[Woodcarver] Table saw safety

[Ramsey]

-- 
>I had completed pushing the piece of stock thru the blade, and had 
>used two push
>sticks to both hold it down and push it thru the blade.  At the very last
>second, both pieces of stock fell back into the blade, rather than pushing off
>the back of the saw as I intended.  I have no clear idea how, but 
>within a split
>second, both pieces of wood were 15 feet behind me, and my push stick had been
>violently wrenched from my hand, with a split down the cherry 
>hardwood face that
>has rendered it useless for pushing ever again.

The reason this happened is that the blade on the the table saw 
travels down into the table at the front and rises up out of the 
table at the back.  Small thin pieces get lifted up as they exit the 
blade.  To prevent this, I use a pusher that is made from 1/8" door 
skin.  I wish I could post a drawing of it but I will try to describe 
it.  It is about 14" long and 5" tall by 1/8" thick.  The long way 
travels parallel to the table top.  I cut out a 1/2"  to 3/4" deep 
notch that goes from one end parallel with the long way to about 2" 
from the other end leaving a 2" long tab that extends below the 
pusher.  This tab catches the end of the piece to be cut and the long 
bottom of the pusher holds the piece down against the table as it 
exits the blade.  I use this pusher for all cutting on the table saw. 
For thinner pieces than 1/8" run the large part of the wood between 
the blade and the fence and adjust so that the off cut is the 
thickness you need.

Ron Ramsey
http://www.carvedbyramsey.com