SawStop may be the safest table saw money can buy, but how does it actually perform? We put the compact version to the test.
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Why the SawStop Table Saw is the Best Choice for 2024 (Our Honest Review)
Updated on Oct. 21, 2024
When I started getting more into woodworking, I began with tools that were a hodgepodge of my late father’s hand-me-downs and lower-quality or used items. One find was an ancient Skil table saw that didn’t have a blade guard or other safety features. When using that table saw, I focused more on not getting my fingers near the blade than on the piece of poplar I was cutting. When a piece of oak kicked back on me due to the lack of a pawl behind the saw blade, I knew it was time to upgrade to a safer model.
With safety as my main concern, I opted for the SawStop Table Saw, which fit perfectly in my small garage workspace. After more than a year of testing and working on projects like bookshelves, plant stands, small furniture, and floor lamps, here are my thoughts.
On This Page
What is the SawStop Table Saw?
If you’ve never heard of SawStop, let me enlighten you. The company’s table saws use proprietary active injury mitigation [AIM] technology to sense when the saw blade touches human flesh and stop it. Social media is filled with stories from woodworkers who would have lost digits on other table saws but walked away from an incident with just a scratch, thanks to SawStop.
It is worth noting that the brake and blade may crack after engaging, but both are replaceable (your finger is not). Many woodworkers say SawStop sent them replacements free of charge afterward, as their stories are the best possible publicity for the company. (You can turn off the safety feature if you’re cutting wet wood or metal, both of which might trigger the brake).
VIA MERCHANT
I Tried It
SawStop Compact Table Saw
Pros:
- Patented safety system stops the spinning blade on contact
- Easy setup
- Accurate right out of the box
- Quick-tilt bevel
- Powerful with heavy-duty construction
- Carry handle and on-saw storage
- Rack and pinion fence
- CPO 30-day warranty
Cons:
- More expensive than a standard table saw
- Compact version does not accept a dado stack
- Other portable table saws offer larger rip capacity
SawStop Table Saw Features
Aside from the technological benefits, this is a terrific compact table saw. The build quality is outstanding. At around 70 pounds, it’s a hefty little guy, but the weight adds to the stability. Furthermore, the saw won’t scoot around your workshop floor when cutting a partial sheet of plywood.
The saw didn’t require much assembly or adjustment out of the box. Theoretically, you can set this up at a job site or in your garage and start cutting wood in just a few minutes.
The 10-inch blade offers a maximum cutting depth of 3 1/8 inches (subtract an inch if cutting at a 45-degree angle). Powered by a 15-amp motor and spinning at around 4,000 RPMs, the blade easily rips through most wood like a hot knife through butter. Lifting the angle dial allows you to quickly make sweeping changes while turning it gives the micro-adjustments required to hit the exact angle you need.
Subsequently, the rack-and-pinion fence was perfectly parallel to the blade from the get-go and also incredibly easy to adjust. Use the dial to make minute adjustments to the fence depth on the track. The telescoping fence rails allow for a rip-cut capacity of up to 24 1/2 inches when fully extended, with a unique fence shelf adding support at the far edge if needed.
The dials for the blade angle and fence depth are large, well-marked, and pleasant. Want to adjust? Just pull out the knob and dial it in. Push it in to lock it back into place.
Safety attachments, a miter gauge and blade-change wrenches are located in a compartment at the rear of the saw. This is also where you’ll find the 2 1/2-inch vacuum port that hooks up with a standard-size hose.
How I Tested It
Over the last year, I cut plywood, OSB, hard walnut and soft pine at various thicknesses with zero issues. The cuts were highly accurate! I’d often measure the primary piece of wood and the off-cut after sawing through the boards, and both were bang on nearly every time. Although the saw doesn’t accept a dado stack, I found it wasn’t a huge deal; I easily made the cuts manually, even if it took a little more time. Using a simple jig, I was able to create tapered legs for furniture projects.
Why You Should Trust Us
When I’m not photographing grizzly bears in Alaska or exploring mountain trails in the Rockies, I’m a hobbyist woodworker and Hoosier heartland homeowner. I don’t make a ton of money as a freelance journalist, so I need to do most home repairs myself. My dad was a master carpenter, and my goal when I build anything in my garage shop is not to embarrass his memory. I endorse a particular tool only after multiple hours of using it myself.
FAQ
Will SawStop work on any table saw?
No. You can’t retrofit a table saw from another manufacturer with SawStop technology.
Can you cut plastic on a SawStop table saw? Metal?
You can cut plastic with the saw, but metal might activate the blade brake unless you shut the feature off temporarily.
Can you cut wet wood on a SawStop table saw?
No. Unless you deactivate the safety features, the water in the wood will activate the blade brake.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
One commenter on the SawStop website wrote, “I was relieved to have one of our four SawStop saws do as it should when a student came in contact with the blade. He was ripping a piece of spruce stock and his support hand came in contact with the blade. The cut was just below the first knuckle of the thumb and, in my opinion, had it been any other saw, he would have lost it. The injury consisted of a slight cut, and stitches were not necessary. [The SawStop] has made our school a safer place to work and learn. In 20 years of using table saws, these saws are the finest operating saws I have used and seen.”
Product Comparison
So, where does the SawStop rank among the best table saws? The top two brands in the category, Dewalt and Bosch, offer comparable 10-inch blade models with a significantly larger rip capacity—32.5 and 30 inches, respectively. The SKIL 10-inch table saw boasts a powerful worm drive that provides greater torque and depth of cut. The competitors’ saws also use wheeled stands for transporting to a job site, a feature I wish SawStop had included in its version. On a performance level, I’d put the SawStop up there with all of them.
Each of these job site table saws averages about a third less than the SawStop, and if you go for the less powerful, less feature-packed versions of these saws, you’ll definitely find a deal for under $400. From a strict value perspective, Kobalt table saw may offer the best bang for your buck at $349.
However, folks who complain about the premium associated with the SawStop aren’t paying much more. The price difference seems meager when considering how much a cost to the emergency room would be after suffering a life-altering injury. I’ll gladly fork over the additional cash if it means I won’t have to live with the nickname ‘Stumpy’ for the rest of my life.
Final Verdict
SawStop’s safety features sold me, but its performance blew me away. This is a great saw for all skill levels, especially beginners. If you want to teach your kids woodworking—this table saw needs to be in your workshop.
Where to Buy the SawStop Table Saw
VIA MERCHANT
I Tried It
SawStop Compact Table Saw
Expect to pay just under $1,000 for the SawStop from Walmart, The Home Depot and Amazon. Now, I’m more at ease when building projects with the SawStop, and that piece of mind is priceless (if you ask me).
