A Couple Projects With Scraps and Cutoffs

[roughsawn]

I think I've posted in the past, that every winter I build a few walking canes. I generally give them to relatives. Hey, we are all going to need them sometime...lol

Here, I am drilling the hole square and plum, to the shaft to accept the product that will join the head and shaft. I've been using 5/8" threaded rod, and on this batch I am going to make and try 5/8" solid wood dowels out of oak. The cane heads were all made out of 200 year old red oak cutoffs from a couple projects this winter.

 

[roughsawn]

I also made several different push sticks to see what I liked the best.

 

[fcschoenthal]

You could put one of the walking stick handles on top of a piece of wood and use it as a push stick. It would definitely keep your hand away and give you control.

[roughsawn]

Never thought of that! Interesting idea...

[fcschoenthal]

I've never been a fan of push sticks where your hand is at the end of the board and so close to it as well (like the two you show in front. Personally, I prefer my hand to be above and forward, where I can push down, at least giving me the illusion of being in control. Your walking stick handle, attached with the wood dowel, would also allow changing to a new block when that one got chewed up.

[fcschoenthal]

I forgot to add, if you get rich off this idea, I want a part of it. 

[roughsawn]

I've used the one in front for 4 years...and kinda like it. Well, if you can like a push stick. But, a month ago I made several of the ones in the middle...just a bigger, larger version of the original. I can really get some down pressure on a board with them, I really like them. I glued 120 grit sandpaper underneath for a non slip push.

The ones in back, where your hand is on top of (like you described)...I just couldn't get a feel for. The reaching out that much farther was uncomfortable for me.

[pkinneb]

Those are going to be awesome!! On another note your "few" reminds me of when I'm talking about routers LOL

[Chestnut]

10 hours ago, fcschoenthal said:

least giving me the illusion of being in control.

It awesome how different preferences can be. I dislike them because I'm always worried that the work piece could get kicked back sucking my hand into the blade. If my hand is always behind the blade it feels more safe to me.

I like the Mattias Wandel 2 push stick method. My favorite is just to move rip cuts to the bandsaw.