Comments on: Hot Or Not? Saw-Aid http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:17:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-257941 Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:58:12 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-257941 Amen to what Ron says - but some designs are safer than others. You need to consider where your fingers end up in any possible scenario - that should have them no closer than 3 inches from the blade. You also neeed to consider how the push stick will apply force to the piece to hold it against the table and the fence - and if there is the possibility for a pinch point either because of your feeding the work or stress in the wood being cut. We don't think push stick are unversal - and use different designs for different operations and machines (table saw, router table, shaper, jointer etc.) You also need to be able to make and use a zero-clearance insert - when needed. We seem to have fewer scary moments in the shop (saw is equipped with a sliding table) and has plenty of horsepower. But some carpenters push the capabilities of the job-site saws and that can lead to trouble. I'm observant and take appropriate action to avoid accidents but over the years we've had a few (luckily fairly minor - stitches only - no lost fingers) incidents Amen to what Ron says - but some designs are safer than others. You need to consider where your fingers end up in any possible scenario - that should have them no closer than 3 inches from the blade. You also neeed to consider how the push stick will apply force to the piece to hold it against the table and the fence - and if there is the possibility for a pinch point either because of your feeding the work or stress in the wood being cut.
We don’t think push stick are unversal - and use different designs for different operations and machines (table saw, router table, shaper, jointer etc.)
You also need to be able to make and use a zero-clearance insert - when needed.

We seem to have fewer scary moments in the shop (saw is equipped with a sliding table) and has plenty of horsepower. But some carpenters push the capabilities of the job-site saws and that can lead to trouble. I’m observant and take appropriate action to avoid accidents but over the years we’ve had a few (luckily fairly minor - stitches only - no lost fingers) incidents

]]> by: Ron http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-257621 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:10:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-257621 How accurate do you think that plastic whiz-bang is? If you need a push stick, you should be skilled enough to make your own. If you aren't maybe you should consider a less dangerous hobby How accurate do you think that plastic whiz-bang is? If you need a push stick, you should be skilled enough to make your own. If you aren’t maybe you should consider a less dangerous hobby

]]> by: Benjamen Johnson http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-257336 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:51:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-257336 3fingersleft, I never posted what material it was made from, but why would you assume it's made from metal? That's also assuming it's a hard metal like steel. I've cut aluminum on my table saw and miter saw a few times with not problems. I had to dig a little bit, but in this review: http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/sawaid.html The guy says "It appears to be made from a glass-filled resin..." Glass filled resin won't ruin your saw blade, at the very work it might dull the blade a bit more. ================================ Wow, I'm surprised how bad the saw-Aid is faring. I guess the old saying "Jack-of-all-trades, master of none might" be appropriate for the poor Saw-Aid. 3fingersleft, I never posted what material it was made from, but why would you assume it’s made from metal? That’s also assuming it’s a hard metal like steel. I’ve cut aluminum on my table saw and miter saw a few times with not problems.

I had to dig a little bit, but in this review:
http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/sawaid.html

The guy says “It appears to be made from a glass-filled resin…” Glass filled resin won’t ruin your saw blade, at the very work it might dull the blade a bit more.

================================
Wow, I’m surprised how bad the saw-Aid is faring. I guess the old saying “Jack-of-all-trades, master of none might” be appropriate for the poor Saw-Aid.

]]> by: 3fingersleft http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-257026 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:55:14 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-257026 Wonderful, spend $17.00 for a metal push stick and the first time it hits your saw blade, you've ruined a $100.00 saw blade and the $17.00 push stick. I'll make mine out of scrap wood for free. Wonderful, spend $17.00 for a metal push stick and the first time it hits your saw blade, you’ve ruined a $100.00 saw blade and the $17.00 push stick.

I’ll make mine out of scrap wood for free.

]]> by: Fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-256051 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:49:10 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-256051 Not We make sacrificial push sticks and featherboards for to job site saws. Not

We make sacrificial push sticks and featherboards for to job site saws.

]]> by: Frank Hicinbothem http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255991 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:24:11 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255991 Add me to the "Not"s. I make push sticks as I need them from scraps, and I prefer to use metal tools to measure lengths and angles. Add me to the “Not”s. I make push sticks as I need them from scraps, and I prefer to use metal tools to measure lengths and angles.

]]> by: Gary http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255942 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:10:49 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255942 Not. Have to admit my wife bought me one. I'm not even that wild about it as a pushstick. Not.

Have to admit my wife bought me one. I’m not even that wild about it as a pushstick.

]]> by: tooldork http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255940 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:07:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255940 Vermont American has one too, in fact they own the patent on this design. http://www.vermontamerican.com/Products/productdetail.htm?G=190912&GRP=190912&I=70515 Vermont American has one too, in fact they own the patent on this design.

http://www.vermontamerican.com/Products/productdetail.htm?G=190912&GRP=190912&I=70515

]]> by: Eric http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255928 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:45:35 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255928 I have to say "not." I can get a regular push stick for much less (or make one). And the problem with all the other features is that it makes me want to take it away from my saw to use elsewhere, meaning it is highly likely then that it wouldn't be at the saw when I need it most. And the first time this push stick hits the blade, about half of those features could be rendered useless. I have to say “not.” I can get a regular push stick for much less (or make one). And the problem with all the other features is that it makes me want to take it away from my saw to use elsewhere, meaning it is highly likely then that it wouldn’t be at the saw when I need it most. And the first time this push stick hits the blade, about half of those features could be rendered useless.

]]> by: modernman http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255920 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:38:20 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255920 warm :) It's an ok pushstick but I only picked it up for the depth gauge, I've never used the other "features" warm :)

It’s an ok pushstick but I only picked it up for the depth gauge, I’ve never used the other “features”

]]> by: Stuart http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255911 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:25:56 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255911 Bosch makes a version with different frills for less than $11 on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NW7XP0/ Craftsman rebadges the Bosch version for $13 as part # 932190. It may be worthwhile to pick up the Craftsman version since it comes with a brief users guide while the Bosch version is reportedly shipped barebones. Bosch makes a version with different frills for less than $11 on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NW7XP0/

Craftsman rebadges the Bosch version for $13 as part # 932190.

It may be worthwhile to pick up the Craftsman version since it comes with a brief users guide while the Bosch version is reportedly shipped barebones.

]]> by: DaveS http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255910 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:25:39 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/13/hot-or-not-saw-aid/#comment-255910 Why stop at 8 functions? It's also a 1" rule, and a 2" rule, and a 3" rule, etcetera - and it can't be beat as a 0" rule, a function many similar tools leave out. Anyway... Not. It has no unique feature, and wouldn't be my first choice for the features it does have. The one thing I don't already have handy (like, in my shop pouch at most times) is a 30° angle - but that's not worth the price by itself. Why stop at 8 functions? It’s also a 1″ rule, and a 2″ rule, and a 3″ rule, etcetera - and it can’t be beat as a 0″ rule, a function many similar tools leave out.

Anyway…

Not. It has no unique feature, and wouldn’t be my first choice for the features it does have. The one thing I don’t already have handy (like, in my shop pouch at most times) is a 30° angle - but that’s not worth the price by itself.

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