Run the saw in Normal Mode to cut non-conductive materials like wood, plastic, cardboard, foam, Corian, melamine and dry pressure-treated wood.
Conductive materials will trigger the SawStop. You will need to use bypass mode to Run the saw when cutting conductive materials like metal, very wet or very green wood, Carbon-filled materials, mirrored acrylic, carbon fiber materials and wet pressure-treated wood.
What do I do if I activate the safety system's brake cartridge? What will it cost to reset the safety system? Does activation damage the saw?
If you activate the safety system’s brake, you will need to replace the blade and replace the brake cartridge. A standard brake cartridge costs $100 and a dado brake cartridge $120. SawStop saws are designed to absorb the force of activation and are not damaged by it.
Can I cut conductive materials?
Yes. You can operate the saw in Bypass Mode which deactivates the safety system’s braking feature, allowing you to cut aluminum and other known conductive materials. If you are unsure if 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.
What happens if the blade comes in contact with a nail or staple in the wood?
Generally, the safety system will not activate when a nail or staple is cut. Although conductive, these objects are not large enough to cause the safety system to activate unless they are grounded to the table or operator when they contact the blade.
Will cutting green or "wet" wood activate the SawStop system?
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 trigger the brake. Accordingly, the best practice is to dry wet or green wood before cutting by standing it inside and apart from other wood for about one day. You can also cut wet pressure treated wood and other conductive material by placing the saw in bypass mode to deactivate the safety system.
The Table Saw is used primarily to rip wood.