Push Blocks: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:42, 20 December 2020

Push blocks are simple but important pieces of safety equipment for dangerous tools like a router table, jointer or table saw.

They can easily be self-made (NO METAL!!) and should provide a healthy distance from the workpiece while providing at least as much control as your flat hands would.

On the table saw, push sticks may be the better choice - it depends on the cut you are making and the forces involved, as well as the room you have available!

Inspiration

Some YouTube Makers showing how they've made their push blocks, with a short summary of the (perhaps) most interesting features:

John Heisz (ibuildit.ca) - glued joints without metal fasteners, a huge advantage in case you ever cut into the block by accidents; angled grips
Ollaris - retractable wooded pegs at one end that can give extra support at the workpiece edges, if desired
Kenbo (Kennyearrings) - handsaw-style grip, using an old mousepad as the sticky part

Basic Push Blocks

ToolInfoBox "Sticky" Push Blocks

Synonyms:	push pads, "safety grips"; DE: Schiebeblöcke, Schiebeklötze
Type:	workholding
Used with:	router table, table saw; NOT the jointer unless there is a back lip/pegs
Location:	wood workshop (router table)
Similar (More or Less):	push sticks

first try by Lukas: essentially John Heisz's design
- freehanded the handles, one rather horizontal and one pointing up - which is more comfortable?
- anti-slide rubber grid on the bottom
- change in next version: make one in the opposite orientation, seems to be more ergonomic

- room for improvement: add pegs like in this video
  - these - or a lip - are needed for use with the jointer

Use

Press down firmly on the workpiece, ideally with a block in each hand, and practice some movements before the actual cut (especially if you are handling slippy workpieces)! If the workpiece is thinner than the push blocks, make sure you are actually pressing on and not next to it.

Jointer Push Blocks

The jointer MUST only be used with push blocks that have a backstop of some sort, e.g. a "lip" or pegs that fall down behind the workpiece.

both of these push block designs may be used with the jointer, depending on workpiece size

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{ToolInfoBox
-|tool name=Push Blocks
-|image=push blocks.JPG
-|synonyms=push pads, "safety grips";<br>DE: Schiebeblöcke, Schiebeklötze
-|type=workholding
-|material=
-|used with=[[Router Table|router table]], [[Table Saw|table saw]]; NOT the [[jointer]] unless there is a back lip/pegs
-|location=[[Location::Wood Workshop|wood workshop]] ([[Router Table|router table]])
-|similar=[[Push Sticks|push sticks]]
-}}
 Push blocks are simple but important pieces of safety equipment for dangerous tools like a [[Router Table|router table]], [[jointer]] or [[Table Saw|table saw]].
-They can easily be [[Self-Made Tools|self-made]] and should provide a healthy distance from the workpiece while providing at least as much control as your flat hands would.
+They can easily be [[Self-Made Tools|self-made]] (NO METAL!!) and should provide a healthy distance from the workpiece while providing at least as much control as your flat hands would.
 On the table saw, [[Push Sticks|push sticks]] may be the better choice - it depends on the cut you are making and the forces involved, as well as the room you have available!
-== Use ==
-[[File:push block use.JPG|300px|left]]
-Press down firmly on the workpiece, ideally with a block in each hand, and practice some movements before the actual cut (especially if you are handling slippy workpieces)! If the workpiece is thinner than the push blocks, make sure you are actually pressing ''on'' and not ''next to'' it.
-<br clear=left>
 == Inspiration ==
 Some [[YouTube Makers]] showing how they've made their push blocks, with a short summary of the (perhaps) most interesting features:
@@ Line 26: / Line 12: @@
 * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk9KdrwZj-0 Kenbo (Kennyearrings)] - handsaw-style grip, using an old mousepad as the sticky part
-== Blocks We've Made ==
+== Basic Push Blocks ==
+{{ToolInfoBox
+|tool name="Sticky" Push Blocks
+|image=push blocks.JPG
+|synonyms=push pads, "safety grips";<br>DE: Schiebeblöcke, Schiebeklötze
+|type=workholding
+|material=
+|used with=[[Router Table|router table]], [[Table Saw|table saw]];<br>NOT the [[jointer]] unless there is a back lip/pegs
+|location=[[Location::Wood Workshop|wood workshop]] ([[Router Table|router table]])
+|similar=[[Push Sticks|push sticks]]
+}}
 * first try by [[Lukas]]: essentially [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d8jE0RE-xk John Heisz's design]
 ** freehanded the handles, one rather horizontal and one pointing up - which is more comfortable?
 ** anti-slide rubber grid on the bottom
+** change in next version: make one in the opposite orientation, seems to be more ergonomic
+[[File:making push blocks.JPG|300px]]
 ** room for improvement: add pegs like in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6zpUnjVnWM this video]
 *** these - or a lip - are needed for use with the [[jointer]]
-** change in next version: make one in the opposite orientation, seems to be more ergonomic
-[[File:making push blocks.JPG|300px]]
+=== Use ===
+[[File:push block use.JPG|300px|left]]
+Press down firmly on the workpiece, ideally with a block in each hand, and practice some movements before the actual cut (especially if you are handling slippy workpieces)! If the workpiece is thinner than the push blocks, make sure you are actually pressing ''on'' and not ''next to'' it.
+<br clear=left>
+== Jointer Push Blocks ==
+The [[jointer]] MUST only be used with push blocks that have a backstop of some sort, e.g. a "lip" or pegs that fall down behind the workpiece.
+[[File:Jointer push blocks.jpg|thumb|right|both of these [[Push Block|push block]] designs may be used with the [[jointer]], depending on workpiece size]]