metal pushstick from rockler, is it safe?

David B. Chamberlain wrote:
> It is 1/8" thick ALUMINUM. Aluminum does not hurt carbide blades. In
> fact, carbide blades cut aluminum up to 1/2" with no trouble. They may well
> cut thicker but I have only cut up to 1/2 aluminum plate so I cannot speak
> to thicker stock.
> I see no harm with using an aluminum push stick. Usually the push stick
> does not touch the blade anyway and accidental contact will not hurt
> anything.
>
>

This doesn't sound safe to me.
Ever been bit by a push stick?
Ever cut aluminum with your carbide blade and get assaulted by all those
little bits of hot flying aluminum?
I'll stick to my soft-easily-cutable-into-sawdust pine scraps thank you.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I only use a push stick when
required. This means smaller pieces of wood. I just don't see the need
for a push stick when ripping a 3"x12" board.
When ripping 1/4" pieces for facing (or whatever), a push stick is
mandatory. Try not touching the pushstick to the blade when ripping
this thin.

Out of curiosity, what are they gouging for an aluminum stick these days?

Mark from Pasdaena, MD

"David B. Chamberlain" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> It is 1/8" thick ALUMINUM. Aluminum does not hurt carbide blades. In
> fact, carbide blades cut aluminum up to 1/2" with no trouble. They may well
> cut thicker but I have only cut up to 1/2 aluminum plate so I cannot speak
> to thicker stock.
> I see no harm with using an aluminum push stick. Usually the push stick
> does not touch the blade anyway and accidental contact will not hurt
> anything.
>
>
> --
> David Chamberlain
>
> [email protected]
>
> remove nospam to reach me
> "Lenny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I dunno .... What do you think of a square wheel ?
> >
> > On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 20:48:15 GMT, "Jonny Durango"
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > >I bought one of those metal magnetic pushsticks from rockler for my
> > >tablesaw. Only when I went to use it for the first time did I begin to
> > >imagine the possible mayhem that could ensue if the stick happened to
> touch
> > >the blade for some reason. I then went back to using my crude wooden
> scrap
> > >stick. What are your opinions of metal pushsticks? Are they safe?
> >

We use them here at the school and seem to work fine without any
trouble or problems. Even have had a student cut into one. I like
the design, the sharp point and the control that it gives me. The
magnet is a nice touch.

Mike from American Sycamore

"Jonny Durango" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:bsGSa.108119$N7.14924@sccrnsc03...
> I suppose I bought the stick for a few reasons. It was magnetic so I can
> stick it to the side of my saw,

I use them rare earth magnets from Lee Valley for things like that. Make a
recess with a brad point bit and glue the magnet in place.

I use one with a standoff to hold the chuck key for the drill press.
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

In article <[email protected]>,
Eric Lund <[email protected]> wrote:
> ...
>Yes, but try as you might, everytime you slap that homemade push stick to
>the side of the saw cabinet, it just falls to the floor. ;-) The magnetic
>one from Rockler stays right where you put it.

You've just convinced me to buy some of those neat small round
screw-on magnets from Lee Valley.

I've been looking for an excuse! (If necessary, I assume you will
reassure SWMBO that this small purchase will eliminate the need to buy
the more expensive aluminum push stick. :-)
--
--henry schaffer
[email protected]

I suppose I bought the stick for a few reasons. It was magnetic so I can
stick it to the side of my saw, it stands out so if it falls on the floor I
won't discard it as just anothdr piece of scrap (this has happened to some
of my most trusty "junk sticks") and it looked really cool sticking to the
side of my new CS. Looking back, using good ole scrap sticks is prolly a
better deal.

--

J. Durango

"The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today (is) my own
government" - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


"Traves W. Coppock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 20:48:15 GMT, "Jonny Durango"
> <[email protected]>Crawled out of the shop and said. .
> .:
>
> >I bought one of those metal magnetic pushsticks from rockler for my
> >tablesaw. Only when I went to use it for the first time did I begin to
> >imagine the possible mayhem that could ensue if the stick happened to
touch
> >the blade for some reason. I then went back to using my crude wooden
scrap
> >stick. What are your opinions of metal pushsticks? Are they safe?
>
>
> go for it,,,i use my TS and a carbide blade all the time to cut
> aluminum for projects. that's why they made it from aluminum, so it
> wont harm your blade if you run it into the thing.
> on another note, can i ask why you would buy a push stick?
> i know i have looked at these things, as well as a few other newer
> gimmicks on the block, and i always stop myself and say, "for two
> cents i can make one, and if i run it through the blade, im out two
> cents"
>
> YMMV
>
> Traves

On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 20:48:15 GMT, Jonny Durango wrote:

> I bought one of those metal magnetic pushsticks from rockler for my
> tablesaw. Only when I went to use it for the first time did I begin to
> imagine the possible mayhem that could ensue if the stick happened to touch
> the blade for some reason. I then went back to using my crude wooden scrap
> stick. What are your opinions of metal pushsticks? Are they safe?

I think it's the practicality that's in question. I consider my push
sticks to be a renewable resource -- I run through them without worry and
just make more of I have to. No big deal, unless they are more expensive
aluminum. Not that wouldn't work well for you, mate, but it just doesn't
fit my work habit.

david
--
I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have
of it.
-- Thomas Jefferson

The first time I saw them I laughed...
IIRC they are aluminum, but can you see stick getting caught in the gullet
of the saw blade and the stick being pushed back into the palm of your hand?
I am thinking a wooden push stick if made with as thin of material would
have the same effect but most wooden push sticks are thicker and have no
sharp corners.



"Jonny Durango" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jeDSa.107643$ye4.80136@sccrnsc01...
> I bought one of those metal magnetic pushsticks from rockler for my
> tablesaw. Only when I went to use it for the first time did I begin to
> imagine the possible mayhem that could ensue if the stick happened to
touch
> the blade for some reason. I then went back to using my crude wooden scrap
> stick. What are your opinions of metal pushsticks? Are they safe?
>
> --
>
> J. Durango
>
> "The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today (is) my own
> government" - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
>
>
>
>

On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 21:49:12 -0700, kenR <[email protected]> wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
>says...
>> In article <[email protected]>,
>> Eric Lund <[email protected]> wrote:
>> > ...
>> >Yes, but try as you might, everytime you slap that homemade push stick to
>> >the side of the saw cabinet, it just falls to the floor. ;-) The magnetic
>> >one from Rockler stays right where you put it.
>>
>> You've just convinced me to buy some of those neat small round
>> screw-on magnets from Lee Valley.
>
>Make sure you get the SMALL ones. Those Lee Valley magnets are quite
>powerful.

Check out http://www.wondermagnet.com for strong magnets. Good prices
and a lot of different types.

Tim Douglass

http://www.DouglassClan.com

Awesome, does that mean if I used that magnetic push-stick, it
would always veer hard toward the blade when I use it ?

--
The software said it ran under Windows 98/NT/2000, or better.
So I installed it on Linux...
"Tim Douglass" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 21 Jul 2003 21:49:12 -0700, kenR <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
> >says...
> >> In article <[email protected]>,
> >> Eric Lund <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> > ...
> >> >Yes, but try as you might, everytime you slap that homemade push stick
to
> >> >the side of the saw cabinet, it just falls to the floor. ;-) The
magnetic
> >> >one from Rockler stays right where you put it.
> >>
> >> You've just convinced me to buy some of those neat small round
> >> screw-on magnets from Lee Valley.
> >
> >Make sure you get the SMALL ones. Those Lee Valley magnets are quite
> >powerful.
>
> Check out http://www.wondermagnet.com for strong magnets. Good prices
> and a lot of different types.
>
> Tim Douglass
>
> http://www.DouglassClan.com

George wrote:

> Better yet, send SWMBO to Michael's to purchase the magnets for you.
> Lower price, no shipping costs or minimum order, and you can let SWMBO
> think they are for her to make refrigerator magnets (she won't notice a
> few missing,
> will she?) on a new scroll saw. <g>

Sounds like you're married to my wife's long-lost sister... :)

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
Confirmed post number: 16597 Approximate word count: 497910
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

It is 1/8" thick ALUMINUM. Aluminum does not hurt carbide blades. In
fact, carbide blades cut aluminum up to 1/2" with no trouble. They may well
cut thicker but I have only cut up to 1/2 aluminum plate so I cannot speak
to thicker stock.
I see no harm with using an aluminum push stick. Usually the push stick
does not touch the blade anyway and accidental contact will not hurt
anything.


--
David Chamberlain

[email protected]

remove nospam to reach me
"Lenny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I dunno .... What do you think of a square wheel ?
>
> On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 20:48:15 GMT, "Jonny Durango"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I bought one of those metal magnetic pushsticks from rockler for my
> >tablesaw. Only when I went to use it for the first time did I begin to
> >imagine the possible mayhem that could ensue if the stick happened to
touch
> >the blade for some reason. I then went back to using my crude wooden
scrap
> >stick. What are your opinions of metal pushsticks? Are they safe?
>

Better yet, send SWMBO to Michael's to purchase the magnets for you. Lower
price, no shipping costs or minimum order, and you can let SWMBO think they
are for her to make refrigerator magnets (she won't notice a few missing,
will she?) on a new scroll saw. <g>


"Henry E Schaffer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Eric Lund <[email protected]> wrote:
> > ...
> >Yes, but try as you might, everytime you slap that homemade push stick to
> >the side of the saw cabinet, it just falls to the floor. ;-) The
magnetic
> >one from Rockler stays right where you put it.
>
> You've just convinced me to buy some of those neat small round
> screw-on magnets from Lee Valley.
>
> I've been looking for an excuse! (If necessary, I assume you will
> reassure SWMBO that this small purchase will eliminate the need to buy
> the more expensive aluminum push stick. :-)
> --
> --henry schaffer
> [email protected]