Can't say I enjoyed your presentation. At 5 minutes in I was ready to click off but I stayed until the 15 min mark. I'm done. You have too much drama for a grown man.
I got the professional model about two years ago. Again like you for the safety feature. But... I found the assembly, fit, and finish to be extraordinary. After paying more for it for the safety features, I was happy that it was on par with the best of them in this area.
Just finished putting mine together today. I put the base on the saw while the saw was upside down on the bench. Had no trouble locating the mounting bolts.
Assemble the base bolts FINGER TIGHT! After putting the base on the UPSIDE DOWN saw, THEN tighten the base bolts. I've only assembled 5 contractor SawStops, I could be wrong here. (I've done 15 or 20 PCS SawStop units.) On any multi piece base assembly, ALWAYS assemble the base and leave the bolts finger tight. SawStop or not. After the base is bolted to the main unit, (even just a wooden table) then tighten the base assembly bolts. steve
Thanks for your review. I'm considering this saw myself and it's good to get an idea of the saw's problems. I totally agree with you about the pricing being excessive, especially for the accessories. I think for the price it should definitely come with cast iron wings. Still overall it seems like a nice, accurate saw. Probably good enough for me without having to spend another $2000 (AUD) on the professional cabinet saw, and more still on installation of a 15A circuit. BTW I like how you've put switches on your blast gates to automatically turn on your dust extractor. If dust is a big issue for you then you can improve on sawstop's blade guard design by making your own out of perspex and putting a 4" suction port on top and towards the front of the blade (where all the sawdust comes out) and leaving the rear of the blade guard open to create airflow. You probably already know but the most harmful dust is actually invisible (you need a particle detector to know how much you have). Unfortunately it requires more suction to remove than a 2.5" vacuum tube can provide.
Good tips. I don't own this saw, but have never had a dust collection system, because my tools haven't been fancy enough to have anything close to a dust port on them. I am curious though, why in the construction trade (I work in commercial construction) I watch carpenters doing cabinets cutting melamine and particle board countertops, using a router, and ALWAYS using a stupid left blade worm drive skillsaw (these are the worst possible configuration for dust, because the dust ejects backwards towards your face, in a big cloud, covering your entire body with dust, instead of being precisely ejected out of a side port towards the floor like on a modern right blade sidewinder saw). I watch guys cut plywood, and I see that they are using a 15 amp wormdrive saw, and they have absolutely no dust mask at all. I can't even be around these people doing carpentry for a few minutes without being nervous about the clouds of particle board dust and plywood dust and plastic dust, all around them. Today I watched a guy cutting pressure treated plywood with a left blade wormdrive saw, of course with no dust mask. As far as I can tell, people doing commercial construction don't even notice dust, as if it doesn't even exist. How are these people seemingly of perfect health?
Thanks for the video. I am planning on getting a the same saw for the exact same reasons you did. Any additional comments on connecting the router table to the saw table would be greatly appreciated.
great idea to add the wood spacer in between for height.. I might have to add some myself, to clear my rollaway box as I have no other convenient place for it other than "under" the outfeed table. Nice job !
Thanks for your review. Bought the contractor saw four years ago for home use. I have zero complaints until now. Had to purchase a new controller box for $250.00 Canadian. If your saw starts to shuts down after 5 seconds expect another big expense. Or it’s a boat anchor 😩
Thanks for your video! Quick question...I have a Peachtree cast iron router extension and for my work flow it must be mounted on the left. That being said, Will I need to make new cut outs on the rail system for the miter slots on the saw and router table if I move the rail system over to the right or does Sawstop make more rails that I can purchase? I ask this because I assume you may have went through this issue also...
In retrospect, would you have been better off getting a Sawstop cabinet table saw? With all of the adjustments and modifications that were needed to bring it up to speed, would it have been just as cheap to buy the more expensive model?
Don’t think so. Mobile base, upgraded fence an overhead dust collection are all mods needed for the cabinet saw too. Still a big jump from contractor to cabinet
I have the same saw. You may want to do what I'm currently doing. I run my lower collection on dust collection and the upper on a Festool's vac and use the boom for my tracksaw, sanders and routers.
Love to see a clean and organic shop! Dust collection setup is a beauty! Besides the safety feature, what made you chose this saw over Powermatic? Or is the safety feature was the main selling point?
Safety and the promise of great dust collection. That has been so so. I have asthma so dust control is very important to me, You will see a lot of festool. Hate hate the price, love the dust control.
Here are my comments after 2 years of experience with the SS Contractor Model. 1. I was lucky enough to find a used SS saw at a bargain price! My old Craftsman Contractor TS, had a "Knock-off," Biesemeyers Fence that worked perfectly, for 15 years. My decision to buy SS was based on Safety alone, but after using it, I now would include quality as a reason to buy it! 2. I had to upgrade my Electrical Panel, in my 50 year old garage from 2 ,15 amp Fuses and only 110 volts, which would blow 80% of the time, to a new Panel that includes several 20 amp circuits on 110v as well a many 15 amp circuits. I also added 220 volt circuit so I can now run my Air Comp. 3. My SS saw came with the standard fence, which is in my opinion isn't accurate enough.I upgraded the fence to a 52 Professional Fence, also found used, which is fantastic. I wanted to build a TS Work Station utilizing the Top Surface of the saw, as well as the space underneath the TS, for storage etc. The Top Surface will accommodate two Router Tables one on either side, another TS, probably an older Craftsman TS, used only for Dado cuts. The 2 TS will share the same Fence! Underneath the TS there will be several cabinets for tool storage. This idea is particularly suited to small shops! 3. The WorkStation is mounted on a "Portamate Mobil Base" that is 5 feet long and solid as a rock! 4. I am currently in the process of improving the Dust Collection by enclosing and sealing off the bottom section of the saw. I used the SS Dust Collect Panel as a templet to cut the other 3 panels to form the sides and then installed a bottom panel. 5. I'll add an 18 Inch wide Extension Table off the back end of the saw for obvious reasons. I'll take this opportunity, to hang a Motor Cover Box, which will be vented, to fully enclose the entire TS to improve the Dust Collection properties of this saw. 6. Finally, I am in the process installing a BLADE GUARD with Dust Collection. My main reason for adding this, is to improve Safety first and Dust Collection secondly. 7. If I had to do it again, I would! I recommend the SS TS at every opportunity.
There is something wrong with the pricing. It's not acceptable. The technology cost pennies to produce. Modern circuit boards are not expensive, and there are no rare metals or hard to produce parts on a Saw Stop saw. The fact that they are almost 3 times more expensive than a comparable saw without the $20 worth of electronics, is unacceptable. The worst part is that the patent laws prevent any other company from creating their own version of blade stop technology. Bosch perfected a gas cartridge system that snapped the blade down quickly, and due to Saw Stop's lawyers (presumably) Bosch had to stop building their technology. In what world is it ok to prevent other companies from creating their own life saving technology? Stopping a blade is not some small thing, it's a matter of life or death. And no patent should be capable of blocking safety features on any piece of equipment, under any circumstances. This is a case where the government needs to do their job, and they need to actually set an expiration date for the Saw Stop patents due to National Interest. The government has apparently taken away at least 5,000 patents from their respective owners when the patent deals with something that has profound implications for day to day life, so there is already a well established precedent. But in this case, they need to make the patents open source, and prevent any company from holding a monopoly over "machinery safety features." This is a case where there is actually a good reason for the government to take the patent away, because Saw Stop is actively preventing other companies from offering an affordable product. Saw Stop saws are not affordable for the general public. Table saws are the single most dangerous piece of equipment ever created by man, and it it should be legal mandate that all new table saws must include some form of an electronic "flesh sensing technology." If someone wants a saw without the technology, they can flip a switch and shut it off. But it should be legally required to be included on all new table saws. Saw Stop is going about this the wrong way, and unfortunately karma is going to get them in the end. Karma is a real thing, we've seen it with GM and Chrysler, and many other companies. Viciously attacking other competitors who make a similar but sufficiently different technology that helps prevent injuries (Bosch) is not good business, it's just malicious. Allowing all the companies to have their own version of the technology would drastically reduce the cost, without putting anyone out of business.
Sorry for your experience. I agree it is very expensive and also those holes don’t line up easily. However, you can put in a drill bit etc at the time your are tightening the bolts of the stand and the holes will be fine. My problem is, and my question to you, how on earth did you flip upside down that 140lbs base and put into position without getting injured or dropping the thing onto the floor?
Hi, I appreciated your review and learned from your "surprises" with your new SawStop add-on costs. As a newbie to woodworking, can you explain why you wouldn't just roll your SawStop onto a sheet of plywood to get the right height for your other tables?
Hi. Interesting suggestion. But it would make it more difficult to sweep under as the floor would not be level. It would have also been two sheets as it was 1.5 inches. Still, your point is taken and that is certainly an option. Best of luck.
I have both the contractors saw and the 3 hp cabinet saw, the bigger saw is a better performing saw, hands down, rip a bunch of hickory and you'll be a believer, imake a living with both of them, I do some shop work and some jobsite work, I wouldn't want to carpenter without neither of them
Your problem with the bolts connecting saw to base was because you did not follow instructions. It tells you to leave bolts loose in the stand until after the four bolts are in.
The a many drop in router wings for table saws. My is a bench dog, but you can find alternatives at rockier, woodcraft or even direct;y from sawstop. Thanks for the question.
I was really troubled about dust collection. If nothing else, shop cleanup was a pain. The I stumbled onto the perfect solution. I opened the Garage door & rolled my saw out onto the driveway. No problem with sawdust, no hoses no additional expense. Simple things ARE best. But, not everybody lives in Arizona.
@@drmilktruck I have a 12" telescoping fan that I put right next to my table saw at 45*. You are correct, if there is no wind, it just shoots right into the air and falls on you like morning dew.
festool just bought sawstop recently, the mft has been made along time ago. Also even if that wasn’t the case it would be ridiculous to think that two unrelated items would be manufactures the same height. Also the dust blade guard and over arm dust collection are the most useless items, 90% of the dust on a saw fall down.
I agree, most of the dust will far down because of the tooth and saw rotation direction, reducing the suction below, and increasing it above will tend to pull dust upwards towards the table and seems self defeating to me.
Man, I didn't realize that the nickel and diming was so obnoxiously expensive! This is the same saw a\I'm looking at with all the same extras, and that's fkn expensive. Gonna have to fabricate some stuff!
It's painful to think of someone else with any one of these problems but they don't have the abilities a guy like this has. They'd just have to live with these problems after paying through the nose.
Looks like someone should have done more research before making their purchase! all of these issues could have been identified before you bought the saw.
Unless space is an issue it makes absolutely no sense to choose the Contractor saw over the Professional say. Similarly equipped the price difference is only $710. Add the cast iron wings and it’s only $439.
It was because of the router table insert. The PCS hangs the motor on the left. For my workflow, that is where the router table insert most go. The ICS is on the right, but that is wicked expensive.
Your Video is very much worthwhile watching. I have the same SS that I was able to buy used (2008 model), from a College, that was shutting down one of their Maintenance shops. Believe it or not I paid only $1000.00 for it including an extra Brake Assy. One of the major upgrades that I intend to do, is the convert the Motor over to 230Volts. Although 110Volts maybe more convenient for me, I think the Saw's overall performance will be greatly improved using 230Volts. My the way you must install a different Connector Box available from SS for around $70.00. My saw is currently mounted on the standard fixed Stand. I have considered buying the Mobil Base for obvious reasons, but want to incorporate the SS into a "Table Saw Work Station" that has my Dewalt Surface Planner under the right side and the Router Table on the Left Wing. I've done this before on my old Craftsman TS and it works great in a small shop. I have a Portable Tool Base, from Portamate that is rated at 1500 lbs that will be the foundation of the "TSWS," The Station will use the Portamate coupled with Wood Cabinets to support the TS/Planner/etc and have plenty of storage space/draws.
Be aware that if you convert an older saw to 230-volt operation, you may also need a new switch assembly in addition to the 230-v connector box. The saw will not run properly and, when I converted my saw, appeared that the safety mechanism is disabled. When I called Saw Stop with the issue they replaced the upgrade the with assembly without charge. I recommend that you consult with them when you are ready to convert to check if you need a new switch assembly. They can tell based on the serial number of your saw.
Yeah, they nickle/dime you and bends you over. But have you seen any videos of people with missing limbs from a Saw Stop? No.......that's pretty priceless.
Every woodworker has a different situation we’re they may have to readjust there work station ..building equipment is part of our dna.. so if ur a qualified woodworker then don’t complain about engineering ur work space
Why would you expect the mft and table saw to be on the same plane. It's not like it's advertised that way. I agree it's a bit pricey and the extras are outrageous, but I feel like this was just a bitch session.
Dude, why limit yourself to the contractor saw? As you stated, to put your router table on the left side of the saw. Install the router extension on the right side of the saw, like I did, voila problem solved, and now you have a more powerful saw, with a smaller footprint!
Hello. I live in Hudson near you but my best friend lives a few doors down from you. Super funny a video like this came from someplace I'm near. Great shop. Love your attention to detail.
Ok so ok by ok the ok sounds ok of ok it ok most ok of ok the ok problems ok you ok are ok talking ok are ok things ok that ok you ok caused. Don’t blame the table saw for the hight of your current work bench or the price of things that you wanted as an extra. Do your research brother or an aftermarket router table that isn’t made for that saw
