I have a push block in the shop that will work just fine for cuts of this sort. My shop teacher made it for me back in high school when he caught me doing cuts much like you were. He made me carry it with me every day for the rest of the term so I wouldn't forget how to cut things. It's been almost 30 years so far, and I haven't forgot yet, so it must have worked.
One of those faceshields turners use is also very useful. I sure like mine.
It's getting darn near like wearing one of those level 4 biohazard suits to go safely into the wood shop. Kevlar apron, safety glasses, hearing protection, face shield & dustfoe. Not to mention dust collector and sawstop.
You will never see me using an 1/8" wide push block. 1/4" ok. Narrower than that for repeated cuts jig it so the 1/8" is cut off opposite the fence side, and for a one of I do it as I described.
-Leuf
Think Sacrificial push block.
I wouldn't either. For this, about 2.5" would be about right.
a push block would be better than nothing and it should be adequate, but.......
I don't use push blocks, but rather a stick (round or square, about 1"x1") with a nail in the end works better than anything on the planet. Drive a #6 or #8 casing nail into one end and sharpen the nail with a grinder or file. About 1" should be sticking out. This will give you control to push the workpiece toward the fence and away. Any small hole made by the device will be unnoticeable and can be easily filled if desired. Also it is good to taper the end where the nail is, a little bit.
For those who would like to flame me, that's cool. But try it first.
woodstuff "have a nice day"
No thanks ... last thing I want anywhere near my expensive blades is a nail.
I dip the ends of pushblocks in a "non-slip" paint intended for marine applications. It's cheap and gives a better grip than wood-wood.
Barry Lennox
All I can say is that you gotta try it. I never have hit the blade, and my blades are not cheapos.
woodstuff "have a nice day"
This is a good point, Barry. I never tried that when I used push blocks. Push blocks are adequate and I am not running them down, and I used them for over two decades. My point is that I found a better way for me.
woodstuff "have a nice day"
And it still leaves the piece free to fly if it's going to.
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