I owe my buddy Larry a nice lunch.
He and a friend stopped by just as the new tablesaw was being delivered. Just the crate and all of it's stickers got my heart pumping.
After opening the main crate, we slid the beast into the mobile base, thus making it easier to assemble. Of course, I'd like to say I remembered to bring my camera and documented the whole assembly, but... 
About that lunch bet - here's a tip. If you ever have an opportunity to make a bet on whether or not a power cord comes with a $4500 saw, bet that it doesn't.
If you're lucky enough to live in a great place like Las Vegas, there are some fantastic places you've always wanted to try, but probably couldn't afford. This bet could be a great way to win a free lunch in the restaurant of your choice.
Way to go, Larry.
My next question is - why the hell do manufacturers do that? Oh, I know, they want the machine to be hardwired into the wall. I understand that, but even so - where's the cord to do so? Now I have to run all over town trying to find an appropriate molded cord. Note to the SawStop company - just because you make one of the coolest saws in the world doesn't give you the right to flake out on this issue.
There's much more to assembling a woodworking school than you might think - but my main concern is safety. Woodworking tends to lose it's appeal when someone loses a finger.
I'm not the kind of person who does things entirely by the book. But in this day and age (i.e.... our litigious society), it's only smart to CYA. Great liability insurance is a must, but even better - a goof proof saw goes a long way in helping me sleep at night.
So the first thing I'm thinking about is a SawStop.
Now... I don't own their stock. I don't even know if they're publicly traded. But I do know that the technology behind their sawblade brake is amazing. Once their sawblade detects that it's cutting something soft (like a finger), the blade drops down and gets jammed into a soft metal brake pad. It stops completely within a fraction of a second.
Click here for some photos of finger cuts that people have received using this saw. They're not gross, I promise.
Unfortunately, engaging the brake on this saw not only ruins your blade, but it also requires the purchase of another computer module, in order to get the saw working again. Now, my favorite blade is a Woodworker II blade made by Forrest, and at roughly $115 per blade, this makes for an expensive mistake in the shop.
Add in the cost of a new computer module (roughly $80) and you're talking a lot of $$$ for a momentary lapse in concentration on the tablesaw.Here's a little tool porn for the geeks out there. The Cabinet saw (below) is my dream machine - but at roughly $4500, fully tricked out, it's a little pricey.
This Contractor's version is alittle more in my price range, but you know I'm salivating for the other one. Still, this version will set me back close to $2500.
I'm terrible at making decisions like this. The logical side of my brain says to buy the one I can afford. You know what the other side is telling me, right?
