard. The ICS uses a cast iron blade shroud that while very strong and adding weight, doesn't let the air flow as smoothly, as the plastic shroud used on the PCS. I have heard many guys complain about dust collection on their ICS saws, but no one complaining about the PCS dust collection. Now that doesn't say much. But with the tiny 1 1/2 hp dust collector I use my cabinet on my PCS stays very very clean. In the year I have owned the saw and having filled the dust collector (used on all tools though) about a dozen times in the year. There wasn't more than about 1/16" dust in the bottom of the cabinet.

[Brian Penning]

I have very little sources for my information on dust collection. But from what I have been told, the PCS has much better dust collection than the ICS. That is even with out the Blade guard. The ICS uses a cast iron blade shroud that while very strong and adding weight, doesn't let the air flow as smoothly, as the plastic shroud used on the PCS. I have heard many guys complain about dust collection on their ICS saws, but no one complaining about the PCS dust collection. Now that doesn't say much. But with the tiny 1 1/2 hp dust collector I use my cabinet on my PCS stays very very clean. In the year I have owned the saw and having filled the dust collector (used on all tools though) about a dozen times in the year. There wasn't more than about 1/16" dust in the bottom of the cabinet.

I admit I don't use the blade guard (still in it's original package) on my ICS. That being said the dust seems to fly out of the gaps between the top and the cabinet sides, and the large openings for the handwheels.
Been meaning to stuff foam in-between the gaps for the 1st location.
I always have loads of dust inside the cabinet too.

[Darrell Bade]

I would pay more than some other saws if it did not have the brake, but not as much of a premium as they want.

I have an ICS and other than the brake there is one main reason I bought it. I consider anything over $1000 a major purchase in my life. I looked at all the major saws, Jet, Powermatic, Steel City, General, etc. and just did not feel that any of those saws looked like I thought they should in fit in finish for the money they wanted for them. The saw stop just has an impressive fit, finish and features that stand out in my opinion and makes me think that they have done something that makes them standout and justify a price premium.

In the end the SS may just be a turd with a nice finish, but at least there is one company that knows how to wrap the turd and get peoples attention enough that they think the extra cost is worth it.

[Glen Butler]

I own a powermatic 2000. The only reason I didn't buy a sawstop was the price. I got my 5HP PM2000 for $2000 dollars. Other than that SS looks like a great machine.

[Harley Lewis]

My wife insisted that I get a SS as well. I have had the ICS for a year and it is head and shoulders above the uni I had before the saw stop. This is my 4th table saw, and honestly I thought the uni was the last one and if it were not for the safety features of the SS I would still have the uni because the safety features is why I bought the SS. However, comparing saw to saw without the braking system the SS comes out on top in every category, it is one well built and well designed saw.

I had a moment of stupidity with the uni and almost lost 4 fingers, if I had the SS I doubt I would have drawn blood. One accident in 45 years of wood working is not a bad record, but once is all it takes!