Shopsmith Forums

JPG40504 wrote:Riving knife??? Since 'table saws' are all but extinct there, what are the riving knives used on?

SawStops.

I discovered the "flesh-sensing technology" costs about $300 not $1000's per saw. The Sawstop Professional Cabinet Saw is very similar to the new Delta Unisaw. The price difference is just under $300.

Mr. Gass (Inventor and Lawyer) did try to have the government impose his technology on every saw. He first offered it to all the major saw manufacturers, who turned him down. I recall reading something saw manufacturers reps who sited marketing research concluded consumers were not interested enough in this technology to pay for it. Additionally, many woodworkers believed operators would throw caution to the wind with respect to keeping their fingers away from the blade.

I was less than 24 hours from purchasing the new Delta Unisaw, when I saw a cabinetmaking video that changed my mind. I bought the Sawstop PCS for less than $300 more. Because flesh isn't the only thing that will actuate the blade stopping system, I am even more cautious about what is going near the blade. I am even more aware of the location of my fingers.

Although I am very satisfied with my purchase, I don't believe this technology ought to be forced on us. By the same token, if one choses not to buy the technology, they should not have the right to sue a manufacturer for not having it on every saw. One or two more lawsuit awards for stupidity, and the price of every saw sold in the US will increase by $300 plus the cost of bringing a new design to the market.

I disagree with Mr. Gass trying to force his system on everyone. I disagree even more with the courts forcing manufacturers to add it by awarding every operator with unwise judgement a large check.

dontolbert wrote:Here's an idea...Instead of MANDATING that all other saw companies design their saws to fit his product, why doesn't someone sue Sawstop for refusing to PROVIDE the technology to these saw companies. ....

Actually, Sawstop did offer to provide this to every major saw manufacturer serving the US market.

If you are implying give it to them for free, we really don't want that. Why would anyone spend all the R&D money to invent something if it had to be given away for the benefit of all mankind. That is socialism.

cincinnati10 wrote:I discovered the "flesh-sensing technology" costs about $300 not $1000's per saw. The Sawstop Professional Cabinet Saw is very similar to the new Delta Unisaw. The price difference is just under $300.

Mr. Gass (Inventor and Lawyer) did try to have the government impose his technology on every saw. He first offered it to all the major saw manufacturers, who turned him down. I recall reading something saw manufacturers reps who sited marketing research concluded consumers were not interested enough in this technology to pay for it. Additionally, many woodworkers believed operators would throw caution to the wind with respect to keeping their fingers away from the blade.

I was less than 24 hours from purchasing the new Delta Unisaw, when I saw a cabinetmaking video that changed my mind. I bought the Sawstop PCS for less than $300 more. Because flesh isn't the only thing that will actuate the blade stopping system, I am even more cautious about what is going near the blade. I am even more aware of the location of my fingers.

Although I am very satisfied with my purchase, I don't believe this technology ought to be forced on us. By the same token, if one choses not to buy the technology, they should not have the right to sue a manufacturer for not having it on every saw. One or two more lawsuit awards for stupidity, and the price of every saw sold in the US will increase by $300 plus the cost of bringing a new design to the market.

I disagree with Mr. Gass trying to force his system on everyone. I disagree even more with the courts forcing manufacturers to add it by awarding every operator with unwise judgement a large check.

You are aware that the Delta Unisaw is US built now and the SawStop is Taiwan built? So...Based on what you say it should cost SawStop to implement the new technology, we should be able to buy a SawStop cabinet saw for about $1500 for their China built saw. Not the $3000+ it is currently selling for.

I believe I read that the guy who developed the SawStop technology did the initial design work in a couple of days and built his first working test in a couple of weeks. This was not a long term RnD project.

If it weren't for the false positives I would gladly pay the additional $200 to $300 extra to have the option for the technology in my next cabinet or table saw purchase. I idea of having to shell out $150+ every time it fires off is one reason why I would avoid buying now.

Bosch is currently being sued by someone injured using one of their chop saw that did not have the technology even through it is not available for chop saws today.

I think that the saw manufacturer should counter sue the person bringing the suit as they exhibited "contributory negligence" by not pursuing the safest solution and instead chose to place themselves at risk. Also, due to not exercising proper caution, they succeded in placing themselves and their family in financial jeopardy

Machinery designed to cut solid objects are quite capable of cutting flesh and bone. It does not take ANY intelligence to realize that the placing of ones flesh in the path(or near) of the 'cutting' parts is NOT a good idea! In spite of the obvious, events have taken place that illustrate our human frailty(both physical and mental).

When those events have occurred, no one it their right mind would think to blame someone not present. Sure you can rationalize and imagine it is someone else's 'fault'. You can postulate that if this or if that, the 'event' could have been avoided, but that is not reality(wishful thinking???).

It is carelessness that 'causes' 'accidents', not something external(not present).

IMHO there are few accidents that are not 'caused' by carelessness or just plain not paying attention. I say this not from a position high above any one who has been guilty of the lack of proper attention, but rather from amongst them!

We always need to listen to that little voice speaking to us from inside that raises the question "Why are you doing this that way?'

Right on!! Tell it like it is!

termite06 wrote:Right on!! Tell it like it is!

I was telling it AS it is! ????? Go ask an english major!:D

This is not about table saws, government or even personal safety. It is about personal responsibility. This case is just one more example of the "ambulance chaser" mentality overcoming the increasingly less common common sense. The logical extention of this trend is that eventually someone else will be legally responsible and liable for each and every mishap your carelessness or complacency might lead to. All we will need to do is retain council to ascertain the party upon whom to place the blame for our misfortune and start planning how we will spend our (their) millions. I'm thinking of poking an eye out with my toothbrush. It didn't come with a warning that sticking it in my eye could cause injury. Should be worth $$$$$$$, don't you think?

Here's something interesting about how the person who initiated this lawsuit was using the equipment which caused the injury. I believe that this case will be appealed by the manufacturer and the award should be not granted, as after reading this article, is sure appears to me that this individual was not following any safety methods and was lucky that he didn't get injured worse than he did. I can't believe he actually did what the article says he did.

http://blogs.popularwoodworking.com/edi ... ahoo!+Mail