Really Embarrassing ScrewUp - Need Advice

[Frank Pratt]

I did the exact same thing to the top of my then brand new workbench. I filled it with glue & sawdust & now that the bench is marked up by use, it doesn't really bother me anymore.

[Alan Lightstone]

Personally, I would buy the new top from SawStop. It would drive me nuts seeing it every day. But that's just me. Frankly, filling it with as close to a color match is possible (I like that JB Weld/iron powder filling method) is a reasonable first step. If it still bothers you, replace it.

[Bill Dufour]

Don't try to file the edges to reduce burrs. Stone it down by hand. this method will not raise a burr like a file can.
Bill D.

[Prashun Patel]

I would buy the slider attachment . What a
great excuse to upgrade.

[Charles Coolidge]

I would buy the slider attachment . What a
great excuse to upgrade.

Unfortunately the damage is also into the main table. I'm with Alan I'd have to replace the top I couldn't look at this oops without it sucking the fun out of woodworking.

[ChrisA Edwards]

I would route a ! (exclamation mark) in the center of it. Fill the circle with black epoxy and the exclamation mark with red.

As a 'Check twice, cut once'.........

Then trademark it as a safety feature.

But seriously, I would fill it, use it for a while and then make a decision to see if it really bothers you or affects you work.

[Al Weber]

Been there & done that. Jen-Weld. Color will not match but serves as a reminder not to do it again.

[George Yetka]

I would think jb, quiksteel or this looks promising too
https://www.grainger.com/product/5TT...w63h3:20501231

I built a shop drawer a week after I got my sawstop and realized I needed to shrink the width. So i dadoed one side and didnt realize there was a pocket hole screw just sticking out. I ran it through 4-5 times and then saw I had gouged scratches into the top. Cosmetic but it was 6 days into owning it.

[glenn bradley]

What Brian said...or alternatively, fill the recesses with quality resin and just use the machine...

I'm with this solution. It's done. Make a usable repair and use the machine. A good resin will self level to some degree. Sand it flush, paste wax and move on. If it makes you feel any better I cut through a piece of prefinished interior siding into the piece I already prepared to finish the job. Not as dramatic or soul crushing but, I move on . . . ;-)

[Derek Arita]

$.02...If you can afford it, just buy the new top. It would drive me nuts to see it every time I used the saw. Resetting the new table will be a pain, but a good learning experience. Save the old table and you'll find many uses for a solid, really flat surface. Bite the bullet and chalk it up to experience.

[Scott Clausen]

buff the edges smooth if any material is above the surface. You can then ignore it or fill with any resin or other fillers. Use a marker to draw clock hands and use all 5's for the numbers on the face. Add the caption that "it's 5'oclock somewhere". Just having some fun but you are going to need to live with it or get $900 dollars lighter.

[Rick Potter]

I suggest posting it on YouTube as a 'Don't do this' video, and follow up with 'How I fixed it' video. Who knows, SawStop may post it on their site and send you a new top.

I am in the fix it and use it camp. I have several tools with mistakes on them, they remind me just how imperfect I am.

I would make an unhappy face out of it with the router, now that you know it works.

[Randall J Cox]

I feel your pain. I'm actually blown away that SawStop has been around that long......... Seems like just the other day to me. Probably has something to do with my age - mid 70s. Randy

[michael langman]

I would check to see that the saw top is still flat and not moved any from the cut. It is probably ok but check it anyway before trying to salvage it.

The cut looks pretty deep from the picture, and this would make remachining and keeping everything flat some what harder so buying a new top would probably be the best thing to do. You would have more then half the cost of a new top into it remachining.

Maybe you could cover the entire top of the saw with an 1/8" piece of hard board and just leave it as is.

[Stephen White]

It's a battle scar, you lucked out with only needing to spend an hour or so and a few bucks filling this in and then being good to go. It could have been a lot worse and you would be out $900 if you had ruined it.