Safer Saw Claims

1) Manufacturer

“The combination of safety, unparalleled design and craftsmanship has made SawStop the #1 cabinet saw in North America.”

According to the manufacturer, the quality and design of StopSaw makes it a safe product but is anything which a blade spinning at 5,000 rpms ever completely safe?

2) Customer

“This was the best table saw on the market and the blade brake was a game changer destined to carve out a big chunk of market share for SawStop.”

Calling something “the best” anything is more often than not a matter of opinion. It also depends on the criteria by which you’re judging.

3) Industry Spokespeople

“They note that under some circumstances, SawStop can stop a blade without skin contact–such as when the blade touches conductive materials like metal or very wet wood.”

This assumes, as well as implies, that the saw operator would be foolish enough to put soaked wood or wood with nails/screws/staples in it through a saw. A seasoned wood worker knows that running materials like that through any saw can damage the blade and mechanism. If the consumer wasn’t aware of that then it doesn’t really matter what saw they use, the probability of being injured instantly becomes higher and they probably shouldn’t be using a saw to begin with.

4) Consumer Safety Advocate

“I believe that if we don’t see a voluntary standard soon, that we should look at making this product a part of our rule making so we can build that in as part of a mandatory standard.”

This quote comes from Inez Tenenbaum, the new chairman at the CPSC. It sounds like he’s assuming that others with the CPSC will agree with him. He’ll also most likely be facing major pushback from saw manufacturers.

5) Injured Plaintiff

“This technology is revolutionary.”

Is it really revolutionary? Is it involving or causing a complete or dramatic change? That you’re no longer at risk for losing another finger? You’re already short one, StopSaw isn’t bringing it back and that is what I’d consider revolutionary.

6) Personal Injury Lawyer

“The CPSC has the power to put an end to those unnecessary tragedies.”

This statement assumes that if the CSPC requires all saw manufacturers to use the StopSaw technology that no one would ever be seriously injured by a table saw again. They fail to take into account all the table saws already in the workshops of consumers. Unless these consumers elect to purchase brand new saws, they are still at risk for “tragedy.”

7) News Reporters

“Within a few thousandths of a second, the blade slammed to a stop.”

The blade did not stop itself, it was forced to stop by a massive chunk of aluminum. The phrasing of this claim is misleading on the amount of damage actually occurring when StopSaw’s flesh sensing technology is called into action.