The Most Important Tool in Your Workshop: The Humble Push Stick

Every workshop has its heroes — chisels, saws, planes, and the machines that make wood dance in our hands. But there’s one tool that rarely gets much attention, one that doesn’t gleam or impress visitors, yet it might just be the most important of them all: the humble push stick.

As someone who’s spent years in the workshop teaching others how to turn safely, I’ve learned that confidence can sometimes be a woodworker’s biggest blind spot.

I’ve seen too many videos online where people feed timber next to a spinning table saw blade with their bare hands. No guard. No push stick. Just confidence and maybe a touch of arrogance. The attitude seems to be, “I’ve been doing this all my life, I’m fine.” But anyone who’s spent real time around machinery knows that accidents don’t care how long you’ve been doing it. It only takes a split second, one slip, one knot, one unexpected catch and your hand can be where it should never be.

I’ve taught countless students in my workshop here in Tralee, and I still get nervous watching how casually some people treat tools and lathes. I've actually become far more safety-conscious in my own production work from what I learned teaching students. Once you see how accidents can happen from a safe distance in the classroom, it is easy to be more safety minded in your own work going forward.

Push sticks are not normally used as part of woodturning but woodworkers generally will use all the machinery as part of their work, most woodturners included.

Note: I'm going to assume that you are already wearing eye and ear protection while operating these machines so I won't mention it again. Always use suitable extractors for dust and chips.

Before the safety police jump in: I am cutting green Ash in the photo above using gloves to protect my skin. It is perfectly fine to wear tight fitting gloves when woodworking as long as hand placement is always away from the blade. I am also an experienced operator with many years under my belt.

Have a read of my post Essential Tools & Finishes for a Woodturner’s Workshop if you have just started woodturning and would like a few hints on which tools & finishes to use. I also have a post on sourcing blanks if you are a new to woodturning, Woodturning Blanks – A Starter’s Guide for New Turners. If you access to trees, my post How to Process Logs for Woodturning will really help you out.

I will be adding more images of push sticks and machinery as soon as I can get back into my workshop after current works are completed.

TL;DR – Workshop Safety in a Nutshell

The push stick might be the simplest tool in your workshop, but it’s also the one most likely to save your fingers. Whether you’re using a table saw, bandsaw, chop saw, planer, or sander — never feed timber by hand. Use push sticks, push pads, and jigs to keep distance between you and the blade. Confidence doesn’t prevent accidents, caution does.

The Table Saw – The Most Dangerous Tool in the Workshop

Let’s start with the big one. The table saw is, without question, the most dangerous machine in any workshop. It doesn’t forgive mistakes. You might think you have full control over the wood, but the blade decides the moment something goes wrong. Kickback happens faster than you can blink, and the momentum can pull your hand straight into the teeth. Anyone I've ever met who is missing fingers was a victim of the table saw or a power saw inverted on a table acting as a table saw.

That’s where the push stick earns its name and its importance. It gives you control, distance, and safety all at once. A simple stick of wood with a notch at the end can mean the difference between a close call and a lifetime of regret. I like to use two push sticks with DIY added rubber grips where the stick will touch the wood.

Pro Tip: Remember, a table saw cuts back towards the person feeding and downwards into the table. Use one or two push sticks like I described and always use a full face shield in case of kickbacks

The Bandsaw – Safer, But Still Capable of Biting

Next comes the bandsaw. Many people think of it as a “safer” alternative to the table saw and to a point, it is. But don’t be fooled. When cutting small or narrow pieces, your hands can easily drift too close to the blade. There's a reason bandsaws are used in butcher shops, they go through skin and bone very efficiently.

A while back, I adapted a small offcut with a rubber tip glued to the end. It gave me grip and control, allowing me to guide awkward small pieces past the blade without my fingers ever crossing that invisible danger line. It worked so well that I’ve kept it ever since.

The bandsaw may not kick back like a table saw, but its continuous downward motion blade will pull your hand in just as quickly if you get careless.

Pro Tip: Always use sharp blades, let the blade cut the wood and never push to try and make the cut. Replace the blade as soon as it stops cutting efficiently. Always anchor your two hands to fixed points to the table or hook a finger to something solid as you move with the wood. The balls of my palms are locked onto the edges of the bandsaw table in the image here.

The Chop Saw – Fast, Convenient, and Unforgiving

The mitre saw (or chop saw) is another one that lulls people into a false sense of security. You pull the handle down, make your cut, and lift it away, easy. But most accidents happen when people reach in too soon or fail to let the blade stop spinning fully before lifting or cut pieces that are too small.

Even a small offcut can jump and catch your hand off guard. Always wait for the blade to stop and use a clamp or stop block when possible.

Pro Tip: Always anchor your left hand to the fence furthest away from the blade while holding the wood firmly. Never try and cut small pieces. Instead cut a larger piece of wood or use a firm rubber push stick to anchor the piece in place. If the piece moves and the cut is wrong you can be thankful that at least it wasn't your fingers.

The Surface Planer – Push Pads Save Hands, Not Just Fingers

If you’ve ever run short boards or uneven timber through a surface planer, you’ll know how tempting it can be to press down close to the blades for better control. Don’t. Push pads exist for a reason. They’re not just for beginners, they’re there because the spinning blades are waiting for any moment of distraction.

A push pad gives you the grip you need and a barrier you can afford to lose. Your hands are not replaceable; a bit of rubber and plastic is. It always made me wince watching the lads in Joineries surface plane this way. I know they do it everyday but still, safety first.

Pro Tip: Bench Dogs Pads are ideal as supports while surfacing wood and I prefer to use two at a time.

Sanders – The Hidden Dangers

Sanding might seem like the “quiet end” of woodworking, but it can be just as risky. Power sanders can grab a small piece of wood and fire it back at you — or worse, pull your hand across the abrasive surface. I've had the surface of fingers worn away by less than a second of contact and it hurts like hell.

Always secure your workpiece or use a holding jig. Never feed or hold wood too close to the belt or disc. I have on occasion made contact with sanding belts and the subsequent abrasion can be quite painful. I use Bobbin & bench belt sanders more than pad sanders.

Pro Tip: Always allow for the worst, anchor some part of your arm or hand if possible depending on sander type or use a sacrificial piece to hold until sanding is complete.

Why I’m Writing This

I’ve had a few lucky escapes over the years. Most woodworkers have, even if they don’t admit it. But every close call leaves a mark and a lesson. The more I see careless workshop videos online, the more frustrated I get. People showing off technique while ignoring basic safety only encourages others to copy them.

So if you’re reading this and thinking “I’ll be fine”, just remember: you’re only fine until you’re not. Fingers don’t grow back. Accidents don’t just hurt, they can end your ability to work with wood altogether.

Final Thoughts

No project, no deadline, and no shortcut is worth risking your hands for. Whether you’re running a full workshop or just enjoying a hobby, the push stick should always be within reach — and used without exception.

It’s the simplest safety tool you’ll ever own, and it might just be the most important. Mine hangs within arm’s reach of every machine I use — and that’s exactly where yours should be too.

Thanks for Reading,

David

About the Author

I’m David Condon, a woodturner and small business owner based in Tralee, Co. Kerry. I’ve been working with wood for most of my life at this stage — 11 years as a carpenter and over a decade running my own woodturning business.

During that time, I’ve worked with Irish hardwoods, taught woodturning, and run my workshop full-time. On this site, I share the same knowledge I pass on to my students — from choosing the right wood and tools to finishing techniques that make every project shine.

I also stock a carefully chosen range of turning blanks, tools, and craft supplies that I use every day in my own work. You can explore more of my handcrafted pieces and classes at DavidCondonWoodcraft.ie.

© David Condon Woodcraft – All Rights Reserved.

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