April 4, 201313 yr John sent out an email about Woodcraft's sale on the GRR-riper. Folks if you don't have one yet, don't waste another minute, go an order yours now. This is one of the best safety items that you can have in your workshop. You can use it on your table saw, band saw, router table, joiner, and probably other power tools in your shop. Aside from its great gripping capability it is very adjustable and can meet a lot of your safety needs.I would like point out another great push stick. This is one that you make. In the latest issue of American Woodworker on page 2 or 4 is a photo of the push stick. It is an over the fence stick. I made my own this past weekend and it is very stable. I ripped on 8" boards and 1/8" strips with it. The strips were up against the fence. If you decide to make one, move the handle forward some.Later on I will upload a photo and article on it describing how I made mine. It is easy to make and it can be made from scrapes.Phil Rasmussen, US Army - retiredThe Mountain Woodworker123 Haywood Park DrHendersonville, NC 28791828-890-8058www.mountainwoodworker.comRevealing nature's secrets through art and craftsmanship.
April 4, 201313 yr I have 2 of the Grrrippers and they get used quite a bit.Allen WorshamCorona, CAallenworsham@earthlink.net'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee“Our greatest fear should not be that we won’t succeed, but that we will succeed at something that doesn’t matter.†D.L. Moody
April 4, 201313 yr Thanks for the review.Would like to see the ones you made. I no longer subscribe to American Woodworker.Lew Kauffman-Wood Turners Forum HostTime traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!
April 4, 201313 yr I love my Grrripers. Gene'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton
April 5, 201313 yr I just use a piece of plywood with a 1/2 inch deep hook on the back and 5 inches higher than highest part of blade
April 8, 201313 yr What does it do that makes it worth $150?Hey~!! It's a hobby~!! It's not supposed to make sense.Hey~!! It's a hobby~!! It's not supposed to make sense.
April 8, 201313 yr Recently read someplace (can't find it now) about the old style push sticks and how dangerous they are- The author pointed out that although this type will keep your hands at a safe distance from the blade, it does not support the stock at the end near the blade. The work piece can be lifted by the back edge (rising) of the blade. His recommendation was to use push "sticks" made in this fashion- This type does provide more support on the work piece. Of course, there are many different types of cuts made on the table saw and maybe what is good for one may not be adequate for another. Lew Kauffman-Wood Turners Forum HostTime traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!
April 9, 201313 yr Have wondered about these. I'll have to take a deeper look at them. Thanks.Wayne MahlerGod bless and protect our troops that serve so we can be free.
April 9, 201313 yr I use the larger push sticks as opposed to the "stick" type for the specific reason that I can get much better down force on the piece of wood all the way through the cut. I do not use the "stick" type at all as I just can't get the same control with them.Allen WorshamCorona, CAallenworsham@earthlink.net'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee“Our greatest fear should not be that we won’t succeed, but that we will succeed at something that doesn’t matter.†D.L. Moody
April 9, 201313 yr I use pushers often enough but my default is a short shaft of wood with two sheetrock screws driven into the end about an inch or maybe a little more apart and at a slight angle. I set it on the work and guide it through a tight cut and it holds the work against the fence while also preventing the front from picking up. The picking up part is really the whole thing about kick backs.Taking about blade pinching is all well and good, but if the pinch does not serve to pick the work up then there'll be no kick back.  Depending on how high the blade projects from the work the amount of lift needed to cause a kickback may be very different.  So long as the work stays firmly planted on the table, it is not going anywhere, but the direction it's being pushed by the operator.Hey~!! It's a hobby~!! It's not supposed to make sense.
April 9, 201313 yr Author Dear Friends,As I get older I am not sure if I get wiser or not but one thing is is for sure, my eyesight is not as good as it once was, nor are my reflexes and coordination. Like many of you I have used push sticks but have now opted for safer means of cutting lumber on my table saw. Three things precipitated my move from push sticks to safe methods. First while cutting a board, I hit a knot and got a good portion of a 2x4 in my stomach. That left not only a nice black and blue bruise but also some pain. The second precipitant was a friend who also experienced kickback but in his case he also has a 2 inch scar where the push stick penetrated his stomach about 3 inches. Not the best thing to have happen. The final precipitant was one that none of us would expect in a thousand years. I was cutting some Styrofoam, you know that stuff that comes in sheets and is often used for insulation, the stuff that you cannot put a real sharp edge to, the stuff that you can crumble in your hands, yes that stuff, on my table saw. Not paying much attention to what was happening, toward the end of the cut a piece of the "stuff" broke off and became the subject of kickback. Well, like I said, I never would have thought it could or would happen but I guess it was the "perfect storm" for that piece of Styrofoam broke though one side of a hollow core door. Now those 1/8 inch sheets of luan are much harder than our skin. That was the last straw for my push sticks. Now I am using a safer approach. Get rid of your push sticks, especially those with nails or screws in them. Also at the same time be sure to wear eye and hearing protection, stand to the outside side of the saw blade and wear a thick leather apron. Phil Rasmussen, US Army - retiredThe Mountain Woodworker123 Haywood Park DrHendersonville, NC 28791828-890-8058www.mountainwoodworker.com
April 9, 201313 yr Excellent post Phil, thank you. With age, comes wisdom, I am not there yet, but with the help of our wise here on this forum, I personally have a nice head start regarding shop safety and methodology in woodworking, thanks to all the seasoned wise woodworkers here!Phil Rasmussen said:Dear Friends,As I get older I am not sure if I get wiser or not but one thing is is for sure, my eyesight is not as good as it once was, nor are my reflexes and coordination. Like many of you I have used push sticks but have now opted for safer means of cutting lumber on my table saw. Three things precipitated my move from push sticks to safe methods. First while cutting a board, I hit a knot and got a good portion of a 2x4 in my stomach. That left not only a nice black and blue bruise but also some pain. The second precipitant was a friend who also experienced kickback but in his case he also has a 2 inch scar where the push stick penetrated his stomach about 3 inches. Not the best thing to have happen. The final precipitant was one that none of us would expect in a thousand years. I was cutting some Styrofoam, you know that stuff that comes in sheets and is often used for insulation, the stuff that you cannot put a real sharp edge to, the stuff that you can crumble in your hands, yes that stuff, on my table saw. Not paying much attention to what was happening, toward the end of the cut a piece of the "stuff" broke off and became the subject of kickback. Well, like I said, I never would have thought it could or would happen but I guess it was the "perfect storm" for that piece of Styrofoam broke though one side of a hollow core door. Now those 1/8 inch sheets of luan are much harder than our skin. That was the last straw for my push sticks. Now I am using a safer approach. Get rid of your push sticks, especially those with nails or screws in them. Also at the same time be sure to wear eye and hearing protection, stand to the outside side of the saw blade and wear a thick leather apron. Phil Rasmussen, US Army - retiredThe Mountain Woodworker123 Haywood Park DrHendersonville, NC 28791828-890-8058www.mountainwoodworker.comJohn MorrisThe Patriot WoodworkerProud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project
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