Thread: In praise of pushsticks

Thumbs up to pushsticks!

What do people think of standards long straight type push sticks – especially the plastic ones ?

In my experience the do exactly what Peter has described if the line of force verges of 90 degrees - especially the plastic variety. I recon there are much better designs that can be knocked up or purchased that greatly reduce the risk of slipping and unintentional blade contact. The flat trowel type ones with grippy rubber soles in particular appear far superior, as you can apply both forward and downward pressure and pressure towards the rip fence at the same time with a far reduced risk of slipping.
By adding a bottom lip to either the side or rear, or both, slipping and blade contact would be virtually eliminated - although some may object to a rear lip in relation to kickback???

I've got a book called "The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery"
by Gary Rogowski and in that he uses a variety of what can only be loosely described as 'push sticks'. One of his favourites seems to be a piece of ply about 4" x 6" with a 5mm notch out of one long edge almost all the way across, leaving about a 1" hook at one end. He's got them in all different sizes and thicknesses. The advantage is that they sit flat on the stock so you can push down and guide it through at the same time.

My favourite has basic shape of a panel saw handle with a flat base other than the 8 notch as already described. I love being able to grab onto it like the handle of a saw.

Chris

I also like the panel saw handle jobbies, I bought a stanley sharks tooth saw which I used for all my skirting boards but once fine day I went to use it and noticed that it was blunt, it was covered in sap and had started to rust. I asked SWMBO what she'd done and she told me she was cutting some limbs off various trees in our yard... oh goodie@!!!! I got to go and buy a new handsaw!!!! anyway I decided to re use the handle for a push rod. I like the grippy plastic handle - if you attach some ply as the actual rod bit they are ace. it was great at tech - far better than the bits of wood the instructors showed us how to make. just cut the steel off from the handle leaving about 30mm extending from the handle and drill some holes in it so you can attach some wood offcuts... beautiful!

Ive saved the saw metal itself and chopped it up into 150mm x 50mm to try and make a scraper from - will this work ? or is the metal the wrong type ? does anyone know ?

I also favour the Saw Handle style. Just made this new one a couple of weeks back.