How Does SawStop Work?
Woodworking is a craft that combines skill, creativity, and precision. However, it also comes with its share of risks, mainly when operating powerful tools like table saws.
Among the most significant advancements in woodworking safety is the SawStop Table Saw, renowned for its groundbreaking safety system that has transformed how woodworkers approach their craft.
According to the National Library of Medicine, over 30,000 table saw injuries occur annually. Since fingers and hands take the hardest hits, safety should always be your top priority.
That's where SawStop comes into play. This blog post delves into the intricacies of the SawStop safety system, exploring how it prevents accidents and ensures a safer working environment.
How the SawStop System Works
Have you ever experienced the surprising shock of static electricity when touching a metal doorknob? It's a tiny jolt, but it can be quite startling. Now, imagine a similar principle at play, but with a more important purpose: protecting your fingers while using a table saw.
At the heart of the SawStop Table Saw's safety system is a blend of advanced electronics and physics, meticulously designed to detect human contact with the saw blade and stop it almost instantaneously. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how this innovative system operates:
1. Your Finger is Detected
Our bodies are natural conductors of electricity, and in the case of SawStop, each blade carries a subtle electrical signal. When your skin comes near the blade, an electrical exchange occurs. This causes a change in SawStop’s signal, which serves as a trigger for the safety system.
As soon as skin contacts the blade, the saw’s electronic detection system senses the change in the electrical signal.
This detection happens in a fraction of a millisecond, ensuring the system can react almost instantaneously to prevent severe injury.
2. The Brake Activates
Once the system detects a change in the electrical signal, an aluminum brake spring is activated upon detecting contact, propelling it into the spinning blade.
The blade’s teeth sink into the soft aluminum, causing it to stop within five milliseconds—approximately ten times faster than a car airbag deploys.
It quickly moves into the blade's path, bringing it to a complete stop and simultaneously shutting off the motor's power.
3. The Blade Automatically Drops
Concurrently, the saw’s blade is retracted below the table, reducing the risk of injury.
This dual action of stopping and retracting the blade minimizes the chances of a severe cut.
After coming to a stop, the blade's angular momentum drives it beneath the table, effectively removing the risk of a deeper cut. This process happens in less than five milliseconds—quicker than the blink of an eye.
4. Manual Reset
After activation, the brake and blade assembly need to be replaced. This is a minor inconvenience compared to the potential severity of an injury.
Replacing the brake cartridge and blade takes only a few minutes, allowing woodworkers to return to their tasks quickly.
Inspect the blade, replace it if damaged, and replace the brake cartridge. In just 90 seconds, the saw is back in operational mode, meaning you can return to your woodworking projects with peace of mind — and all your fingers.
Benefits of the SawStop Safety System
The SawStop safety system offers numerous benefits, making it a vital tool for amateur and professional woodworkers. The primary benefit is significantly enhanced safety, reducing the risk of severe injuries.
The system has saved countless fingers and hands from potentially life-altering accidents. Woodworkers can operate with greater peace of mind, knowing that an additional layer of protection is in place. Despite the immediate stop and blade retraction, the system is designed to minimize downtime.
Replacing the brake and blade is straightforward, allowing for quick resumption of work. Additionally, the presence of such a safety system encourages safer working habits and greater respect for the power of woodworking tools.
FAQ
Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s explore some other questions you might have about your SawStop table saw.
Can You Add SawStop to Any Table Saw?
Unfortunately, no. You can't easily add SawStop’s safety mechanisms to other brands of table saws. Doing so would require costly modifications to the saw's design, and the total expense would likely be higher than just buying a new SawStop table saw.
Will Cutting "Wet" or Green Wood Trigger the SawStop Safety System?
If the wood you're working with is green or wet (so wet that it sprays mist when cut), it might be conductive enough to trigger the safety brake. If unsure whether your wood is conductive, you can perform test cuts using the Bypass Mode. If the material conducts electricity, a red light on the control box will flash to let you know.
How Do I Put SawStop in Bypass Mode?
To activate bypass mode in SawStop Contractor, Professional, and Industrial models, follow these steps:
- Turn on the main power and wait for the red light to turn “off” and a solid green light to stay “on”
- A bypass key is on the right side of the control box. Turn it until the green light starts blinking.
- Flip the start/stop paddle to “on,” the blade will start spinning, and you’ll see a red light blink once.
- Make sure you’re still holding the key and wait for the solid green light to come back.
- Release the key, and the green light will start blinking again — this means you’re good to go!
The process is similar to activating the SawStop Jobsite PRO bypass mode. However, you don’t need a tangible bypass key. Instead, there is a pressable bypass switch that you’ll need to hold down.
Does SawStop Require Special Blades?
SawStop works with any regular blade with steel or carbide teeth. However, it's essential not to use blades with non-conductive parts (like diamond blades), as they won't allow SawStop's safety system to send the necessary electrical signal to detect skin contact.
Conclusion
The SawStop Table Saw's safety system is a testament to the power of innovation in making woodworking safer and more accessible.
By combining sophisticated electronics with rapid-response mechanisms, SawStop has set a new standard in tool safety. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, investing in a SawStop table saw means prioritizing your safety without compromising performance.
This revolutionary technology ensures that woodworking can be enjoyed with greater confidence and less risk, fostering a safer and more productive woodworking environment.
Safety should always be the top priority when woodworking, and at Beaver Industrial Supply, we’re proud to carry a wide range of SawStop offerings. Whether you're hunting for replacement blades, new brakes, or a brand-new table saw — we've got you covered.
Written by Nick Thenhaus
