Woodstock W1824 manual Push Sticks, Making a Push Stick

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Push Sticks	Push Stick
	Prohibition
When used correctly, push sticks reduce the risk of injury	Zone	Store Push
by keeping hands away from the blade while cutting. In
	Push Stick	Stick Here
the event of an accident, a push stick can absorb damage		for Easy
that would have otherwise happened to hands or fingers.	Supporting	Access
Use push sticks whenever your hands will get within 12"
of the blade. To maintain control when cutting large
workpieces, start the cut by feeding with your hands then	Blade
use push sticks to finish the cut, so your hands are not on	Path	Push Stick
the end of the workpiece as it passes through the blade.	Feeding

Feeding: Place the notched end of the push stick	=`^li\-0%Using push sticks to rip narrow
against the end of the workpiece (see inset Figure 69),	stock.
and move the workpiece into the blade with steady
downward and forward pressure.

Supporting: A second push stick can be used to keep the workpiece firmly against the fence while cutting. When using a push stick in this manner, only apply pressure before the blade; otherwise, pushing the workpiece

against or behind the blade will increase the risk of

kickback (see Figure 69).

=`^li\.'% Side view of push stick in-use.

Making a Push Stick

Use this template to make your own push stick.

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90º

Cut here to

push 1⁄4" stock

Cut here to push 1⁄2" stock

15

3
/	"
4

Minimum Length

SIZING: Push stick must be at least 15 3⁄4" long. Use 1⁄2"–3⁄4" thick material.

Notch for placing on			Notch to help
			prevent hand
corners of workpieces
			from slipping
		MATERIAL: Only use hard-
		wood, sturdy plywood, or
		high-density plastic. Do not
				SANDING: Sand
		use softwood that may break
				edges to remove
		under pressure or metal that
				rough edges and
		can break teeth from the
1	⁄2" Grid			increase comfort.
		blade!

Figure 71. Template for a basic shop-made push stick (not shown at actual size).

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