According to the National Library of Medicine, over 30,000 tables saw injuries occur every year. With fingers and hands taking the hardest hits, safety should always be your top priority.  

That's where SawStop comes into play. This innovative technology is making woodworking safer, but how does SawStop Work? Better yet, how do these table saws detect fingers? Keep reading to find out!

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 much more important purpose: protecting your fingers while using a table saw.

Our bodies are natural conductors of electricity, and in the case of SawStop, each of its blades carries a subtle electrical signal. When your skin comes in close proximity to the blade, an electrical exchange occurs. This causes a change in SawStop’s signal, which serves as a trigger for the safety system. 

An aluminum brake springs into action once the system detects a change in the electrical signal. It quickly moves into the path of the blade, bringing it to a complete stop and simultaneously shutting off power to the motor. 

After coming to a stop, the blade's angular momentum drives it beneath the table, effectively removing the risk of a deeper cut. This entire process happens in less than 5 milliseconds—quicker than the blink of an eye! 

Resetting the saw yourself is remarkably straightforward. 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. 

Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s explore some other questions you might have about your SawStop 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.

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 you're 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.

To activate bypass mode in SawStop Contractor, Professional, and Industrial models, follow these steps:

1. Turn on the main power and wait for the red light to turn “off” and a solid green light to stay “on”
2. A bypass key is on the right side of the control box. Turn it until the green light starts blinking.
3. Flip the start/stop paddle to “on,” the blade will start spinning, and you’ll see a red light blink once.
4. Make sure you’re still holding the key and wait for the solid green light to come back.
5. 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.

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.

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.