WATCH THIS Before Using Your Table Saw - Workshop Safety

[@kamilegier4730]

As a newer wood worker but seasoned trauma nurse, I’d like to add to Colin’s sage advice. The best safety device is a clear, focused, well rested mind. If you are tired, angry, sad, frustrated, or if anything is heavy on your mind don’t use power tools. Of course drugs, alcohol, and machines/tools never go well together. And for other female wood workers, we need to remember to put our hair up, I had a scary near miss so now I always put mine up in a tight bun.

[@jonirn3751]

As an ER nurse myself, I feel the same way. But I'm still trying to get over my fear of the table saw, so I can spread my wings in my shop. Lol.

[@TRAVISTHEDADDY]

And mind anything loose - Hoodie drawstrings, watch bands, belts, etc.

[@donkink3114]

Not just the ladies, us long haired guys need to be cautious with our hair as well.😊

[@robertmadden7536]

Too right Colin, familiarity breeds contempt. Using a chainsaw in my day to day job is a weekly occurrence. You soon learn that the saw understands when you are off your game and sets out to wake you up. Only following safe practices have saved me a time or so. Never can be reminded of safety too often. Thank you for this video mate.

[@GeorgeCooper_LoneWolf]

Great info 👍 I have been using a Tablesaw for many years BUT I still do what I call the 15 second think count. Every time I'm about to make a cut I take just 15 seconds to stop and think ( What could go wrong here )

[@JackKirbyFan]

That is a fantastic idea. I had an accident on my saw. Thankfully it was a sawstop so the blade retracted but man I didn't even see it coming. Been using a saw since age 15 and I was taking it for granted. Bad idea on my part.

[@darcysee9471]

George, I do something similar, I repeat the same phrase; "life altering injuries". This helps me stop and think. I heard a phrase, that you're not ever going to get back whatever part of your body touches this moving saw blade.

[@jacqdanieles]

@@darcysee9471 I don't own a tablesaw but I feel similarly about my circular saw.

[@karlforster4907]

I do the same.

[@leehaelters6182]

@@JackKirbyFan, always great to hear another Saw Stop story with a good outcome! Thanks for testimony. As more demand is created, the tool manufacturers will step up and compete to make better and more affordable designs. Felder already seems to have a super mechanism, but for professional level machinery.

[@PerrynBecky]

When I saw your bandaged head and arm in a sling on the tab, I thought you got hurt yourself from your table saw. I'm very relieved to see that you didn't get hurt and this is an instructional video on table saw safety based on a fellow KZbinr, but sad that he/she got hurt, but thankful they were able to share their experience, meaning it could have been much worse. Praying for their speedy and full recovery.

[@johnmusgrave3179]

I have a dymo label on my rip fence level with the blade position stating in large letters "The blade ALWAYS wins". It never fails to make me think through the cut one more time before I actually cut anything.

[@greybeard9396]

That's how it should be done, every cut thought over and cut in the mind, before the actual physical cut.

[@Thom4123]

My grandfather told me at a young age “the minute you think you control the machine is the second you get hurt “ and when I have a injury and sure enough when you play it back at least for me it was being complicated or cocky is when I get injured. Also never do the “just one more cut” when your tired. Awesome video and a great reminder for all of us. Take Care

[@MrUSNMasterChief]

Colin, you hit the mark again. I have been a woodworker for 45 years and you are so correct, Complacency will kill you. Thanks again for the reminder...

[@markmcmullen7402]

Colin, you have a luxury that I don’t...space. I work in my basement with limited space. First thing I check in my shop is making sure the floor is clear & clean for my feet. Then is the in-feed & out-feed areas are clear to start & complete the cut. It is so dangerous to get half way through a cut & run into a wall or set of shelves...worrying the whole time reaching for the switch & praying until the blade runs down (I have done this only once). I always do 2 dry runs of the cut before raising & turning on the blade. Keep up the great content!

[@sapelesteve]

Great advice Colin! I always take a minute or two to think through my set up before making a cut on the table saw. One thing that you forgot to mention is to always check that the fence is in the locked position before making a cut. Also, never ever operate machinery when you are tired or not feeling well! As we all know, bad things can happen in a millisecond when using any piece of machinery!

[@jumpingjacks5558]

Great tutorial. Reviewing table saw safety is something everyone should do from time to time. It's easy to get complacent. That when accidents happen.

[@kobra6335]

After receiving my cabinet table saw, the first thing did was to buy two Micro Jig GRR-RIPPER push blocks. At the time it cost me around $150. Some say that's too expensive for push blocks. But for me it's well worth it knowing my fingers will never come in contact with the blade.

[@ian1352]

They're the equivalent of about $100 each here, but I eventually decided to just spend the money.

[@wreckenbach9703]

Good stuff Sir. 33 years in EMS. Folks: Take a first aid or Stop the Bleed course. For big trauma I keep a "Stop the Bleed Kit" for near my saw. For small trauma; nick's, splinters, etc I have regular first aid kit. At the very least pick up a commercially available tourniquet; Recon medical or NAR CAT Tourniquets and put near your first aid kit. I also have an extinguisher on each end of the shop.

[@andrewbieger5004]

Great stuff Colin. Great tips for anyone, including us folks with more experience in the shop. VERY easy to get complacent. If I might add a couple items 1.) Don't use a TS if there are bunch of people around shooting the breeze. Those distraction can be bad news. 2.) make sure your fence is secure AND properly set parallel to the blade 3.) Avoid the temptation to rip short boards, as you have greater control with longer stock, which can be cut to final length AFTER. 4.) Use a clean AND sharp blade (suited for the task) to reduce the likelihood of binding. These are things I have seen carpenters do regularly on job sites, sometimes resulting in a trip to the ER. Keep the vids coming!

[@joeymerrell8585]

I will not start a machine in my shop if someone is talking to me. Any distraction can be catastrophic

[@Rubin5342]

Colin, 72 years old, used every saw there is and still gained greatly with this video. Thank you and safe, long wood working to you. //John in Oregon

[@mitch58100]

Thank you, Colin, another would be a nice first aid kit also mounted on the wall for quick access. I bought mine at Sam’s for around $24.98. Specifications: 351 pieces of comprehensive first-aid treatment products Meets or exceeds OSHA / ANSI / ISEA Z308.1-2015 standards for 100 people Ideal for most businesses and perfect for family use at home Fully organized interior compartments with tilting shelves provide quick access Two separate layers for large and small first-aid products Easy-slide latches securely lock into place Rugged, sturdy hard plastic, wall-mountable case is impact-resistant

[@DirkOgier]

Thank you very much Colin. It is good to talk about safety.

[@ifiwooddesigns]

I’ve been doing this for so long and still I get butterflies using the tablesaw. I respect it and glad that I haven’t become comfortable with it. Two very important tips you didn’t mention should be addressed for even advanced woodworkers. One; never stand behind it and stay to the left of Wood you are cutting. Second; use a piece of wood against the fence instead of the fence along with the mitre fence so wood doesn’t bind. And of course, sleds do an amazing job and everyone should invest in getting one for their table.

[@leonardnoel888]

It is not exactly clear to me " Second; use a piece of wood against the fence instead of the fence along with the mitre fence so wood doesn’t bind"? Can you please explain in more details?

[@dennisbrown2571]

My tip is: lowes and home depot will rip and cross cut for you on wood sheets. They are accurate and save me from wrestling those big sheets at home.

[@joeymerrell8585]

Maybe so, but a lot of us are “professionals” and don’t buy wood from either of those places. Even if I did, I wouldn’t trust them to be accurate to the degree I build.

[@bradasskg11]

Maybe if you’re going for a rough cut that you can then re-cut on your table saw at home, but most home centers around my area will 1.) refuse to cut anything for you and 2. If they do cut your sheet goods for you don’t expect anything resembling accuracy or a clean cut. Those panel saws were installed when the store was built and probably hasn’t had a blade change either. The employees working there are either 75 and don’t care anymore or 19 and don’t care or don’t know how to operate the machine. Best advice would be to just use a circ saw or even a jigsaw to break your sheet goods down to a smaller size, much like Colin suggests here. It’s just too squirrelly on a smaller saw which a lot of hobbyists have.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

Great tips Colin! Complacency is a common reason why we injure ourselves. I spend a lot of time thinking about the cut and if I can't do it safely on the table saw, then I find another way to do it. There can never be enough reminders about safety.

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

I've watched many vids about table saw safety but this is the first one that explains in detail the causes of kickback. I don't have a table saw and don't plan to get one because I have alternative and safer methods of getting the same job done. But I was tempted at one point and hence my interest in table saw safety.

[@bigdaddyfish2]

As president of our local woodworking club we have had our second member lose part of a finger on table saw in the last 3 years. In each case the operator was tired and making their last cut of the day. Complacency took effect and changed their life for ever! That is a good video on saw safety but it applies to all power tools in the shop.

[@frytjgvfdhc]

nice, these are probably the most helpful safety tips i've seen so far on youtube

[@GertrudeGrindhorn]

Thanks so much Colin for reminding me...take a breath before the cut..imagine the cut from start to finish... this has saved me doing something unsafe on many occasions...

[@joer5627]

Your comments are correct. I always - 100% of the time go through the checklist you mentioned. I’ve had kickback once. I was making the last cut in a long day and tired. Won’t do that ever again. Finish the next day saves a lot of pain and in some instance missing digits.

[@LastFLlocalTiff]

Thank you so much! I’m new to wordworking and am so grateful I came across your page!

[@FfrankieG176]

I myself am guilty of removing the riving knife after having my table saw for five years. Same day I removed the riving knife, on my 3rd cut, I got a piece of wood shot to my gut. Lucky it didn’t break skin because of all the clothes I had on plus an apron but I had a black and blue on my stomach for almost a week and a half. The riving knife is back on and will never get removed. The picture of you all covered in bandages, is hilarious!!!!! Great video!!!

[@leevy6753]

I've had the wood to the gut shot. Not fun but I was also lucky, damaged but not injured.

[@DrMackSplackem]

I always ended up taking it off and leaving it off for all further operations. I can't remember why I had to, only that it was necessary to do so for certain cuts and it was just a hassle to mess with. Other than the occasional ratty rip, I never had any issues with kickback to speak of, but a lot of that comes down to following simple rip fence rules, getting a good feel for torque and mass factors, and the fact that I prefer a mitered sled to a fence for a lot of stuff.

[@bertbennett2719]

Thanks, Colin. Always good to be reminded of basic safety. It's easy to get in a hurry and ignore the rules. I had my first serious encounter with kickback recently because I got in a hurry. Never again! The riving knife shalt be used!

[@jameslee173]

I was taught that, before making your cut, to count your fingers! This just serves to heighten your safety awareness.

[@Being_Joe]

Thank you. Always looking for safety videos like this. I like having all my digits.

[@englewood1957]

Spot on regarding push stick and blade height. Plywood sheets are no problem as long as the table is large enough. Also, NEVER stand in a direct line with the blade.

[@user-tm4oe9yr4g]

Colin thank you very much for being proactive in safety, idea of this kind of videos is extremely important for everyone working in the shops... Also couldn't help myself and have to mention that your bench grinder behind your back missing proper guard , which is no/no in any case scenarios. Be safe and keep posting more of your thoughtful videos.

[@hardnox6655]

Excellent advice Colin. Amen with all you said. I use a Powermatic 66 cabinet saw with a 5HP motor. It has zero safety attachments. With over 50 years of woodworking experience, I have found that the key to safety is zero distractions and ALWAYS using a sharp blade (set at the right height). With a sharp blade and proper push stick one can power their way through the gnarliest of woods. The most dangerous situation is using a dull blade. The cheapest investment in the shop is using expensive blades, and maintaining their sharpness. This includes routers too.

[@jakobhalskov]

Thanks for reminding us about these critical basics for staying safe with the table saw! A year ago I managed to get my thumb too close the blade and cut the tip off. It has healed well a year later and acts as great reminder!

[@chubbibots]

im still a beginner when it comes to using table saw ( been doing it it for just over a year and a half) and woodworking. complacency is on point! i do always talk to myself before using my saw that this machine is not joking around. i give the machine the respect it deserves!

[@ACAB_Media]

As for the blade height, I've heard lots of people say to cut with 1/2 the blade poking through, but in my opinion Stumpy explains blade height best in his "ENOUGH BS! Here's how high your table saw blade should be" video. In it he explains that the blade manufacturers suggest that you raise the blade to the bottom of the gullet, but also explains the advantages of sometimes raising or lowering the blade a little.

[@RicardoCristofRemmertFontes]

No. Colin is right. The blade shouldn’t be much higher than the work piece. 5-15mm should be enough. Stumpy Nubs injured himself twice. Don’t listen to him. Listen to the German cabinet maker safety board, who say exactly this.

[@omart609]

@@RicardoCristofRemmertFontes when did he injured himself?

[@whomadethatsaltysoup]

Thank you, Colin. A good reminder to us all regarding complacency. Once or twice I've had a wee scare on the table saw when I've not been mindful of what I'm about. Always a good idea to stop, and take a breath before making any cuts. As a journeyman once told me: always respect your tools! In my case, it's not too difficult, as my table saw does not have a soft start, so sounds a bit like a shotgun going off when you fire it up. That, if nothing else, tends to focus the mind, but we all tend to zone out on repetitive tasks.

[@cjlamber]

Very good point. Easy to drift off with a soft start.

[@catfishcave379]

Channels like yours got me over my fear of tablesaws and I have been safely using one for for almost two years. I may not be quick, but I follow a safety checklist before each cut.

[@ToddfromCalifornia]

Good info, I use my table saw insert as a no finger zone . Its a good red visual aid to remind me to us a push stick if its that close .

[@mmb811]

Excellent video Colin. complacency is EXACTLY what came and bit me. I have respect for my dangerous tools, like my Table Saw, Radial arm Saw, Planers, (big dangerous machines), but not so much for my smaller machines, like my belt sander. Thought it's so small, and I have used it for so many years, I'll just quickly sand this piece of wood, not worrying to much about safety. Well it shot the wood out and made a nice gash in my leg, I was very lucky it was not bad. It sure brought me back to realizing that complacency is the BIGGEST ENEMY of us "old" wood workers

[@FranciscoSanchez-ix2yh]

OK...SALUTES, AND THANKS, FROM COLUMBIA.. SOUTH. AMERICAN....👍👍👍🙋🙋🍺🍺💙💙

[@Habibulla.M]

Very nice demonstration on the blade height...Thanks ... 👍

[@wswerv1]

Great advice Colin. I have an old table saw, actually a contractor saw, with no blade guard or riving knife, and always respect the blade. I use a push stick similar to yours but mine is made from a pieceof 2x6 about 10 inches long. I also regularly check the alignment of the blade and the fence to ensure they remain perfectly parallel.

[@alejandrocantu4652]

I was a shop assistance in the architecture program teaching model & furniture classes. The woodshop had a powermatic 66 with new riving knife or splitter. We had a few good rule one being the smallest peice you can rip with the fence had to be twice as long as the exposed arc of the blad. And absolutely no free hand cuts on the table saw.

[@stinger4583]

Good info. I believe in Murphies Law..."If it can happen it will happen". Think safety first, last, and always.

[@bobd5119]

Excellent advice, Colin. About safety, we cannot be reminded too often.

[@tomblount5635]

If you are an experienced wood worker and doing any of the these mistakes, then you are really looking for an accident to happen. If you use any kind of cutting tool. You have to realize that meat is wayyyyy softer than any wood. It will and can give you serious injury. Hence missing finger and loss of vision. Txs for the refresher course in woodworking safety.

[@WoodenItBeNice]

Great video Colin on keeping safe. How can 81 people not like their own safety? Take care Colin. Cheers, Huw

[@tonyd4346]

Thank you Colin! All it took is one to the ribs one afternoon making a cut to get me to pay attention. My father has the hot dog saw (that’s what I call it). He made the purchase after 50 years or more of woodworking because a year ago he cut a portion of his thumb off.

[@semtex2987]

using the 2nd shown pushstick i always had the feeling of 'this could tip over to the left and my hand gets into the blade'. So i build myself 2 GRR Gripper style thingys which feels magnitudes safer and also has more control in all 3 directions as well.

[@stevebeaudoin7234]

Great watch, complacency is the biggest mistake we can make. its not worth it to rush the cut. I've been reading the comments and there all good. take your time , think about the cut, make sure your not putting your self in a dangerous spot. Lower that blade not only does it help with friction but saves the blade and get a push stick.

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

This sounds like very sensible advice.

[@PeterPasieka]

Solid advice as always. I've watched few of the safety video on the table saw and the repetition is an excellent reminder that it's not a toy but a tool that can hurt if not used properly each and every time.

[@joergwiesmann4261]

....thank YOU sooooo much for this safety informations !!! Kinde regards from Switzerland !!

[@erwindaveg1]

Wow! Wonderful Safety Education

[@tausfeewright5612]

The most dangerous material one can cut with a table saw is 3/16 ply wood. If you set the blade too low the saw will have a tendency to lift the ply while cutting. Too high is exactly what was mention in the video when cutting 3/16 ply you MUST BE VERY CAREFUL as this will cause the most damage if you are not paying attention. Great video and for me as an experienced wood worker this is what I alway remind myself your machine are not your friend they dont know you and never will they ever know you , if we use them as if they know us they will hurt us, so treat then with repect and always obey there safety rules. Thats the only way no to get injury or a trip to the emergency room.

[@philmininni5981]

5 Stars Colin. Kickback happened to me and it hurt. I always now take a count of time to review my next cut.

[@chrisgriffith1573]

Another big safety tip is to make sure that the blade and the fence are BOTH aligned to the guide grooves of the table top. If something is out of alignment, burns occur, and possibly jams and kickback. The number one reason for burning on the table saw is misalignment of the fence to the angle of the blade. Number two is warped wood, for me, at least.

[@thehawkc]

Always great information. Thanks again.

[@michaelhorst5247]

I love your videos. Thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts.

[@johnwhitley2898]

Kudos 👍! I appreciate your walk through again!! I'm using the saw again this afternoon. I dry run a cut set up, blade dropped and OFF, just to check. Mind and Gut says "Not Comfortable", I reset the cut. It works! 👍 Kudos again!!

[@JuanMartinez-xf4hu]

Thanks for the safety tips. It’s always a good time to talk safety. I watch other videos and cringe every time I see them not use the safety equipment that comes with their saw. Keep up the good work.

[@oshtoolman]

thank you for the reminders. There is no such thing as to "many" lessons!!!

[@garethlyons2678]

I broke my ocular bone three months ago from a kickback accident. The wood hit me in the face and the push stick heavily bruised my chest. Ive learnt my lesson, don't rush. Cheers Colin.

[@chadcleary7931]

Awesome info. New wood worker here. Thank you.

[@ahednuman3333]

thank yhou for this safety informational

[@santimobeach]

Great tips. Very simple techniques that can save life or limb or at least digit.

[@michaelcosta879]

I laid floors for 35 years the last 20 years I laid mostly wood and Lamanite floors. My number one safety rule is a sharp blade suitable for the work you are doing. When cutting floors all your cuts are scribed nothing is straight. We cut freehand with an open blade no safety guard and no fence. In my later years, before I retired they came out with plank cutters that cut down on some of the table saw work.

[@vashon100]

Good to see you recovered from your thumbnail.

[@MountainManFred]

Safety first always! Good explanation...and good comment on complacency. one of the things I learned in the Navy, safety never takes a vacation...

[@sallobello4012]

best video on safety i had a kick back on the table i was standing on the side and missed me but the 2x4 it went thru the wall i am glad it was not me

[@ronmacdougall9612]

Ty very much for the excellent video.I learned again,love it.

[@mb_a5383]

I wouldn't call myself a woodworker, I deal with facilities management (keeping everything working) at a yacht club. My work requires the use of a table saw (commercial grade) fairly regularly. I like to think of the table saw like a barking rottweiler, you never know when he'll snap and bite you. My favorite part of your video is the part where you advise to take a moment and consider what this machine is capable of and as a bonus (I know you do this Colin) I spend a good deal of time on set up. I'm sure it's not unique to me but I find that I spend a great deal more time on the set up than I do on the cut. And remember, jigs are our friends.

[@bigsparky65]

Fantastic video, i cut my thumb. A very long time ago on a table saw, the blade cut me right around the bone. Ever since then i have been very careful around power tools

[@ParchmentKH77ftw]

I will always agree that wherever possible a riving knife should be installed. I think a lot of manufacturers throw the extra guards and kickback brakes onto saws as a way to not get sued by untrained operators. Many of the ones I've seen are poorly fitted to the saw, difficult to install, and low quality. Some even increase the risk of using the saw. If I'm going to use gadgetry, I want one that's high quality that never binds or interferes with my operation.

[@martinravell6561]

Excellent points

[@samhardy6030]

On the bed of my saw I have this written with a Sharpie: "Rushed? Tired? Stressed? Is this the day you cut your fingers off?"

[@robertsullivan2396]

Always great advice, Thankyou

[@GarryPrater]

Agree with all you said. Except I dislike narrow push blocks. They are too easy to tilt over when pushing which could put your hand into the blade. Make push blocks out of scrap 2x6 material for more stability. You can use them for narrow cuts and let the bottom be scored until they need replacement.

[@erallen97]

Thank you for the safety video. I keep my blade guard and riving knife on my saw most all the time.

[@morriskuria6595]

Wow! thanks bro. be blessed.❤️🇰🇪

[@k.cashman427]

Always good to have a refresher. Thanks!

[@NickBR57]

Good video Colin. I had some thought about kickback and throwback if I may draw a distintion between the material being flipped up and back (caught by the teeth) and slid back (by friction of the blafe). It seems to me there is another bit of mechanics involved in the case of the work being caught by the back teeth and thrown up and back. This isn't really about friction or number of teeth but is about the "moment" about the trailing edge that is a fulcrum. The lower the blade the closer the back tooth is to the trailing edge of the wood and therefore the less is the force of the throwback. This means that it is more difficult for your pressure on the proper push stick to be overcome by the saw. So this is actually critical. The riving knife is supposed to stop the case that you show where the piece is slid back at you by the blade friction. Obviously keeping the blade low is important but the riving knife is critical in preventing that friction. How many youtube videos have I seen with no blade guard and even no rivingbknigr? Hundreds. While I understand the need for visibility of the blade in some videos, most of the time it isn't necessary to take it off but still youtubers persist in doing so. There is never, as far as I can see, a reason to remove the riving knife. Kudos to people like you who point this out.

[@marbleman52]

NickR...Another point about the benefit of the riving knife: It keeps the wood from closing up on itself as it is being fed past the blade and increasing the risk of throw-back.

[@juniorfigueroa2904]

Thanks for he video, as a newbie these are good things to know. The rising knife on my table saw has those spikes on (the ones on the rising knife)it but my issue is that the wood would get hung on them as I push through.

[@Emmanuel-rs7eu]

Biggest safety for me is being alert and not tired while using the tablesaw. Spliter is a must as well.

[@milesdowning9257]

He is right I put the guard back on my new saw stop. 45 years experience as professional wood worker. I put trust in the fancy saw, and I was being complacent or overly assured of my skill set. I bought the new saw stop because I had three kickbacks last year. And the first thing I did was take the guard and the wriving knife off. Just like he said. Shame on me.

[@firdoskarai432]

🙏Thanks Colin. 👍Great information.

[@exmedic4509]

A bit of advise a friend gave me can fit with any tool, firearm or vehicle: The day you feel you are smarter than the motorcycle (table saw, router, pistol) is the day you get hurt. As an RN with years of trauma experience, I have cared for many accidents involving table saws, routers, nail guns, radial arm saws, chain saws, and drill presses from minor to life changing and from minor sutures to major surgery. Sometimes people are inexperienced and most of the time people have been using these tools for years. Whenever I see patients who have removed the safety devices from nail guns or blade guards from worm gear circular saws I just have to shake my head.

[@wolfman75]

Thank You!!! Great Tips!!! 😎👍

[@jray1429]

Great information ➜ Thank you!

[@Ticky66MN]

Always appreciate the reminders. Thank you.

[@carldavis6902]

Thank for your the best tip ever on being complacent !!

[@sonnyaluzzo4788]

This was really informative. I knew that the hight of the blade made the cut more efficient but I never made the friction connection. I will now always remember to make that adjustment before cutting. Thanks.

[@richardevans4700]

Just respect the tool, and don’t be afraid of it! I like that 15 second trick from earlier

[@nonexman]

I was pleased to see that you use a VERY similar push stick that I've been using for more years than I can remember. I had to admit that I was about to write a completely different message when I saw you holding that chicken foot. :>) I was amazed that one of the things that came with my SawStop was a black "chicken foot." So much for safety from them, while they do a great job for protecting any finger loss, kickback is something that they do not seem to be that concerned about. Let me point out a couple of other aspects about the push stick you do use that should be pointed out: 1st, after pushing the wood past the place, the tip of the push stick is great for pushing any small pieces away from the blade with your hand far from the blade. The other advantage is that these are easy to make and can be sacrificial. So if you need to cut something thinner than the thickness of the push stick, so what. let the blade cut into it. It's still usable until it isn't. At that point, you can either cut a new bottom and foot on the bottom. OR, if you've already done that several times, just toss it - you made extra, didn't you? And a bonus tip: on a jointer, you can use one of the friction push pads on the front of the board but use one of these on the back. It both pushes down and you can push forward with that little "foot" on the end of the push stick.

[@stephanieprice5780]

Thank you for making this video!!

[@kengunnell6398]

Thank you for doing this video, I will look at my push sticks differently from now on.

[@b3arwithm3]

I love your thumbnail.

[@tomalealso]

agreed, well done! in addition to what you said, I stop before turning on any tool and double check my surroundings. I want to make sure that I can totally control the situation, I do not want someone coming into my shop while I am working, and I lose my focus while i am working, it could be very dangerous, ask me how I know?

[@Grabber10]

I glue a piece of sandpaper to the bottom of my pushstick the same width as the stick. That gives me total control of the wood even after its cut Bob

[@ian1352]

I find the fact that my table and circular saws make a loud scary noise when they're on a good reminder that they're looking for an opportunity to make an attempt on my life.