Jointer Push Stick .. Round 2 ..

[Rick Fisher]

This is a gift for a lady at work who bought her husband an 8" helical jointer for Xmas. .

I call it the gift of fingers. lol

Its for face jointing wide boards..

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1020695_zps046b4cae.jpg
http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1020693_zpsf8015dec.jpg
http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1020694_zpse617e758.jpg

I fashioned it after an old teak motor boat..

[Rick Lizek]

Having spent 40 years in commercial shops specializing as a problem solver I would recommend looking at European jointer guards. The "pork chop" should be abandoned but won't because it costs less to make. The European guard is always covering the cutterhead when facing a board. Having spent many hours at a time in production shops that type of push stick is painfully slow and lacks the fingertip control to properly face boards. I actually wore those rubber finger tips on three fingers of each hand to keep from my fingers from slipping. Funny how the helical head has become so popular but not a better jointer guard?!?!?!

Actually the Surty guard was a predecessor of the Euro guard...
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/images/1564-C.JPG&imgrefurl=http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id%3D1564&h=375&w=500&sz=44&tbnid=y9WGUX5IeQNLzM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=122&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsurty%2Bjointer%2Bguard%2Bpicture%26t bm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=surty+jointer+guard+picture&usg=__Xwa34Mgpll6oPirwBSKHr9vvnd0=&docid=zO0ONAERSAqKwM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NpzpULj8PIjo0gHMnoD4Dw&ved=0CDEQ9QEwAA&dur=5262

[Joe Jensen]

Having spent 40 years in commercial shops specializing as a problem solver I would recommend looking at European jointer guards. The "pork chop" should be abandoned but won't because it costs less to make. The European guard is always covering the cutterhead when facing a board. Having spent many hours at a time in production shops that type of push stick is painfully slow and lacks the fingertip control to properly face boards. I actually wore those rubber finger tips on three fingers of each hand to keep from my fingers from slipping. Funny how the helical head has become so popular but not a better jointer guard?!?!?!

Actually the Surty guard was a predecessor of the Euro guard...
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/images/1564-C.JPG&imgrefurl=http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id%3D1564&h=375&w=500&sz=44&tbnid=y9WGUX5IeQNLzM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=122&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsurty%2Bjointer%2Bguard%2Bpicture%26t bm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=surty+jointer+guard+picture&usg=__Xwa34Mgpll6oPirwBSKHr9vvnd0=&docid=zO0ONAERSAqKwM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NpzpULj8PIjo0gHMnoD4Dw&ved=0CDEQ9QEwAA&dur=5262

While I agree that Euro guards are safer, working around the protrusion to at the front of the jointer looks like it would put me in an unbalanced position as you have to either stand behind or infront of the cutterhead. I currently stand directly over the cutterhead to have the best balance.

[Rich Riddle]

Rick,

I have an Inca with they type of head you like. It takes a bit of time to adjust to it. Strangely enough, my European Minimax has the pork chop. Not sure why though, it doesn't close well.

[Mark Godlesky]

I like your push stick, and I'm sure the recipient will too. Good looking and useful.

[Cody Colston]

That push shoe is certainly pretty but IMHO it has a major flaw...the handle. I use plywood for the handles on my push shoes because they won't break. The short grain in that solid wood handle (illustrated by arrow) can beak off with pressure.

250342

[Rick Fisher]

Yeah, it will be curious to see if it holds up .. The wood is extremely strong and heavy ( Afromosia ) .. but I agree that its possible weak spot ..

The idea of this is to be attractive and also use able.