Sawstop PCS31230-TGP252 Tablesaw

SawStop Saws Detect Contact With Skin. The blade carries a small electrical signal, which the safety system continually monitors. When skin contacts the blade, the signal changes because the human body is conductive. The change to the signal activates the safety system. 

Upon activation of the safety system, an aluminum brake springs into the spinning blade, stopping it in less than 5 milliseconds! The blade’s angular momentum drives it beneath the table, removing the risk of subsequent contact. Power to the motor is shut off.

In the vast majority of cases, coming in contact with the spinning blade will result in a minor cut. However, if your hand moves into the blade at very high speed, it is possible for you to receive a serious injury.

The SawStop safety system continuously performs many self-checks to ensure the components of the safety system are working properly. The safety system will not allow the motor to start (or to remain running) unless every component of the safety system is working properly.

Do not wear gloves when using a SawStop saw because the glove can snag on the blade and pull your hand into the blade at high velocity. The safety system will still react as soon as your skin contacts the blade, but the resulting injury can be more severe because of the velocity of your hand.

Do not wear gloves when using a SawStop saw because the glove can snag on the blade and pull your hand into the blade at high velocity. The safety system will still react as soon as your skin contacts the blade, but the resulting injury can be more severe because of the velocity of your hand.

If you activate the safety system’s brake, you will need to replace the brake cartridge and evaluate the condition of the blade for future use. Replacing the brake cartridge is simple and can take as little as 90 seconds to complete. A standard brake cartridge costs $69 USD and a dado brake cartridge $89 USD. SawStop saws are designed to absorb the force of activation and are not damaged by it.

Yes. SawStop strongly recommends that you use a blade guard whenever possible.

SawStop saws cut most wet wood without a problem. However, if the wood is very green or wet (for example, wet enough to spray a mist when cutting), or if the wood is both wet and pressure treated, then the wood may be sufficiently conductive to activate the brake. If you are unsure whether the material you need to cut is conductive, you can make test cuts using Bypass Mode to determine if it will activate the safety system’s brake. The red light on the control box will flash to indicate conductivity.

Yes. You can operate the saw in Bypass Mode which deactivates the safety system’s braking feature, allowing you to cut aluminum, very wet/green wood (see above) and other known conductive materials.

If you are unsure whether the material you need to cut is conductive, you can make test cuts using Bypass Mode to determine if it will activate the safety system’s brake. The red light on the control box will flash to indicate conductivity.