I want Ricks push stick!!

8353 Views 23 Replies 15 Participants Last post by TWheels, May 10, 2008

Birchwood

Discussion Starter · Jul 24, 2005

I see the guys using a totally nifty white plastic push stick, with a ridge in the center etc. but I do not see any reference to it being available for purchase. Anybody help?
Also, I see the fellas using little brass "pins" ,stuck into their router plate table, when they freehand stuff. I have a new Rockler table, with plate etc. for my #891, and the adjusting tool so I can adjust depth etc. from top, but I see no little holes for "pins" ....and not only that; what keeps the pins from falling right through the hole?!
Ahhh.....the mysteries of it all.

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Mark

· #2 · Jul 24, 2005

*looks at the official Router Workshop plastic push stick* muhahaha

Sadly, I don't think they sell these, but if you were really interested in it, I'm sure that a deal could be arranged.

Mike

· #3 · Jul 24, 2005

Birch, you can find plastic push sticks at many tool stores. As far as the safety pins go, Rockler didn't make provisions for them in their mounting plate. You can purchase a safety pin with the replacement insert kit for a Rousseau mounting plate.($10) You will have to drill your own hole in your plate. The pin has a collar halfway down that keeps it from dropping through the plate.

Learning Herb

· #4 · Jul 24, 2005

Hay . I have a rocklertable and plate. My plate has two threded holes one on each side. So what I did was cut the head off of a 1/4 20 hex head bolt and I just screw it in one of the holes works for me. You have ot try it.And as for the push sticks Rick uses, I make my own I have a saw handle patern I got out of wood mag. And I make five or six at a time. The little sq. backup boards are easy to make also Make your own have fun with it and enjoy. Learning Herb

Woodnut65

· #5 · Jul 25, 2005

The push stick is available from Oak-Park for about ten dollars. the bottom of the push stick has a male dove tail on it . You also get a drawing on how to make the base of the push stick which will have a female dove tail on the top for the handle, and two more at the bottom for dovetailed strips to go into the bottom to enable you to both guide wood through the table mounted router holding it down and into the fence.
Woodnut65

Birchwood

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 25, 2005

Okay gang. Thanks for the help. I know the Rockler plates are all different-they make them specific to a range of router brands. There are two holes at the "front" of mine where the adjusting tool goes down. I think its pretty nifty, but some of you old time router guys probably think its unneccessary and frivolous.
Thanks again.

Dwight M SHOEMAKER

· #7 · Mar 13, 2008

I use 1/4 bolt with a 1/4 id-1/2od-1' long nylon bushing that can be purchased a Lowe's

bobj3

· #8 · Mar 13, 2008 (Edited)

3

This is a old post,, But Just to add to Woodnut65 post

Push Stick Handle
http://us.oak-park.com/catalogue.html?list=RTA--&product=P055

But you can make your own very quick with a dovetail bit and the router table.
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UHMW Sheets and Strips
http://www.ptreeusa.com/uhmwproducts.htm#strips

http://www.ptreeusa.com/uhmw_list.htm
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as far as the safety pin just pick up a bass bolt at the hardware store and cut the head off..
Drill and tap the base plate to take it on..

, 5/16-18 x 3 1/2" long works great, just cut off the head and some of the threads,so you end up with a stud with 1/2" of threads on one and no threads on the other end..

If you have a lathe or you can use a mates lathe you can make your own easy and quick with some brass bar stock.. ▼

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jjciesla

· #9 · Mar 13, 2008

Birch,
A sholdered Socket head cap screw works great for the pins. They will snug up to the table and be perfictaly vertical. These pictured are 1" & 1 1/2 ". Cut the head off and your all set.
Jim

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LONGHAIR

· #10 · Mar 14, 2008

It always amuses me to see that, no matter what type of forum you are on, that when a nearly 3 year old thread pops back ttt.....it will be a newbie that did it.

CASparky

· #11 · Mar 17, 2008

They Posted!, and I'd say that's what it is all about.........

Cheers!

beemerbob

· #12 · May 8, 2008

What I need to know is how to make the shoes?

I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box and I can't make hide nor hair of the plans I got with the Push Stick Handle.

bobj3

· #13 · May 8, 2008 (Edited)

Hi Bob

Pop in your 1/2' DOVETAIL bit in the router table, set the bit height to 3/8" above the router table top then move the fence over so the bit is in the center of the stock you are going to use for the shoe, lock the fence in place then get your push block and push the stock over the bit keeping it to the fence and holding it down to the table top...

Cut you stock just a bit longer than you need just in case you get rip out on the end of the pass...if so just trim off the end for a nice clean dovetail socket..

Then test fit the pin in the socket, it should just slide in free without the need for a hammer...you may need to adjust the bit up or down to get it to fit just right once you have it set right , make some backups they do get nailed now and then..

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beemerbob said:
What I need to know is how to make the shoes?

I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box and I can't make hide nor hair of the plans I got with the Push Stick Handle.

beemerbob

· #14 · May 8, 2008

bobj3 said:
Hi Bob

Pop in your 1/2' DOVETAIL bit in the router table, set the bit height to 3/8" above the router table top then move the fence over so the bit is in the center of the stock you are going to use for the shoe, lock the fence in place then get your push block and push the stock over the bit keeping it to the fence and holding it down to the table top...

Cut you stock just a bit longer than you need just in case you get rip out on the end of the pass...if so just trim off the end for a nice clean dovetail socket..

Then test fit the pin in the socket, it should just slide in free without the need for a hammer...you may need to adjust the bit up or down to get it to fit just right once you have it set right , make some backups they do get nailed now and then..

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Thanks for the post. The plans that came with the nylon saw handle talks about a side support. How is that safely made ?

cbsjoez1935

· #15 · May 8, 2008

Bob, from Northwest Florida,

Take the advice, which BobJ gave you, and do the same on the other side (top or bottom) of the push block piece. I would not make the dovetail slot go all the way through on either side. That way the handle has a stop point and the side support, you mentioned, has the same. In addition, cut a tight dovetail slot across the back of the block and that will be your "bottom pusher", while the long piece down the middle, or so, will be your side support. Hope this helps.

Joe Z.

bobj3

· #16 · May 8, 2008 (Edited)

2

Hi Bob

Joe is right

but I should have said once you have the slot just right make a dovetail key to slide in the slot and then glue it in place for a spot point for the handle,,,many have a hard time backing up the shoe with the bit spining and it takes time to do it just right without making the dovetail slot bigger than it should be...I would also suggest using a 1/4" or 5/16" strait bit 1st to remove some of the stock from the dovetail slot, it makes it easyer for the dovetail bit to work...and a place for the chips inside the dovetail slot.

When moving the dovetail bit back up, it's likes to jam and pull away from the fence and once it jams it's a real trick to get it out of the slot, not to say anything about it's a good way to cook a good dovetail bit..

May I also suggest you make a shoe like the one below, you will be surprise how well this type of push stick/block works for many router jobs

with some double sided carpet tape on the front side of the push block it will hold the stock in place and will take the place of many coping sleds.

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Hamlin

· #17 · May 9, 2008

Awwww, the wonderful thing about push sticks.... one can make them any size, shape or form in which suits the operator.

Bob, last time I snuck a peek into your shop, I didn't see such a push stick.... so, where ya been hiding it?! LOL

bobj3

· #18 · May 9, 2008

Hi Ken

hahahahaha I have so many push sticks I have lost count

It's one of the things I make all the time trying to find one that works for all router jobs I have one of the new yellow ones but I'm not to impress with it.

Home/Shop made ones work the best for me..

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Hamlin said:
Awwww, the wonderful thing about push sticks.... one can make them any size, shape or form in which suits the operator.

Bob, last time I snuck a peek into your shop, I didn't see such a push stick.... so, where ya been hiding it?! LOL

beemerbob

· #19 · May 9, 2008

Thanks to all you guys. I think I have the concept down now.

Hamlin

· #20 · May 9, 2008

Hi BJ,

Being a little bit on the lazy side at the moment... I have 3 OP's handles. I've made a few different "push blocks" for them. Fortunetly, they work for me, and are comfortable to use.

When I made my version of your push block, I copied the shape and form from OP's handle. Granted, it's only 3/8" thick but, again it works, sometimes I do wish they were thicker more like 3/4" but, that's why we make them.

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