SawStop Blade Touching Question?

[James H Bennett]

I know this might be a dumb question, but here goes: Does the SawStop safety mechanism engage the brake if the blade is touched ONLY while the blade is moving? What about if the blade has stopped but the saw is still plugged in - will it still engage? I ask because for the past 30 or so years with another manufacturer's saw, I often slightly rotate the blade (by hand) to get a tooth right at the top for depth measurement, in addition to using brass measuring bars that occasionally touch the blade. I never unplugged that saw while doing this - dangerous? Well, maybe some folks might think so but I've never heard of a saw turning itself on, and I never have anyone in the shop while I'm working.

If doing a procedure like that on a SawStop would engage the brake, then it seems like there will be a LOT of unplugging and re-plugging during a work session.

[Paul F Franklin]

Only when the blade is moving. I do all the things you've described and there is no issue. It will trip if you touch it after you've turned the saw off but before the blade has completely come to a stop, but once it's stopped, it's safe to touch.

[Ron Citerone]

Only when the blade is moving. I do all the things you've described and there is no issue. It will trip if you touch it after you've turned the saw off but before the blade has completely come to a stop, but once it's stopped, it's safe to touch.

What Paul said emphasizing "Completely come to a stop." One time I brought a metal ruler in close to set the fence for the next cut, the blade was all but stopped and the ruler barely touched the blade and set it off.

[Mike Henderson]

What Paul said emphasizing "Completely come to a stop." One time I brought a metal ruler in close to set the fence for the next cut, the blade was all but stopped and the ruler barely touched the blade and set it off.

I unfortunately did the same thing.

Mike

[James H Bennett]

Thanks guys - now I feel better about purchasing one of those saws.

[Stan Calow]

Watch the lights on the front

[Frank Pratt]

You should definitely read the manual. Lots of good info in there.

[Jim Dwight]

There is also a switch on the saw, separate from the blade start switch, you can turn off if you want. I have turned it off because we were expecting a bad storm, for instance. No need to unplug if you want plenty of margin. But I normally just leave it "on" and have never had an issue. I touch the blade as long as it is not moving.

[Ray Newman]

Frank Pratt: suggested and i agree about reading the manual.

SawStop manuals are available on-line at:https://www.sawstop.com/support/manuals

[Frank Pratt]

Besides the quality of the saw, the SawStop manuals are very good as well. Easy to read, easy to understand, and thorough. If the manual can't answer your question, then they have very good tech support that will be happy to help out.

[James H Bennett]

Besides the quality of the saw, the SawStop manuals are very good as well. Easy to read, easy to understand, and thorough. If the manual can't answer your question, then they have very good tech support that will be happy to help out.

Well, actually - I had sent an email to their support folks and the reply I got back was what prompted me to post the question here. Not sure if the person didn’t understand my question, or what the problem was, but it was as if I had asked “what is 2 plus 3” and got an answer of “green”.

We are moving out of state and most likely will have a house built, so it’ll be a while before I’m an owner of one of these saws. But all the same, really looking forward to it, after having a very close call with disaster on my old Craftsman table saw last year.

[Roger Feeley]

What Paul said emphasizing "Completely come to a stop." One time I brought a metal ruler in close to set the fence for the next cut, the blade was all but stopped and the ruler barely touched the blade and set it off.

I was also warned about this. This is the worst kind of brake fire because the blade doesn't really dig into the brake and the unrelieved spring pressure makes it very difficult to get the blade and brake out. The good news about a slow speed brake fire is that your blade might be recoverable. I've had a total of three brake fires in the 6 or 7 years Ive had my saw. All were my stupid mistake. In one case, I was able to have the blade fixed and that one was when the saw was spinning down.

[Jim Dwight]

The manual is pretty good, better than any others I can think of. But I don't love the fact that I feel the need to keep it handy. There are better ways to give the status of the saw than blinking lights. So I keep it handy to be able to understand what the saw is trying to tell me. But at least I don't have to go to the internet to find out what it is saying.

[Frank Pratt]

The manual is pretty good, better than any others I can think of. But I don't love the fact that I feel the need to keep it handy. There are better ways to give the status of the saw than blinking lights. So I keep it handy to be able to understand what the saw is trying to tell me. But at least I don't have to go to the internet to find out what it is saying.

I think it would be a good thing if they'd provide a quick reference label that could be applied to a convenient surface. 'Cause ya, who wants to keep pulling out the manual.

[Mike Henderson]

I think it would be a good thing if they'd provide a quick reference label that could be applied to a convenient surface. 'Cause ya, who wants to keep pulling out the manual.

You could always make your own on your computer - or even hand written - and tape it close to your switch.

Mike