What material for push block?

[Matthew Curtis]

My push blocks are loosing there gripping material. I have in the past replace this material with router pad material. This has worked okay but not great.

What have you used that works well for push blocks?

[Edward Dyas]

I use different materials for different kinds of push blocks. It would be helpful to know what kind of push blocks you are using.

[Matt Day]

Mending plates work good.

[David Buchhauser]

My push blocks are loosing there gripping material. I have in the past replace this material with router pad material. This has worked okay but not great.

What have you used that works well for push blocks?

Hi Matthew,
These really work great! I use them for my jointer and router table. The red foam material grabs the wood better than any of the others I have used and worn out in the past.
David

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002N5PQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

417769

[Doug Dawson]

My push blocks are loosing there gripping material. I have in the past replace this material with router pad material. This has worked okay but not great.

What have you used that works well for push blocks?

When I want to make a weird troll-like little push block for an unusual situation, I snip off a piece of this:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/workshop/workbenches/benchtop-accessories/101914-high-friction-sheets

It seems to work well. It's not expensive. Maybe this will help you.

[Matthew Curtis]

I use different materials for different kinds of push blocks. It would be helpful to know what kind of push blocks you are using.

I use it for jointer and router table work. I have difficulty keeping the grippy material stuck to the block. It just wants to peel off after a while.

[David Buchhauser]

Again, I highly recommend the items I mentioned in my previous post. Even though they are not intended for woodworking, I find these great for the applications you just mentioned. If you don't like the handles, you can always remove the foam pads and cut and glue to your desired push blocks.
David

[Lee Schierer]

Mouse pads work well and don't cost much. Use 3M spray adhesive to hold them in place.

[Bill Carey]

Hi Matthew,
These really work great! I use them for my jointer and router table. The red foam material grabs the wood better than any of the others I have used and worn out in the past.
David

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00002N5PQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

417769



2nd these as push blocks. They work especially great for resawing, but are nice to use on every machine I have. Have 4 of them scattered about.

[Brian Tymchak]

When I want to make a weird troll-like little push block for an unusual situation, I snip off a piece of this:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/workshop/workbenches/benchtop-accessories/101914-high-friction-sheets

It seems to work well. It's not expensive. Maybe this will help you.

Thanks for the link Doug. Have been looking for sheets like this.

[Matthew Curtis]

When I want to make a weird troll-like little push block for an unusual situation, I snip off a piece of this:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/workshop/workbenches/benchtop-accessories/101914-high-friction-sheets

It seems to work well. It's not expensive. Maybe this will help you.

How durable is this for you. That is very similar to what I am doing now.

[Bill Lyman]

I have a number of pushblocks made from wood, but for small pieces through the table saw, this is my go-to. Expensive, but very helpful. https://www.microjig.com/products/grr-ripper

[Erik Loza]

I have a number of pushblocks made from wood, but for small pieces through the table saw, this is my go-to. Expensive, but very helpful. https://www.microjig.com/products/grr-ripper

Love the Gripper! You could DIY something but it wouldn't work as well.

Erik

[glenn bradley]

How durable is this for you. That is very similar to what I am doing now.

If your push blocks are wearing out you may want to look at your machine surface prep or your technique. You are probably fine but, just in case . . . You shouldn't have to push the material over the machine as if you were pushing a refrigerator up a flight of stairs. Keep your tables waxed and your cutters sharp. You want to 'feed' the material, not 'shove' the material; this can lead to accidents. If your material is large, long or heavy, proper infeed and outfeed support should still allow you to move it across the machine easily. If your material is on a very rough state then what Matt mentions may be the way to go. I think he means these (https://www.amazon.com/USP-STRUCTURAL-CONNECTORS-TPP36-Pronged/dp/B0044ULCA4/ref=asc_df_B0044ULCA4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312309800851&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7268763797979490338&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031490&hvtargid=pla-568844333413&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61916342133&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312309800851&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7268763797979490338&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031490&hvtargid=pla-568844333413) as opposed to these (https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Products-9247-Mending-Plates/dp/B00QR2O81W/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=mending+plate&qid=1571235847&s=hi&sr=1-4). Or maybe he means something else entirely.

I agree with Erik:


Love the Gripper! You could DIY something but it wouldn't work as well.

Erik

I am still using the original Grr-Ripper I bought at a show back in 2005 and have added a couple more. You need to be aware that people have a very polarized opinion on these; they love them or hate them with very few folks in the middle. They are an integral part of how I do things but, this can become true of a lot of accessories. I have a scattering of shop made push blocks for different special reasons but, the Grr-Ripper covers 90% of my needs in this area. YMMV.

[Robert Engel]

I make then from 2x4's and add a shoe. 1" dowel angled forward for handle.

I make a few at a time, resurface once or twice and throw them away when they're too chewed up.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I'm in the I love my Grrippers camp. I also made a few with scraps and have my older Craftsman triangle push block.

[Thomas McCurnin]

I use long push sticks with a nice notch. It keeps my fingers further away from the blade than push blocks. I am super-careful, and quite frankly fairly paranoid about the table saw in general and putting my fingers anywhere near that spinning blade. I make them out of plywood,

[johnny means]

I'm surprised no one mentioned sandpaper. If you use used paper, it's free and easily renewable. Those who think you should never need a lot a pressure have never jointed any man size material. All the wax in the world won't make a 4"x16"x10" board slide easily through a jointer.

[Doug Dawson]

I'm surprised no one mentioned sandpaper. If you use used paper, it's free and easily renewable. Those who think you should never need a lot a pressure have never jointed any man size material. All the wax in the world won't make a 4"x16"x10" board slide easily through a jointer.

Well I don't know. That's about the same size as an 11" Stonehenge. Hard to guess what it weighs, without knowing the species. :^)