Thread: What thingos can you buy to stop finger tip splinters ?

Gloves and machinery are a dangerous combination, this has been discussed previously. Put a small block of wood against the part being cut and hold that letting the cut piece slide against it instead of your hand.

Originally Posted by apricotripper

know what your saying. But too slow. which means inconsistant feed rates as well, which means burn marks and bumps etc.

Like to grab the end of the stick with my right, arm stretched out like a javilin thrower, and make as many full uninterrupted passes as I can.

Use the push stick as a featherboard and just hold the timber agaist the fence, don't push with it. I do it all the time and its not slow, feedrate is controlled by the hand you are pushing with.

Originally Posted by apricotripper

I don't know what you mean.

Our Frank and Earnest friend is referring to the manner in which I put my response. Basicially, by asking a relevant question, I seek to draw an answer to your question that you already have the ability to address. Prompting may be another way of putting it.

This is basically what maieutics is about. Psychology students will be familiar with this procedure.

By gauging his prior posts you can tell he is very educated. I must say, I like it.

good point I suppose Mini.

The only danger I can think of, is if a edge splinter comes off going against the grain......spearing into the glove pulling my hand into the blade .

Think thats quite unlikely though. I've already had a splinter do that to the wod of tape on my finger tip. My fingers arn't that close to the blade that I don't have time to react.

The problem is, for me there's nothing better at keeping that timber into the fence than my fingers. Feels like I have the best control than dicking around with blocks of wood, when I've got say a couple hundred strips of bead to make.

Maybe I could try a rubber type material. That I lash to my index finger someway. I want it to have enough give that it'll press into the corner of the timber nicely. Thats the trick to holding it tight I think.

Still find it hard to believe you can't buy something like this.

Originally Posted by boban

Our Frank and Earnest friend is referring to the manner in which I put my response. Basicially, by asking a relevant question, I seek to draw an answer to your question that you already have the ability to address. Prompting may be another way of putting it.

This is basically what maieutics is about. Psychology students will be familiar with this procedure.

By gauging his prior posts you can tell he is very educated. I must say, I like it.

I don't know what you mean.

I suppose you are doing this in your job? How about a featherboard with a strongly sprung arm that has a roller on the end of it? This could be semi permanent on the table. I do know what you mean about the FEEL of doing it your way. I find it difficult to use push sticks of any kind.

Once upon a time in old paperfilled offices, we were issued with rubber thimbles which allowed you to flick thru piles and piles and piles of paper. Remember they used to have them in the bank when counting paper money? (remember paper money?)

Try officeworks. The thimbles come in different sizes from tiny to huge. That fits all your requirements including being able to slip them into your toolbag between jobs. You can even use them (if they're clean as an eraser to rub out pencil marks!)



Sonja

I don't think rubber is a good option. Too much friction.

Metal would be much better. You could probably even turn one up out of timber.

Hey that's an idea, a thimble turner's forum......That should clog the system for a while.

Ta. The thimbles might work. As long as they don't come off. Thats an idea worth trying. thanks. I'll buy a couple next time I'm in town.

Might be worth trying another spring activated feather board Mini. I made one a few years ago, but mine didn't really work as well as I'd hope. Because the tension it placed on the timber would vary depending on the width of timber. If I'm going to have a jig, I want to be able to lock it and not have to move it all the time.

I just now went to the shed to try on the misses gardening glove. Rubber tips. Had a bit of a fiddle on my table saw. Feels safe enough. But I don't know how long it last. anyway....thanks for your ideas.

could be right about the rubber Boban. I don't know. I got a bit of resistance trying.

Thinking maybe a heavy leather instead.

Everything I've ever read about safety when working with machines rules out wearing gloves or anything on your fingers or hands that could get caught.

The normal solution to this problem is to either use featherboards (which are a pain to set up) or some sort of push shoe/stick. A push shoe can act pretty much like a hand, except you can't wrap it around. But there's nothing stopping you making a special one that has a rebate in it so you can push to the fence and down on the table at the same time. Put a bit of sandpaper on it and it wont slip.

Personally I do this:

Put a small block of wood against the part being cut and hold that letting the cut piece slide against it instead of your hand.

I agree with Silent gloves = extra hazard

Why not try Niki's jig. Stick with a wheel on the end. Simply clamp the stick in the right position for the width of timber. Acts like a feather board.

Kelly Mehler in The Table Saw Book:

Avoid gloves because they can catch on things and reduce your sensitivity

In fact I'd recommend you buy that book or something like it, because it has plenty of suggestions on how to solve your problem.

try some of the magswitch magnetic feather boards - they work a treat for holding timber in against the fence and are very quick to move - bit exy though