SawStop - the table saw that can't cut your fingers off!

[Thorin]

A new table saw has been invented that cuts wood, and cuts it very well, but will not cut through your finger.

Start with this quick video: http://www.sawstop.com/media/WMV/Hot_Dog_Demo.wvx
Listen to them explain how it works: http://www.sawstop.com/media/WMV/Stephen.wvx
Then watch it in slow motion: http://www.sawstop.com/media/WMV/Inside_Look.wvx

[Thorin]

And no, it doesn't ruin the teeth on the blade.  All that you have to replace is the cheap aluminum brake, which apparently takes less than five minutes to swap out.

[Lazybones]

Hmm I have seen this before. The break is a little like an airbag and apparently not as cheap to replace as they claim.  Also since it works on conductivity it is sometimes triped with damp wood.

Still a very cool saw, probaby a great idea for school shop classes.

[Thorin]

A chunk of aluminum that size might be $500, but when you consider how much your WCB premiums go up if WCB has to pay out for a worker's amputated fingers, you betcha your premiums will go up more than $500 a month!  See, you could either spend the money on the saw and it's components, or on WCB premiums.

[Lazybones]

Ya, but then you start playing the odds game...

Odds of finger loss happening vs repeated break replacements and loss of productivity if there are many false positive results. It still comes down to how accurate it is, if false positives are very low then you bet it is worth it.

However getting an adult male who has used pro saws for xx years without trouble to purchase an unknown and unproven brand might be the hardest sell. Or even one with working equipment.

[Thorin]

Ya, but then you start playing the odds game...

Odds of finger loss happening vs repeated break replacements and loss of productivity if there are many false positive results. It still comes down to how accurate it is, if false positives are very low then you bet it is worth it.

However getting an adult male who has used pro saws for xx years without trouble to purchase an unknown and unproven brand might be the hardest sell. Or even one with working equipment.

No, the odds game starts the day you decide to open your business - you're betting that you can bring in more money than it will cost you to run.  The WCB-premium-vs-saw-brake-cost comparison is only one of many, many factors.  How about the years of training you put into the worker?  How about the hit to worker morale when several workers are severely injured and you could have done something about it if not for bean-counting?  How about the hit to reputation when you can't brag about long times between lost-time accidental injuries?