Sawstop

About our machine

• Model: PCS31230-TGP236
• Dedicated dust collector underneath
• Accessories located in drawers under outfeed table

Important Notes:

• Safety Checkout required to use this tool.
• If you trigger the $75 brake, you pay for it and the ruined blade
• Ways the brake can be accidentally set off: wet lumber, conductive materials like carbon fiber and metal-backed foam, staples or nails embedded in wood.
• If you think your material might set off the brake, use Bypass mode. Ask the General Manager or Shop Manager for the key.

Guides and Manuals

Manual: link to google drive

General Tips and Safety

• How to Select Table Saw Blades - choose the right blade for the right job
• Kickback - what it looks like, and why it happens
  • Article: Woodsmith Spirit - Table Saw Kickback
• Ripping, Cross-cutting, push-sticks, featherboards - What they are and how you use them
• Working with twisted or crooked wood - If it's not flat and stable, how to correct it so it doesn't kicback

Specific Reminders

• Avoid cutting or damaging the fence. Don’t slam the fence into the blade while spinning down. Do not cut into the fence for rabbeting, use a sacrificial piece.
• Know when to use the fence vs. the miter gauge or crosscut sled. Use the appropriate support for the cut you’re doing: use the fence for ripping, and the sled or miter gauge for crosscutting. NEVER USE BOTH. There is a high chance of the piece jamming between the blade and both of those.
• Check your materials if you’re not sure if they’re conductive. Either touch it against the blade while not spinning or make a cut in Bypass mode and see if it would have triggered the brake.
• Just because this is a “safer” saw does not mean it cannot hurt you. Treat it the same.

Potential Mistakes

• Moving/Working too fast. This can cause damage to our equipment. Safe practice is slow.
• Touching tape measure against the blade while it spins down. This will trigger the brake.
• Cutting wet wood. This will trigger the brake.
• Pulling too hard on the main switch. This can damage the switch.
• Contacting the blade with your hand, including when the saw is off but the blade is still moving. This will trigger the brake.

Check This Every Time

• When changing a blade: use the yellow gap checker and adjust brake spacing if necessary
• When cutting anything other than plywood or kiln dried lumber: check to see if it will trigger the brake system before cutting.
• Check for staples and nails.
• Check the blade that is on there, make sure it is appropriate for your cut (ripping or crosscutting)

Helpful Videos

SawStop Safety System

These are the relevant new steps involving the safety system. Make sure you watch these!

• How does SawStop work
• Adjusting the Brake spacing
• Recovering an activated brake
• Resetting the arbor arm
• Additional safety features
• Changing to a dado blade

Table Saw Basics

Everyone should watch these! Even if you're a seasoned wood worker, a brief refresher on proper safety is never a bad thing.

• Table Saw Fundamentals
• SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw Features
• Five Minute Guide: How to Use a Tablesaw - FineWoodworking on Youtube
• How to Use a Table Saw For Beginners - Mike Pattenson on Youtube
• Choosing the Best Table Saw Blades: Woodworking for Beginners #30 - WoodWorkWeb on Youtube
• How to Cut a Dado with a Table Saw - WoodworkersJournal on Youtube
• Table Saw Techniques playlist

Maintenance

• Every use: clean dust off the machine's surface and moving parts
• As needed: Steel surface should be coated with a thin layer of paste wax
• Cleaning and Oiling Lift and Tilt Mechanisms
• All sawstop videos on their official youtube channel
• Aligning the blade
• Sawstop Service Tips

Cleaning and Lubricating

These are the steps taken from the Cleaning and Oiling Lift and Tilt Mechanisms video. Use as a checklist when servicing.

• Tilt blade to 15 degrees
• Clean and oil height adjustment wheel/rod bushings
• Tilt blade to 45 degrees
• Clean and grease front trunion bracket
• Clean and grease rear trunion bracket
• Clean and grease worm and pinion gears for elevation in rear panel. Move up and down several times to spread grease.
• Raise blade all the way up
• Clean and grease elevation rod and pinion gear in the side chamber. Move up and down to spread grease.
• To access tilting gears, remove cable clamp - 1 allen screw
• Tilt to 45 degrees
• Clean and grease gears
• Reattach cable clamp
• Clean primary elevation shaft - do not lubricate