On my Poly Max saw, the foot switch will turn the saw off but not on, works for 1/2 of the process, better 1/2 than nothing at all, and on my 14" Hegner which is on wheels/castors, (like most of my machines and work benches, because of limited space, and I can wheel them around and out to the drive way) that I have heavily modified by using a jack shaft and different motor and pulley and belt, I have the the foot switch zip tied to the stand, and use my knee to turn the saw on and off, so I guess I could call it a knee switch. I like using the foot switch and it could be used on different machines. Or maybe a safety switch like on a table saw. dan in Pa