A push stick is a safety device designed to allow people to push wood through a saw, router, or other cutting device while keeping hands clear of the blades. In addition to improving workplace safety, push sticks can also help people better control the pressure on the wood, resulting in smoother, cleaner cuts. Stores stocked with woodworking supplies often stock push sticks and people can also make their own from scrap wood and other materials around the shop. It is advisable to use a push stick for any project involving close contact with the saw, even if it seems quick and simple.
Saws designed for cutting and shaping wood are sharp and move very quickly. They are designed to cut through very thick wood and can make short work of fingers and the bones in the lower arm. Using push sticks is a basic safety technique that can prevent very serious injuries. Even with the use of push sticks, there are still safety issues to be aware of when working around woodworking equipment.
The push stick is positioned on top of the wood, in the case of a push block, or to the back or side, depending on the design of other push sticks. Rather than pushing the wood with the hands, the woodworker uses the push stick to control the wood as it is moved through a saw. If the wood kicks back, as sometimes happens when the saw encounters a knot or the pressure is not well controlled, the push stick runs into the saw, and the woodworker's hands are safe. Likewise, if the push stick strays close to the blade while a woodworker is working, the blade bites into the push stick instead of the worker's hands.
Numerous push stick designs are available and people can also create custom designs. Woodworkers may keep an assortment for different types of projects. Keeping a mix of push sticks encourages people to use the right tool for the job and keeps people in the habit of using these safety tools for all wood cutting projects. At the simplest, it can be a length of wood with a notch in it to hold down a board as it is moved through a saw.
While using this woodworking tool, woodworkers must be careful to keep the pressure even. Uneven pressure can result in a kickback, where the wood is thrown from the saw, and it can also lead to ragged cuts.