Share your craft projects
Make new craft buddies
Ask craft questions
Blog your craft journey
Kelly
606 posts
and
15 followers
in over 10 years
in over 10 years
A Foolish Push Stick
I went to this page to see what this fellow was doing with small wooden logs.
I couldn't get past the point where he was using an awl as a push device for his table saw cuts.
Sadly, many will take his post as the stuff of an expert and will follow his technique of using potential shrapnel in place of a push shoe.
This is the web page in which his technique can be seen.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/556264991482463011/?utm_campaign=rtpinrecs&e_t=a4d9ae5de1484a36b6a21987de86ab18&utm_source=31&utm_medium=2004&utm_content=556264991482463011&utm_term=7&news_hub_id=5268209755878375743
SIDE NOTE: He says he will delete certain posts (he gives good reason). I wonder if mine will be deleted:
"OMG! Lose the ice pick and make a simple push shoe made of wood or other material not prone to becoming shrapnel if and when it comes in contact with the blade.
I couldn't get past the point where he was using an awl as a push device for his table saw cuts.
Sadly, many will take his post as the stuff of an expert and will follow his technique of using potential shrapnel in place of a push shoe.
This is the web page in which his technique can be seen.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/556264991482463011/?utm_campaign=rtpinrecs&e_t=a4d9ae5de1484a36b6a21987de86ab18&utm_source=31&utm_medium=2004&utm_content=556264991482463011&utm_term=7&news_hub_id=5268209755878375743
SIDE NOTE: He says he will delete certain posts (he gives good reason). I wonder if mine will be deleted:
"OMG! Lose the ice pick and make a simple push shoe made of wood or other material not prone to becoming shrapnel if and when it comes in contact with the blade.
Just because you've gotten away with this in the past doesn't mean you will in the future.
Just as important as my concern for your safety is, my concern others, with limited woodworking experience, assume your method is a reasonable and safe one.
In addition to that ANY metal that come in contact with the blade could become shrapnel, there is that it is very possible your hand would end up in contact with the blade, because of the chaos that ensued when the metal push device came in contact with the blade.
1 Reply
Wow! I'm not even sure what to say about that. Any form of trouble in the cut and you have no control. One of the reasons for the "shoe" as you suggest is if you feel pinching, binding, etc while in the cut you can hold the workpiece in place and turn off the saw. Its never good to run into trouble while in the cut but crap happens and with that pick you have no control.
I would also like to point out he's fiddling about checking his fit of 2 pieces while the saw is still running. I may operate on the wrong side of paranoid but if I'm not actively pushing stock thru the saw its off. I don't care if its just for 30 seconds the saw turns off. This is so I only focus on making the cut and nothing else. We've heard time and again that accidents mostly happen while tired or when we lose focus.
I would also like to point out he's fiddling about checking his fit of 2 pieces while the saw is still running. I may operate on the wrong side of paranoid but if I'm not actively pushing stock thru the saw its off. I don't care if its just for 30 seconds the saw turns off. This is so I only focus on making the cut and nothing else. We've heard time and again that accidents mostly happen while tired or when we lose focus.
