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Greetings all,
The question of the day is – What’s your rule of thumb (ouch) for judging when the rip is narrow enough to need to use a pushstick?
With all digits attached,
Ken
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3 inches
*anything much less than two hand widths.. and then it might just be the rubber handle of my hammer, instead of a bonafide push-stick...
*Two inches for me and I allow no one to use my tablesaw, or to assist in ripping...They can bleed on there own or let me rip it for them,near the stream and very cautious with this tiger,ajtyping with a full set thankfully...
*Never rip without a push-stick - that's the way I was taught, that's the way I do it - it's a permanent habbit.
*Hey, AJ, I just wanted to mark the occasion...The first time you're not by the stream...
*Ripping 3/4" stock with the blade at standard height, I'd guess my limit is about 4".If ripping thicker stock, 12/4, for example, I get more fraidy cat to avoid having several inches of exposed spinning carbide even that close (4") to my delicate flesh.If I ever feel like giving a doctor the finger, I'd rather it be in anger while it's still attached to my hand, instead of being angry because it's packed in ice in a plastic bag.If the push sticks are handy, you'll use them. I've got several, each a different size for different "modes" of pushing.
*Glasses are at this time being emailed to one known as Mr. Pita...As previosly posted, b near the stream and very cautious with this tiger, aj
*1 1/2" is my limit. But I believe I will bump that up to 2". Still counting with all ten.Ed. Williams
*If you are starting to think "any closer and I'll need a push stick".....you should already be using one! Jeff
*Wwhen the customer watches you rip one and says "thats insane!", you need to use a stick on the next one.
*Jeez, this question kinda' sounds like whens enuf enuf? Why tempt it? I always have at least 2 pushsticks right there.
*Three inches is about my comfort zone,friend of mine says you can tell someones a good woodworker if they got all their digits intact. Skip
*Well. Since y'all know now that I can't see well enough to read, you know why I always use push sticks, and still have 10. (In my defense, AJ, you snuck in the middle of the post, not like you...) :)
*Having put my hand throught a table saw by forgetting NEVER to cut on the back side of the blade. Do not epect to cut with out the safty shield again. bought a manufactured push stick used it three times and imediately make one of 3/4 inch ply 4 inches taller and 4 inches longer I'm very scardy and thankfull every day that The two didgets cut are still there and the joints still work. I"ll vote for 6 inches of if I can imagian some way my hand could be jerked into the blade...ThankyouJeff bybee
*I was gonna say 2" with 3/4" material unless the stuff is long enough to just flip over and rip the other half..providing you don't need a good edge.. Just a flooring guy here. Have all ten BUT have one nasty forefinger battle wound from a flooring scraper blade. Came too close to loosing that tendon.
*Here's a related exchange of views from Knots. It might be worth a read. Sliante Ripping techniques and a bunch of other stuff
*Have lots of pushsticks, and lots of time in on tablesaws. A lot has to do with your comfort level, which at least in part equates to safety. 2" is my limit, but no matter what size, my pinky is hooked rock solidly on the fence; if something starts to go south, the board will be pulled away from my hand into the blade, but my hand stays in the safty zone. Still counting to ten, and so is anyone I ever taught to use a tablesaw.
*Adrian....I also use the patented pinky locked to the fence trick....Here's a high five twice to ya,aj
*The image embedded in that old discussion can't be opened any more because it's archived, so here it is again. Don't bother clicking on the blue link. It's the same image. Sliante.
*I was ripping 6" cutting boards on a Unisaw without a push stick when the Unifence vibrated loose because the handle wasn't locked down exactly perpendicular to the rail.The board and my hand were flipped over into the blade, even doing the "pinky hook". Cut the index finger through the knuckle; middle finger's tendons and ligaments were cut through and the X-ray showed a nice ATB cut 1/2-way through that bone, too. Had pins in my fingers for ten weeks. Cost: about $7000.Now there's never a time i DON'T use a pushstick to rip--probably have twenty of them lying around the shop. A lot less trouble than trying to call for help while cradling body parts in your hands...9 3/4 digits and hanging onto the rest...