Shopsmith Forums

Apparently a jury awarded 1.5 mil to a man who was injured using a table saw without the flesh detecting technology that SawStop uses.

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/03/sawstop_saw_brake_safety_devic.html

Hi;
Didn't the inventor of the Saw Stop system petition the Government to pass legislation to REQUIRE the inclusion of his system on all saws sold in the US about a year ago?
I wonder if he (seeing that he is a lawyer) sought out a plaintiff for an action just to highlight his product???
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has virtually shut down the crafts industry in this country so now it follows suit that it will shut down another industry. For our own protection no doubt!!
I have a 2007 Toyota Avalon which is equipped with laser cruise control to prevent me from creeping too close to the vehicle in front of me thus preventing a rear end collision. My 2010 Ford Edge does not have that type of cruise control, so if I rear end someone with my Ford do I sue Ford for not having two year old technology? I don't think I would get away with that ploy.
Bill V

[quote="wa2crk"]Hi]

Actually Bill depending on the jury and your lawyer you might.
Very little is decided on justice today mostly it is decided on which lawyer put on the best show.

Boy I have mixed emotions on this one. I talk big on personal freedoms, and I remember the arguments which abounded when I had to retro-fit my car with seat belts. Big Brother everywhere.
Perhaps I should have the freedom to purchase a cheap saw and loose a finger or two? My dear mentor and master craftsman, "grandpa" Vic, lost part of a finger and thumb years ago in a moments laps of attention on the table saw.
Yes, I guess I would be in favor of a requirement making table saws safer, especially if the cost spread over the industry would make the improvement affordable. As for the replacement cost of brake and blade of just under $200, and emergency room visit will be exponentially more, and more painful. Perhaps with wider distribution, and licensed generic replacements that price will also decrease. Right now, two grand for a table saw, especially for my use as a hobbiest seems excessive. I wait with baited breath to see if I can afford the PowPro headstock.
Till then, like I tell my son and LEO friends, "be safe out there." and always wear your vest.

This discussion is taking place in two subgroups.
May I suggest that all further comment is placed in the " Uh oh... the safety police are here... " thread in the community subgroup. https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=5418

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. If it is a matter of public safety, just making it unavailable to the average consumer should be a liability issue...easier to sue one company than to sue hundreds....bet that'll shut him up....

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. If it is a matter of public safety, just making it unavailable to the average consumer should be a liability issue...easier to sue one company than to sue hundreds....bet that'll shut him up....

I doubt he has 'refused' to provide the 'technology' to any one. I am certain he has attempted to convince them to use his 'stuff'(for a price ). I do not believe that makes him culpable!

The thing that irks me is that 'with due diligence(or whatever words were used) the 'victim' still got hurt without that saw stop device.

IMHO if he had used due diligence, he would not have had any part of his body any where near the blade!

kalynzoo wrote:Boy I have mixed emotions on this one. I talk big on personal freedoms, and I remember the arguments which abounded when I had to retro-fit my car with seat belts. Big Brother everywhere.
Perhaps I should have the freedom to purchase a cheap saw and loose a finger or two? My dear mentor and master craftsman, "grandpa" Vic, lost part of a finger and thumb years ago in a moments laps of attention on the table saw.
Yes, I guess I would be in favor of a requirement making table saws safer, especially if the cost spread over the industry would make the improvement affordable. As for the replacement cost of brake and blade of just under $200, and emergency room visit will be exponentially more, and more painful. Perhaps with wider distribution, and licensed generic replacements that price will also decrease. Right now, two grand for a table saw, especially for my use as a hobbyist seems excessive. I wait with baited breath to see if I can afford the PowPro headstock.
Till then, like I tell my son and LEO friends, "be safe out there." and always wear your vest.

Once the health care bill passes the government will be controlling everything about your life get used to it. Everything you will will have the potential of increasing health care costs. New York City is trying to outlaw salt in restaurants, Europe already requires riveting knives on all saws.

paulmcohen wrote:Once the health care bill passes the government will be controlling everything about your life get used to it. Everything you will will have the potential of increasing health care costs. New York City is trying to outlaw salt in restaurants, Europe already requires riveting knives on all saws.

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

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 Saw-stop for refusing to PROVIDE the technology to these saw companies. If it is a matter of public safety, just making it unavailable to the average consumer should be a liability issue...easier to sue one company than to sue hundreds....bet that'll shut him up....

I hope you are kidding, SawStop patents are available for license and there are other competing solutions that don't violate their patents. This issue is any of the solutions will increase cost of the saw. Besides what about the jointer, bandsaw, drill press, lathe, chopsaw... do you want to require all of them to have this technology.

In a school and commercial Saw-Stop is approaching 100% market share due to insurance costs, but since most of us don't have insurance for our home shops the extra $1,000's for this technology come out of our budget and we choose not to spend it.