Do you Really Need a SawStop? | Woodworking Tool Review

I recently introduced a SawStop Professional Table Saw to my woodshop and this is my woodworking tool review where I answer some big questions you may have about the SawStop table saw: do you really need a SawStop? and is it worth the high price? I also do a full tool review after 7 months of use. This is not a sponsored review.

0:00 Intro
1:23 How a SawStop really works
3:27 My tablesaw setup
4:09 SawStop Assembly
5:10 7 month review
5:31 Do you REALLY need a SawStop?
6:49 Would I recommend a SawStop?
7:38 Is it worth the high cost?

Tools used in my shop:

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My name is Jared. I am an engineer by day and a woodworker by night... usually after the kids are in bed and before the neighbors call the cops!

This channel is about all things woodworking. I do project build videos, how-to videos, shop setup and shop layout videos, tip & tricks, and tool reviews of the stuff I'm using. I will also show you how I organize and work in my small shop in 1 bay of my garage. If you want to improve your woodworking and get inspired with some creative projects and innovative designs, come join me as a fellow evening woodworker and let's go make some sawdust!

Now go build something!

#woodworking #tablesaw #sawstop

[petelevoguer]

I’m a carpenter in the film industry and the crew I’ve been working with have 2 of these saws side by side with a huge outfeed table. These saws get used and abused A LOT on an average day and when we’re super busy they barely get switched off during the day! I’ve tripped a blade by forgetting to bypass the safety when cutting aluminum sheets and I’ve seen others pop the brake too. It took me a few seconds to even realize what had happened and that the blade had disappeared instantaneously. These are fantastic saws and have stood up well to the daily abuse they receive, and they’re still dead accurate!

[philshock]

Two years ago, I was perfectly happy with my 4 yr old Rigid 4512 table saw when I bought the Sawstop (exact same model/base). It had some quirks for sure, but they were easy to work around and I didn't feel limited in the least - it was accurate and dependable. I purchased the SS purely for the safety aspect. I justified it in my head with the fact that the price of admission was a LOT, LOT less than a trip to the ER with an amputated or severed finger. Nothing in my shop, including an 8 in jointer could alter my life so quickly and so severely than the table saw from a momentary lack of judgement (in all fairness, I suppose the miter saw is equally dangerous, but you'd have to REALLY not pay attention). Ah, who am I kidding... I just wanted that spiffy, spiral bound manual!

[ImmanuelWoodworking]

This is SUCH a good, well put together video! Along with your other videos. Seriously, as someone getting into wood working, you’ve been so helpful!

[nofacemtb]

I too paid for the card purchase I ever made!!!!

[robertlagrange]

I purchased the same saw a few years back for my small shop and I love it. I also added an April Wilkerson inspired fold down extension table to it.

[gator]

I had the old contractor saw that you upgraded from, but mine had the stock fence that was utterly garbage. It and my frustrations with it caused several close calls. Two months ago I threw it in the garbage after yet another close call and bought the same 3hp PCS with 52" table. The upgrade was amazing. I never realized how calming wood working can be when you actually can get straight cuts on the first try.

[toddschlesinger]

I totally agree! I am a new(er) hobbyist woodworker and started with a jobsite metabo saw that was loud and scared me. I gained a lot of respect for that saw. I have since ordered a sawstop that is due in any day for me to pick up and super excited. My day/paying job is an office job, so the extra safety in the saw stop was a no brainer and wife approved. Thanks for the video!

[glycerine]

Always respect the tool, regardless of experience. I (almost) found out the hard way with a circular saw, recently! Always respect the tool! Thank you for your informative video!

[chrishuddle]

I just wanted to say, you popped up on my “recommended” list. So congrats! Also, thanks for the video. I have been contemplating a saw stop so I appreciate the input! :)

[toolchuck]

Excellent explanation on your reasoning to buy, or not buy a Sawstop. I have owned a few saws of my own and currently own a 36" 3HP PCS and love it! I'm still very respectful of the blade because even a few stiches aren't fun. But the build quality and accuracy of the saw is second to none and worth every penny if you can afford it. Thanks for the video!

[johnoquinn]

Excellent review ! Thanks for the honest, common sense assessment of your SS saw.

[MrTurretless]

It's been more than 5 years since I bought exactly the same model. Added a cast iron router table extension when Sawstop hadn't been making them yet (Bench dog). Can't live without the saw. It chews through anything you can throw on it. And yes, it's a scary piece of machinery, as any table saw is. Safety feature or no safety feature - doesn't matter. The point in the video is well made.

[rvninnorthcarolina]

I have been wood working on and off for a very very long time. The saw I started with was a new 1970's Craftsman 10" Direct drive... which about as unsafe a saw that you ever wanted to use. It had a splitter and a blade guard but it got in the way so much it was generally removed...and that wonderful fence system, if you were not careful would bind up your work piece and kick back like a mule. You know what, it was what I had and I did decent work with it. I respected it and practiced cuts and took the time to make sure I was set up and proceeding safely. I also weld, work on race cars, and do other hands on hobbies and they all have dangerous aspects if you are not being careful ALL the time. Accidents happen. I was working in a metal shop and I watched a guy working on a drill press....he bumped his hat and it fell off and his long hair fell out, wrapped around the chuck and slammed his face into the head of the drill before it pulled his hair out. It was the 70's and workers with long hair were supposed to pony tail and stuff under their work shirts....that was why.

As far as what saw to get...get the one that you can afford to get started with. Tamar at 3x3 Woodworking (check her channel) does awesome work with a Dewalt DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw....she uses push sticks, riving knives and lots of different jigs and does great work. Too many times we get sucked into, "getting the best" and for some that means not starting at all. I started the hobby back up a few years ago and I bought that same DeWalt saw for $75.00 from a neighbor and ttin and standard kerf riving knives from Shark Guard and used it for a year before a bought an very nice used Delta UniSaw 36-820 with a 52" Unifence system. I bought new knives and guard from Shark Guard and I have been super happy. I still have the DeWalt and I use it for sight work....I too have many different jigs and multiple Grippers and push sticks because I too like my digits right where they are.

So you can be safe without spending $4K to do it. You just have to be careful ALL the time.

[larrycurran]

Saw stop is a very high quality product. Have the contractors model and very happy with it. I make a lot of large cabinets so I gave serious consideration to the cabinet model. But having a small shop for my work I just could not see fitting it in without tripping over it while using other machines. So I went to a highly accurate track saw with a set of parallel guides and right angle attachments to do square cuts. Cost was less and is easier on sheet goods to break down to size. Built a light weight table for use with the saw that can be stored folded against a wall when not in use. Still use the S/S saw for smaller work for which it is great. Since have added the kreg ACS system which also folds up against a wall. Still have room in my shop with great versatility.

[mrbigtuna]

Always respect every tool whenever I get to comfortable that’s when accidents happen. I have put a circular saw blade into one of my nail beds and have fired a three inch framing nail into my hand. Both times it hurt and I felt silly but it helps to respect tools

[alexreid]

Great review and thanks for the insight. I am just about to start a woodworking business and told my wife that if it works out then my aim is to save up for a Saw Stop. To me apart from the obvious safety aspect it just seems like a quality saw with great features and a good fence. The additional safety feature is of course a huge added bonus.

[kenreynolds]

Found a NIB(!) 36in 220V on CL with the standard base kit. It took a year of watching but I picked it up up for $2800. I figured I'd find one in an old woodworker's estate sale, but it ended up being someone young guy who had too many hobbies. Worth it.

[mariomontoya]

2 years ago I had a incident while building a sled on my table saw. I had been doing woodworking for about
5 years from my retirement from the electronics technology industry with alot of background abouit safety.
It just takes one moment of distraction to cause a injury. Although with total safety in mind about keeping
hands away from the blade, the moment of a loss of concentration left me with a severe injury to my finger.
It took almost 5 months to recover but with a cost of some loss of dexterity to that finger. My point is this:
Still today I cannot remember what happened that caused my injury. It's perplexing. After recovery I baught the
the Job Site Saw Stop. I have so much more respect for safety than ever since my incident despite the saw I was
using before. We are human beings that are not 100% immune from a brief lapse of concentration. At some point
something can happen. Stay safe with what you have.

[coreygrua]

If you’ve been to an ER lately, you probably know that you can spend the cost of a Saw Stop in a hurry there. Your safety advice is excellent as well. Plus, you have a new subscriber because of your effective, realistic presentation.

[michaelmerced]

All Woodshops in Las Vegas, NV has Saw Stops. Ten years ago a student cut three fingers off on a powermatic TS. He was doing a dado cut and had stack dado blades on the table saw. As an educator I welcome the Saw Stop and it has relieved a lot of stress on me when my students used it.
P.S. he wasn't my student..