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Just wondering if anyone has "upgraded" (or seriously contemplated doing so) their Unisaw to a SawStop. What sold you on it (just safety?), what are the pluses/minuses, etc.
Would appreciate any input.
You are entitled to your own opinions. Just not your own facts.
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I'd like to update my old uni for a new uni. But seriously I think the only advantage saw to saw is the skin sensor. I heard a story just last week, about a guy who switched to sawstop, and sold his uni to his inexperienced neighbor, who proceeded to cut off two fingers the first week he had it.
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I have 2 Unisaws. A SawStop came up on Craigslist about a month ago. The price suckered me into getting it, knowing I could easily get my money back if I didn't like it. Its a 3 hp pcs with the short fence. My Unisaws are 2004 and 2005 models. Both have Unifences. I bought the 2004 new, added a Dewalt sliding table, and Uniguard when I purchased the saw. It has the long fence. I got the 2005 from my brother when he moved and got out of woodworking. It has the short fence and I added a router wing to it.
The SawStop is a very nice saw. Fit and finish are great, perhaps better than the Unisaw. Same power as my Unisaws. Same accuracy.
I much prefer the Unifence over the SawStop fence, which is nice/smooth/accurate, I just prefer the Unifence.
I much prefer the riving knife of the SawStop.
I like the Uniguard however I dislike the big support bar part of it.
My shop is really not big enough for 3 saws, so I will probably get rid of a saw or two.
My small Unisaw doesnt take up much more room than a router table. Its nice to keep my tenoning jig on it, or else a dado blade. These do not interfere with my router wing, and visa versa. Also those two things would not benefit much from a riving knife.
The other Unisaw has the Uniguard which has a nice, easily removable splitter. The splitter works well, however the riving knife is MUCH better.
I may move some parts from my Unisaws to the SawStop and sell one of the Unisaws. Keeping two short fences and adding a track saw is probably what I am going to do.
So.....
Is it worth the change? (somewhat hesitant to call it a upgrade, but I suppose it is) Not sure. I have had a couple of "uncomfortable" situations over the years with my setup. A riving knife would have solved those situations. My dad was a cabinet maker / home builder and I grew up helping him. I knew lots of people in the trades. Dad lost 2 fingers to a table saw in his later years. Had an uncle who lost 2 fingers to a RAS. Knew of other accidents too.
IMHO The 2 saws are the same in most respects (at least close enough) except for safety where the SawStop is clearly superior.
Have you had any "unconformable" situations with your Unisaw? Are your work processes and safety habits good? Does anyone else use your equipment?
The SawStop is every bit as good as a Unisaw and superior in safety.
There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who know binary and those who do not.
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I probably wont switch because i have a 5x8 outfeed table and custom cabinet under my right extention wing and if i switched, i would need to rework and rebuild the whole thing. Frankly i just dont want to.
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Just switched from a UNI to a SS a few weeks ago. No regrets: SS seems to be as good or better in every respect. Safety was the only reason to switch.
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I went from a Uni to a SS for safety. Chris Becksvoort has a SS and it saved one of his fingers a couple years ago, that convinced me to buy a SS.
One limitation is that you can't use blades other than 10" or 8". At times I like to use a 7 1/4" circ saw blade with a 1/16" kerf for ripping to save material. No can do on the SS.
g
I've only had one...in dog beers.
"You can see the stars and still not see the light"
The Eagles: Already Gone
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Replaced my Unisaw with a SawStop PCS over 5 years ago strickly because of safety concerns. Had a friend lost two fingers on his Unisaw due to a lapse of attention. He now has a SS ICS, albeit unfortunately too late in this case.
I liken the SS safety brake to a reserve parachute - never used until you need it.
Doug
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I replaced my General 350 with a SS, solely for safety reasons. I am well into retirement and there are some days when I am just not as sharp anymore, I like having an additional level of safety.
Macky
The wheel of Life is like a toilet-paper roll, the closer to the end you get, the faster it goes around.
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a friend of mine upgraded to a SS and the first week he triggered the brake....because he didn't reset an aluminum jig he was using from his right tilt Delta to the left tilt SS.
Expensive oops.
Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. - Philip K. Dick
Mark
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Have had the SS for over 3 years without any finger save incident. I never want one as the blade and new cartridge will cost money. Over 50,000 SS have been sold and I am one of the lucky and HAPPY owners.
The dc is the best in all the brands I know (when used with the above the table dust collection).
The quality and accuracy are the best I have ever experienced once you set up the fence properly. If you can afford it, get it -- second hand or brand new. It isn't that expensive, all things considered.
My neighbor makes two to three vacation trips a year but insists he cannot afford the SS...it's just a matter of priority. I value my hands, palms and fingers more than anything as I still have 25 to 30 years of woodworking to enjoy. I have no intention of trying to convince him to dump his rusty UNISAW. It's his hands and money.
If it matters, Frank Klausz and Chris Schwarz also own SS.
Simon
