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Thread: Reminder to SawStop Owners:

  1. #1

    Reminder to SawStop Owners:

    Hello All,

    I own two SawStop table saws and have been very happy with the quality of the tools so far. However, I was ripping some material yesterday on a jobsite and I didn't see some trim nails that were buried in the material. I would have expected this metal (3 nails @ 18 gauge) to have fired the brake on this saw and cost me a brake and a new blade, but nope. Ran right through the blade on my jobsite saw with no issues, and I wasn't in bypass mode. I use every saw as if there is no safety feature built in, and I'm sure that most of you other SawStop owners do as well. I'll be contacting SawStop after the holidays regarding this issue, but I thought it appropriate to put a post up regarding this issue as well. Even though we pay a premium for safety with these tools, this doesn't mean that the feature is flawless and it's very important to understand that when working with them.

    John

    IMG_0819.jpg

  2. #2
    Just hitting metal suspended in the lumber does not complete the circuit and therefore does not fire the brake.

  3. #3
    Wow, thanks. Is this because the electricity wouldn't be grounded? I'm very happy to hear this is not a malfunction.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    N.E, Ohio
    Posts
    3,026
    I believe that the SawStop responds to moisture not metallic material.
    George

    Making sawdust regularly, occasionally a project is completed.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    SoCal
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    From the documentation:

    "Generally, the safety system will not activate when a nail or staple is cut. Although conductive, these objects are not large enough to cause the safety system to activate unless they are grounded to the table or operator when they contact the blade."
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  6. #6
    Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the explanation.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    River Falls WI
    Posts
    490
    The reason your Sawstop did not fire, is there was no ground. The saw requires a complete circuit. If the nail was in contact with the table or cause a circuit to complete due to moisture. This would have completed the circuit. It is the detection circuit that detects the error. It may be similar to a GFCI type circuit. Dan

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    odessa, missouri
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    It can activate, but luckily for you it didn't...............

  9. #9
    They also upgraded the brake by applying a plastic coating to the aluminum brake so that when you do hit a piece of metal the it won't trip if pieces are caught in the teeth of the blade and happen to touch the brake. If you have one of the older brakes they say you can apply some clear packing tape to the surface next to the blade to accomplish the same thing.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    odessa, missouri
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alan Bienlein View Post
    They also upgraded the brake by applying a plastic coating to the aluminum brake so that when you do hit a piece of metal the it won't trip if pieces are caught in the teeth of the blade and happen to touch the brake. If you have one of the older brakes they say you can apply some clear packing tape to the surface next to the blade to accomplish the same thing.
    Still happens. We have a new saw...

  11. #11
    Geez I wonder if its worth $125 to do a hot dog test every once in a while?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    266
    You can check the monitor by just touching the blade while the saw is in a stopped state (obviously) and you will see the status lights on the switch respond. No need to waste a brake, blade or hot dog for that matter.

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