Harvey Table Saw D1 Dream Saw: Blade Drop Safety
Watching on TV? See all tool links from this video
The new Harvey table saw is the D1 Dream Saw, and it protects your fingers without a cartridge or a ruined blade. I put my hand toward the blade and watched the safety system work. Here is how it works, what else the saw has, and when you can get one.
The Short Answer
- The Harvey table saw D1 Dream Saw uses a non-contact blade drop system. It pulls the blade down before your hand touches it.
- No cartridge and no expendables. The blade was not damaged, and the saw was ready to cut again in about 10 seconds.
- Price: Harvey has not announced it yet.
- Release: it is a prototype right now. Harvey hopes to release it next year.
- It is a real SawStop alternative for anyone who hates the idea of replacing a brake cartridge and a blade.
Harvey Table Saw D1 Dream Saw: How the Blade Drop Safety Works
Harvey calls it a proprietary non-contact blade drop. The saw senses your hand coming and drops the blade out of the way. You never have to touch the blade for it to work, so there is no hot dog test required.
The coverage goes all the way around the blade. You can bring your hand in from the front or any other direction. Harvey says you could not even touch the riving knife at the back if you tried.
I tested it myself. The demo blade had no teeth on it, and I was still a little nervous putting my hand in there. It worked.
The part that matters most is what happens after. There was no cartridge to replace and nothing to throw away. The blade was fine. Harvey cleared the fault, the control system showed a green check, and the saw was ready to cut again in about 10 seconds.
See Harvey table saws and tools at Harvey Woodworking Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Watch the Full Test
The video shows the blade drop in real time, including how fast the saw resets after it trips. Seeing it happen tells you more than any description can.
Harvey D1 vs SawStop: A Finger Safe Table Saw With No Cartridge
SawStop has owned the finger-safe table saw market for years. The cost of a trip is what bugs a lot of woodworkers. You are looking at an expensive cartridge to replace and usually a ruined blade.
The Harvey D1 skips both. There are no cartridges and no expendables, and the blade drops without being damaged. You clear the fault, wait for the green check, and go back to work.
That is why I think SawStop's monopoly is over. If this saw hits production the way the prototype works, it changes what people expect from table saw safety.
Harvey D1 Automated Control Center: No Knobs on the Cabinet
The other thing you notice right away is the missing handwheels. There are no knobs on the side of the cabinet. Everything runs through one automated control center.
Blade height and blade tilt are both on the panel. The blade tilts both left and right. The same panel shows a green check when the safety system is active and ready.
Harvey D1 Dream Saw Features and Specs
Harvey redesigned the internals of this saw from the ground up. The actuators that run the safety system are built right into it. Here is what comes standard:
- A 4 horsepower EV motor
- The Harvey Big Eye fence with precision micro adjust
- The Shark overhead guard, which Harvey says is the best overhead dust collection on the market
- A built-in slider table
Harvey does not get enough credit for innovation. Their table saw fences and band saws were already strong. I have also reviewed a Harvey bandsaw, and this saw pushes the brand even further.
Harvey D1 Release Date and Price
The D1 Dream Saw I tested is a prototype. Harvey is working to get it into production and hopes to release it next year. Harvey has not announced a price yet.
Harvey e-Lift Precision Router Lift
Harvey also showed me an automated router lift called the e-Lift Precision Router Lift. It launches under the Bridge City name, which officially brings the Harvey and Bridge City families together.
You can adjust it two ways. The first is manual adjust, which is great for sneaking up on a cut with a chamfer bit. The second is entering a position from zero.
Say you have a straight bit in for a rabbet or a dado. Zero it out, enter your setting, and the bit goes right to it. No more guessing and no more fiddling with a hand crank. I think it is a practical use of the technology, and I want one in my shop.
It comes as an all-in-one unit with its own router plate. It uses your own router, and anything that fits a standard router plate will fit this lift. Harvey expects it to release in 2027.
See the Harvey lineup at Harvey Woodworking Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Magswitch Table Saw Accessories Worth a Look
After Harvey, I checked out the Magswitch lineup. Every product uses the same magnet technology inside. Only the way you switch the magnet on changes from product to product.
The big win is that nothing gets screwed into your machine table. You switch the magnet on, it locks down, and you switch it off to move it. Their lineup runs from small mag square angles to saw guides and dust collection.
Shop all Magswitch products on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Magswitch Resaw Guide
This was the one I had not seen before. The resaw guide locks into place, and you run your material along its side. Woodworkers love it because you do not have to drill holes in your table to mount it.
When you are done, you turn it off and move it. That makes it easy to reposition for different board widths.
See the Magswitch ReSaw Guide on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Magswitch Drill Press Fence
The drill press fence locks down magnetically like everything else. It also has a block on the side that locks into place to hold your material. Magswitch adds a bit of rubber so the fence resists sliding when you push material through it.
See the Magswitch Drill Press Fence on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Magswitch Vertical Featherboard and Featherboards
The vertical featherboard is super slick. It holds stock down tight as it moves along the fence. Magswitch makes standard and pro featherboards too, all using the same on and off magnet.
See the Magswitch Vertical Featherboard on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the Magswitch Feather Board on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the Magswitch Pro Feather Board on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Magswitch QuickLox Dust Collection
Magswitch also has a magnetic quick connect for dust collection. You bring the hose in, it locks into place, and you are ready to go. It comes in 5 inch and 4 inch options.
See Magswitch QuickLox Dust Collection on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the Magswitch Dust Collection Fitting on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Magswitch Mag Square Angles
On the smaller end, Magswitch makes mag square angles for holding parts during glue-ups and assembly. They use the same switchable magnet as the bigger shop accessories. That makes them quick to set and quick to release.
See the Magswitch MagSquare on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the Magswitch 90 Degree Angle on Amazon Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
All Tools From This Video
Harvey Woodworking
Amazon
- Shop All Magswitch Products
- Magswitch Feather Board
- Magswitch Pro Feather Board
- Magswitch Vertical Featherboard
- Magswitch Drill Press Fence
- Magswitch MagJig 150
- Magswitch MagSquare
- Magswitch Universal Track
- Magswitch ReSaw Guide
- Magswitch 90 Degree Angle
- Magswitch QuickLox Dust Collection
- Magswitch Dust Collection Fitting
- Magswitch QuickLox Air Gate
Want deals like these sent to you every day.
Join The Morning Cut. Free daily tool deal email from Matt.
Browse all current tool deals at 731woodworks.com.
See all tool reviews. Every post from the 731 Woodworks blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harvey make a table saw with finger safety like SawStop?
Yes. The Harvey D1 Dream Saw uses a non-contact blade drop that pulls the blade down as your hand gets close. It covers the blade from every direction. Unlike SawStop, it uses no cartridge and did not damage the blade when I tested it.
When is the Harvey D1 Dream Saw coming out?
The saw I tested is a prototype. Harvey is working to get it into production and hopes to release it next year. There is no firm date yet.
How much will the Harvey D1 table saw cost?
Harvey has not announced a price. I will update this post when pricing is released. The saw comes with a 4 horsepower motor, the Big Eye fence, the Shark overhead guard, and a built-in slider table.
Do you have to replace anything after the Harvey safety system trips?
No. There are no cartridges and no expendables. After it tripped, the fault was cleared and the saw was ready to cut again in about 10 seconds. The blade was not damaged.
Does the Harvey e-Lift router lift work with any router?
It uses your own router. The e-Lift comes as an all-in-one unit with its own router plate. Anything that fits a standard router plate will fit it. Harvey expects it to release in 2027.
Do Magswitch accessories need holes drilled in the table saw top?
No. Magswitch accessories lock down with a switchable magnet. You turn them on to lock them and off to move them. That is the biggest reason I like the resaw guide and featherboards.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. 731 Woodworks may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Harvey's new D1 Dream Saw drops the blade when your hand gets close, with no cartridge to replace and no ruined blade. I tested it, and I also found some Magswitch accessories worth a look.