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One of our colleagues purchased a Saw Stop this week only to have it delivered and find that it cannot operate blades smaller than 8". There's nothing on Saw Stop's specification sheet indicating this. When he called Saw Stop because even the Ferrous metals bypass doesn't permit a blade that small to be used, Saw Stop said, yes we know. Too bad. You should have asked your dealer....Now as I write this, the builder was still waiting to hear back from Saw Stop's customer service manager, as well as the dealer. But he spent over $5K for the saw, the dust collection modifications to the shop, electrical service, shipping and the time setting up the saw only to find that it doesn't work with a fret saw. I'm hoping Saw Stop will step up to the plate and take back the saw. What a bunch of Bull puckie.

Interesting your guy didn't know this before, it's been mentioned here and in other woodworking forums for years now.

Sorry it's come to this for you.

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I had heard that small or oddball blades (blade stiffeners?) may not work with the brake but had also heard that the bypass would allow them. Good to know that's not true.

I'm not sure it's such a huge omission on Sawstop's part. It's not your average woodworker that wants to use a blade smaller than 8" on a cabinet saw. But one would think it would be in the specs somewhere.

If your friend is otherwise happy with the saw, it would be a lot less trouble to get an 8" fret saw blade made. My local saw shop will "side-grind" a plywood blade to a desired kerf for something like $20. They have a hard time getting it perfect the first time but I'm sure you could get it done for $100 and end up with a longer lasting blade that doesn't need stiffeners. Even if it entails building a new crosscut sled, the time and money would be less than removing the saw and reworking the DC.

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Can the fret saw blade be used but just not stopped by the stopping mechanism? Or will the saw just not accept small blades because of dimensional constraints?

It'd be nice if it worked on both large and small diameter blades, but I'd rather take a hit from a fre slot blade and have the stop work when I had a full sized 10" blade in there...

I think this is a very good option and you get the functionallity of the saw stop which why he bought it the first place.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I was just thinking when I read the title that the saw didn't stop when it's supposed to, resulting in amputated limbs...

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Typhoon Guitars
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I don't have or will I get a saw stop and have been around wood tools my whole life. Nothing will replace good safety habits . I agree that if one gets the hand into the blade it isn't a good thing and that the saw stop can help .
Most cases of saw injuries are just plain not paying attention to safety . Push blocks , proper set ups will make you a lot safer. Never use a fence for a cut off operation . Again learn to ask questions . I do feel that your dealer should have made sure you understood the design features for this device and its limitations.
If you fear a tool do not use it. Respect the tool and know that it is only as safe as the person operating it and you should never have to use the saw stop.
Safety has to come first , your livelihood depends on it .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Happy to report that all has been resolved. The customer service manager contacted the builder, and they figured out a work around. They also mentioned that Thompson Manufacturing will custom grind larger blades: http://www.thurstonmfg.com/.

The fretting blade issue could be overcome by a separate machine. There are some reasonable bench top saws on the market that are quite cheap and capable enough to become a dedicated slotting tool...but loosing the economic benefits and functional joy of a 7 1/4" Diablo fitted to a quality machine would be a tragedy.

Glad to hear that they figured out a work around. Does this mean they figured out a way to use the blades he wanted to use with the safety system turned on, bypassed, with a custom made blade, or what?



I'm curious: If you agree that the 'saw stop can help' if a part of your body accidentally comes in contact with the spinning blade, why would you not want it?

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

If you practice good safety habits , you won't need it . For those the will figure they have the stop they may get lax . I use my tools more than most people here and I don't do anything that will put my fingers in jeopardy . I did cut my thumb and that was my own fault , the day before we buried my Mother in Law and I should not have been on equipment that day . I won't make that mistake again .
If you think you need the stop by all means get one . Never let your guard down and use the tools wisely , SAFETY is your responsibility and never take it lightly .
A saw never cut a person that didn't make the mistake to get cut in the first place . The tool uses the brain of the operator .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Glad your colleague has figured out how to use the Saw Stop. I have used table saws since I was a kid and they still give me the cold sweats. I use mine now very little and prefer to use a bandsaw for most power saw operations.

As an aside, have you seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ltFuEKCnM4

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

At school, we have a saw stop. In a school, I think it's a good thing, huh...
We also have a Delta that is used for freting blade, dado blades and some other specific works.

Saw stop is a good saw. OK, there are some points that are still not perfect (blade size, mainly), but there are some benefits too, besides the exploding brake system, there are some nice features on the saw that makes it a good table saw, in general.

It's a new technology, they are still developing. I know they are working on Saw stop systems for Bandsaws, jointers and all other rotating power tools. I'm sure they are also working on evolved versions of the table saw.

I also think that good habits are the key to safety, but, if an accident happens anyway, well, you'll learn. And if you can learn whitout loosing a finger...
And I guess that the explosing of the brake system is so intense that it's enough to give you a shock.

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

We may not have a choice in the matter. Seems I read somewhere that legislators are getting into the mix, wanting to pass laws requiring sawstop technology on all new saws. Another excellent example of "crony capitalism" and "soft tyranny". As long as it is a choice, I have no issue.

Mike

Edit: BTW, I would like to add that I have used a SawStop before and I think they are beautifully engineered works if art. I want one. I just don't like the idea of an insurance company telling me that my current saw is not safe and therefore accidents resultant from it's use are not covered... And that is where we are headed.

Ryobi was recently sentenced to cover few millions dollars in dammage to a guy who cut his fingers. ''Ignorance of new technologies'', their fault...

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

The liability / sensibility / lawsuit topic has been beaten TO DEATH on this forum. Let's keep this thread about the technical applications.

You can use the Diablo 8 1/4" blades with the dado cartridge. I do it all the time. The kerf is .095, so it's 30 thou or so more kerf than the smaller blades, but I think there's less material loss using a stiffer blade and not having to sand as much.

As said Thurston will grind and sharpen any blade size you want. Since the kerf depth of fret slots is so little, a ground rim heavier blade is a better solution anyway, as the blade is much stiffer and will produce a more accurate slot.

-C

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