Four years ago, SawStop introduced a 10-in. cabinet saw with a remarkable brake that could stop a spinning sawblade just milliseconds after contact with a wayward finger. Instead of an amputated digit, the saw operator would walk away with a shallow scratch.

Now, SawStop has added a second saw to its line, this one a contractor’s saw. It has the same blade-safety brake and riving knife as its bigger brother.

Knife safety. In addition to the blade brake, the SawStop also has a state-of-the-art riving knife (above) to prevent kickback.

Quick change. The knife seldom needs to be removed, but it can be in seconds by flipping a lever (above).

Both the blade-height and the blade-tilt mechanisms worked smoothly. Arbor-flange runout measured zero—as good as you can get. Blade-to-miter-slot parallelism was a tolerable 0.002 in. over 8 in., but it can be adjusted. Switching from the riving knife to a full blade guard required no tools and took just seconds. On the downside, the saw’s table was distinctly out of flat, with a crown of 0.011 in. at the insert opening. That’s more than I like to see on a tablesaw top. In use, the saw ran smoothly. Under the table, the blade is partially enclosed in a plastic shroud with a 4-in.-dia. dust port. Connected to a dust collector, it captured at least 95% of the sawdust.

The 1-3/4-hp motor had plenty of power to rip 3/4-in.-thick stock. I could also rip 2-in.-thick maple at a comfortable feed rate. But, like most contractor’s saws, it bogged down when I tried to feed the thick maple at a fast pace.

To test the brake, I ran a hot dog into the blade twice, once with a regular blade, once with a dado-blade set. Both times, the brake fired flawlessly and the skin of the hot dog ended up with only a tiny scratch. The base model (includes 30-in aluminum rip fence and rails, stamped steel wings) sells for $1,500. For more information, go to the SawStop Web site or call 866-729-7867.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Grizzly G0495X Industrial Helical Cutterhead 8-in. Jointer

Regardless of the board’s grain, this jointer produced excellent results. Its fence was totally flat, worked smoothly, and locked well, staying in place even after jointing multiple edges. Getting the fence to 90° was very easy, but the 90° stop was a little tricky to set and the fence did not go back to square when using it. For those who would use it, there is also a digital depth-of-cut scale.

Buy at Amazon

DeWalt 735X Planer

At high speed, the planer works fast and leaves a smooth surface. But the slower, finish speed produces an almost glass-smooth surface. Knife changes are easy.

Buy at Amazon

Rikon 10-3061 10-in. Deluxe Bandsaw

The 1⁄2-hp motor has all the power needed to resaw at its maximum capacity of 5 in.

The saw has two speeds: 3,280 sfpm (surface feet per minute) for wood and 1,515 sfpm for soft metals and some plastics.

Buy at Amazon