Push sticks

[artie]

On one of the other threads somebody advised against making push sticks out of plywood.

I was wondering why.?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Presumably because bits could fly off if cut?

 

[Jacob]

On one of the other threads somebody advised against making push sticks out of plywood.

I was wondering why.?

Dunno, but he was completely wrong. Plywood is best - mainly because it won't split or shatter if it gets nipped by a cutter or hit by kick-back.

 

[lurker]

I always use mdf as its softer on the saw teeth and if it kicks back or other issues it will not splinter and get rammed into my hand.

I make 4 or 5 by drawing around the plastic one ( never used for any other purpose!) that way there are several lying around when I need to lay my hands on one.

 

[Monkey Mark]

Whilst on the subject. I know there are plenty of designs out there, any preferable ones?

 

[artie]

I made two very similar to these

http://woodgears.ca/table_saw/pushsticks.html

this morning. 450 mm long.

 

[RobinBHM]

I made two very similar to these

http://woodgears.ca/table_saw/pushsticks.html

this morning. 450 mm long.

Thanks for that link, some interesting stuff and I like the shape of the push stick.

How do you find the push stick at 450mm long? -most plastic push sticks seem to be shorter than that, but the HSE recommend them to be 450mm long.

cheers Robin

 

[Jacob]

I made two very similar to these

http://woodgears.ca/table_saw/pushsticks.html

this morning. 450 mm long.

Good video - except his sticks a bit short for me.
Mine are about 450 too - I just copied the plastic one which came with the machine.
I think it's handy to have the same design all the time so using them becomes familiar and 2nd nature. Also good to have several kicking about so you can always find them. Ply or MDF - not solid wood it can split into dangerous splinters if you get it wrong.

 

[artie]

How do you find the push stick at 450mm long? -most plastic push sticks seem to be shorter than that, but the HSE recommend them to be 450mm long.

cheers Robin

I haven't tried them yet other than held them in my hands and poked a couple of short pieces through the saw.

Left to my own devices I would probably have made them 300 mm. But if HSE says 450 there is probably a good reason. So I followed their advice.

I made them from 12 mm ply.

 

[lurker]

6inches worth of handle and a foot distance between the hand and blade adds up to about 450

 

[Monkey Mark]

I made two very similar to these

http://woodgears.ca/table_saw/pushsticks.html

this morning. 450 mm long.

Good video - except his sticks a bit short for me.
Mine are about 450 too - I just copied the plastic one which came with the machine.
I think it's handy to have the same design all the time so using them becomes familiar and 2nd nature. Also good to have several kicking about so you can always find them. Ply or MDF - not solid wood it can split into dangerous splinters if you get it wrong.

From that link I followed on to here to watch a kickback video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7sRrC2Jpp4

Watch how close his hand gets!!!! :shock: :shock: