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New Mexico  |  January, 26, 2012 at 08:52 AM

Thanks for your guest blog, Stephen, in this somewhat hostile environment. I think the number, severity, and treatment cost of tablesaw injuries is staggering. In the 1960's, my shop teachers were criticizing the safety features of tablesaws, as did our textbooks. It is sad that the industry hasn't done more to protect its customers in the fifty years since then. The many decades of inaction demonstrate to me the necessity of rule-making.

USA  |  January, 26, 2012 at 08:53 AM

Whether or not PTI members would be able to come up with their own technology is irrelevant. Simply put, there is nothing comparable to SawStop technology (and you can take that as a compliment - I think it's awesome). Unfortunately, the powers that be at SawStop have been pushing for this rule for years now, in clear self-interest. This should make us question the motivation of anything said or done by them on the subject. They're not trying to keep people safe anymore; SawStop knows they have the only technology on the market capable of fitting such a rule, and that they'd be likely to get lucrative licensing deals out of the rule..

I am opposed to a CPSC rule requiring additional safety technology in table saws for these reasons:
1) The creation of such a rule would increase the cost of table saws such to completely destroy the market for homeowner-grade machinery.
2) The creation of such a rule will increase the cost burden on American small businesses. When we're trying to rebuild the woodworking industry from crappy times, the last thing we need is more forced costs.
3) The creation of such a rule simply encourages us to live in padded cells, rather than to learn how to operate machinery and navigate life safely.

We cannot continue to legislate and rulemake ourselves into an ideally safe environment. It's a futile endeavor. As long as humans are in control of something, we will make mistakes. Learning from those mistakes is an important part of human development.

ottawa canada  |  January, 26, 2012 at 09:41 AM

The arguments around safety have been, and will continue to be emotional. Just some areas of safety that have been affected in the last 20 years that should be thought provoking: cars; seat belts, crumple zones and air bags. airports; full body screening, baggage searches, canine patrols. roads; speed limits, DUI, police enforcement. children; car seats, childrens aid society. These are all areas that we as a society pay for to ensure that we have protection. It seems that governments role is to protect us from ourselves. Unfortunately if it didn't a lot more people would be injured. Just look at all of the fines that are issued by Workplace safety boards throughout the nation. If it takes a law to reduce the risk of Bob in his shop or garage from taking off a finger, then we will all benefit. If Bob can't afford a new saw with the safety device in place then he needs to rethink his business plan. We would all think he was a dummy for not wearing a seat belt or letting his kids roam around in a moving car. 20 years from know we will all be amazed that this debate even took place.

USA  |  January, 26, 2012 at 10:04 AM

If we decide that we need to be protected from ourselves, where does it stop?

Silverhill, AL  |  January, 26, 2012 at 10:17 AM

A larger danger to table saw operators is the kickback from wood being pinched between the blade and the saw fence. When this happens the piece of wood becomes a missile and moves at dangerous velocity in the direction of the operator. In my opinion, and thirty years experience, this is a more immediate threat than digital amputation, and this is where our concern should lie.. t

w  |  January, 26, 2012 at 01:51 PM

If this technology is mandated, it will reduce ALL injuries from any woodworking. This is because beginners will not spend
$1800+ to get started in woodworking. If this is mandated, other machines will soon follow. In time your basic home
wood shop will cost a hobbyist 40 - 50 THOUSAND dollars. When that happens, your school shops are done. Then, SAWSTOP
will be hurting, because most of the sales they have are in schools where money is no object.

Charleston, SC  |  January, 26, 2012 at 04:01 PM

We use a Saw Stop saw in our commercial shop. It replaced a perfectly good Unisaw, and we don't miss it. The Saw Stop is well thought-out and of good quality, and it's safer. If they build a 12" saw, I'll buy it to replace our Powermatic. But I would not say that tablesaw injuries are usually the manufacturers' fault. It is usually operator error, and that comes to taking responsibility for one's actions instead of trying to recover money from a manufacturer who sold you what you wanted at a price you were willing to pay.
i'm willing to pay for the safety features. There are a lot of sharp whirring edges besides tablesaw blades to get you in a shop. Must the technology be adapted to jointers, shapers, ra from actual defects and malfeasance.

Orange, Tx  |  January, 27, 2012 at 06:32 AM

I have been using tools for 40 years, without accident, because I pay attention to what I am doing.

A friend once stated, "You can make anything fool proof, but you cannot make anything idiot proof"!!!

Needless to say, I agree with AB, no need for mandantory saw stop. Teaching the proper use is!!!

ohio  |  January, 28, 2012 at 02:17 PM

I am sick of hearing about this tablesaw stuff already.My first time i used a 10" tablesaw was when i was 13 years old. My dad had his grandfathers saw at that time was 50 years old. You know what it didn't have a guard on it. He told me what i needed to do.By the time i was a sophmore in high school,we learned how to use the tablesaw in shop class. I used a tablesaw throughout high school and at home, alot. I started work 2 day after high school, went through a 4 yr appenticeship, using big european sliding saws. I am 33 years old now and never had a tablesaw accident. i use saw everyday. I personally tell people that you must have a feel for the material going through the blade. Know what your cutting before you cut. I always abide but what i was taught in my younger years. If it isn't safe doing it, then find a better way to do it and i've done some unique things on a tablesaw that would make you sqeemish. thats my two cents. BTW i still have'um ALL!!!! AND I DON'T HAVE THE GUARD ON MY SAW.

Virginia  |  January, 30, 2012 at 01:34 PM

I do not agree the table saw is the most dangerous product in the shop. By shop I assume it means other machinery like shapers, jointers, etc. I do not consider the shaper or jointer less dangerous than the table saw. I feel that Saw-Stop has a vested interest in this proposed regulation. I don't think creating more federal regulations and added cost to machinery is going to solve the safety problem. In my opinion, we would be better served to have more education provided to saw and other machinery operators. Most every incident of machinery mishaps I've seen have been the result of operator error. I think attacking it from the technology viewpoint is by-passing the point that it is important you know how to safely operate a machine. If you go too far trying to fool-proof a machine from injury, you might just end up with fools using the machine.

If you're talking about this regulation on the consumer level, then I think we already have a solution in place. The Saw-Stop product is already available on the market and consumers have a choice between this and standard saws. If everyone isn't aware of the product, then Saw-Stop has not done an effective job advertising. We don't need a federal regulation forcing us to purchase this product without a choice. We have enough rules and regulations now, let's enforce being responsible and let the best product be determined by the customer.

I don't see this product as the end-all to table saw accidents, you can have some serious injuries from kick-backs or eye injuries from flying debris. For that matter, there is no regulation to make all saws come with a pair of safety glasses which I think we all agree are well worth the cost versus the risk.

Oregon  |  February, 14, 2012 at 10:24 PM

I think the idea of the sawstop is great. However, it is horribly impractical in a large scale operation. I work in a theatre with a huge scene shop, and we have one of these Sawstops. It has been triggered about 8-10 times since we first got it a few years ago, but never for a finger. most times it is a staple in the wood. other times, wet wood will carry the electrical energy from your hand to the blade. Ive seen mirrored plexi sheets set it off. Never once have I seen it pop for a finger, and the replacement sensor is almost 80 bucks. not to mention having to replace the blade again. like I said, it's a good thought, just a bad model for industry.

Michigan  |  March, 16, 2012 at 02:04 PM

I wonder how emphatic Mr. Gass would be at pushing this regulation if he were banned from making any money on it. I think his motivation in this is pretty clear - $$$. As to his use of injury statistics, anyone who "fiddled" with stats knows they can be easy manipulated to reflect a particualr point of view. Assuming his presentation of the statistics he notes is a complete and accurate representation of the whole truth would be a mistake. Maybe we should regulate sharp chisels next.

Flagstaff, AZ  |  July, 07, 2012 at 08:37 PM

This is all about choice.
Mandates are NOT choice.
Some table saws already have this technology (with more to come) available on them, and if it suits my need,
I'll buy it, if I choose.

Wilmer, AL  |  July, 09, 2012 at 07:12 PM

IF it was a matter of us deciding to protect us from ourselves, it might be only slightly more acceptable. But we have greedy individuals and ignorant politicians trying to do ir FOR us. THAT my fellow crafts-people is COMPLETELY UNacceptable!!. These idiots ought to see what a real life shaper can do to a hand, it simply shreds the flesh to where re-attachment is impossible. My former boss demonstrated that point to perfection.
If y'all feel the need to legislate things, limit it to the heavy industries, and if that's not enough, and you still feel a need to justify your existance, then direct it to controlling our borders.
With Respect,
Steve L.

Georgia  |  January, 02, 2013 at 07:35 AM

So... you've been using saws for 20 years? You're about due for a serious accident. When you do have one, get back to us about how you wish you'd never heard of the SawStop.