Popular Woodworking 2009-02 № 174, страница 22

Tool Test

SawStop's Contractor Saw-At Last

Safety aside, this is a solid saw on its own.

w 'orkers have been waiting for more than two years for the SawStop Contractor Saw to come to market. What's so special about this saw is the internal SawStop workings -the contact detection and braking system. That's the main focus on this saw. We've all seen the hot dog presentation.

But that's not the only thing worth talking about when you examine this saw. There are details that stand out and speak volumes of the saw as well as the company behind it.

Out of the box, this machine was far and away the easiest I've ever assembled .Each section of the assembly was color-coded and any hardware needed for that section was likewise packaged. In fact, to make this process belter, SawStop included posters with clear, concise instructions. Fit and finish were near perfect and the entire build was smooth.

Our setup (#CNS175-TGP36) includes the saw, two cast iron wings and a 36" Professional "T-Glide" fence. We added the mobile base, too.

Even though the stamped wings are nice, go for the cast wings. Cast iron wings add nearly 70 pounds to the machine, and that increases vibration absorption of the saw.

If you plan to move your saw around the shop, the integral mobile base is the way to

Steel reinforced plastic. Even with a steel backing, the insert flexes a bit at the back.

go. It's smooth to operate and lifts the entire saw with ease. At $160 the mobile base is a must-have. It is much better than an after-market base - no more toe stubbing on ill-placed wheels or braces.

Another worthwhile upgrade over the standard sawsetup (#CNS175-SFA30) isthe fence system. For $180 extra, chuck the 30" extruded aluminum fence and rail in favor of the beefier 36" T-Glide system. The Biesemeyer-style fence is well worth the investment.

And we were pleased with the saw itself. The top is acceptably fiat, the wings align for a nice level fit and the blade run-out is .001". Decibel (dB) readings taken at ear height as you stand in operator position were only 81 dB. (That rating is less than that ofa random-orbit sander.) Additionally, vibration is all but nonexistent. The age-old nickel trick-balancing a nickel on its edge during operation - stood firm throughout powering up, running and winding down of the saw.

1 did find a couple things I felt could have been stronger on this saw. The handles used to operate blade tilt and height adjustments are lightweight. And the blade insert is a bit springy at the rear. As small parts are cut, there could be issues with the sagging of the insert.

SawStop, LLC - 503-570-3200 or sawstop.com CNS175-SFA30 ■ $1,599 CNS175-TGP36-$1,779

for more information, circle * 152 on Free Information Card.

Also, I'm not a fan of having to use a screwdriver to release the throat plate to gain access to the riving knife and brake-system area.

But a nice feature that pushes this contractor saw beyond most competitors is the addition of the shroud around the blade. At the bottom of the shroud is a 4" dust port that's unexpected. It increases the dust collection of the saw bringing it in line with hybrid saws. I was duly impressed.

In using this saw, 1 found it to have all the guts you would expect for a 1³/4-horsepower saw. You'll have plenty of power for most furniture-making operations, but not the kind of power you get from a 3-hp cabinet saw.

1 f you're in the market for a saw that operates with a standard 110-volt household circuit, this saw competes with the hybrid models. However, the bigdraw with this saw is the safety factor provided by the braking system. Is that worth the higher purchase price? That's a math problem for you to solve.

—GlenD.Huey

SawStop Contractor Saw

36 ■ Popular Woodworking February 2009