# Episode 131: Monopoly and safety

- Show: [Making It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it)
- Published: 2017-08-18
- Length: 56m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety
- Listen: https://making-it-with-jimmy-diresta-bob-clagett-and-david-picciuto.castos.com/episodes/episode-131-monopoly-and-safety

## Summary

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the controversy surrounding SawStop's flesh-sensing table saw technology, its patents, and potential legislation. They debate whether safety features should be mandated by law or left to the free market, with Diresta sharing his personal experience of losing part of his pinky finger on a traditional saw. The hosts also touch on the business implications of SawStop's patent enforcement against competitors like Bosch and its acquisition by Festool.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety#t=1) Introduction and Shop Updates
- [12:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety#t=767) SawStop Technology and Patents
- [17:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety#t=1042) Legislation and Market Monopoly Concerns
- [24:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety#t=1473) Diresta's Injury and Safety Philosophy
- [30:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety#t=1855) Patent Enforcement and Competitors
- [36:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety#t=2174) Festool Acquisition and Future of Safety
- [50:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety#t=3005) Closing Remarks and Recommendations

## Topics

- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- SawStop (product)
- Bosch (company)
- Festool (company)
- Delta (product)
- Black and Decker (company)
- DeWalt (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [STL 72: Another Tablesaw Lawsuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2014-11-14-stl-72-another-tablesaw-lawsuit) (Shop Talk Live)
- [STL: The SawStop Bandsaw with CEO Matt Howard](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2026-09-25-stl-the-sawstop-bandsaw-with-ceo-matt-howard) (Shop Talk Live)
- [Shop Talk Live 5: Compounding Errors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2012-04-27-shop-talk-live-5-compounding-errors) (Shop Talk Live)
- [STL322: Life is like a table saw](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2024-08-09-stl322-life-is-like-a-table-saw) (Shop Talk Live)
- [STL 66: SawStop Gets a Slider](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2014-08-22-stl-66-sawstop-gets-a-slider) (Shop Talk Live)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-08-18-episode-131-monopoly-and-safety. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Making It.