OK to move push paddle over blades?
I have a basic question about using a jointer.
When face jointing I usually use two plastic paddles with rubber bottoms as my push sticks. You see this kind of paddle in lots of jointer photos. I think I know the basic technique of moving the workpiece from the infeed table over the blades to the outfeed table while keeping it flat on the outfeed table by pushing the workpiece with the paddles.
When jointing the leading end of the board I have the paddle somewhere near that leading end pressing down on the board and I’m tempted to leave it there as the board passes over the blades.
My question: is it safe to keep the paddle against the board as it goes over the blades, i.e. so that the paddle passes above the blades? Or should I take the paddle off the board just before it reaches the blades and move the paddle to the outfeed table? I.e. should I always avoid having the paddle (and my hand) over the blades?
Thanks.
Replies
As long as the timber you are face jointing is structurally sound, (and it should be) there is no problem with applying pressure with your push pad over the blades of the jointer. That is how I do it all the time. Of course, you want to maintain pressure on the outfeed side of the timber to ensure that you get a properly flattened board.
Jeff
Ditto Jeff...
Sarge..
Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia
Tom, I don't use the paddles unless the part is pretty small, but that is just my personal preference.
However, the technique that I use for hand pressure and feed would still be the same. I try to avoid ever running my hands right over any cutter with the a lot of pressure into the cutter. So when the situation calls for one had passing over, I lock the muscles in my arm, with both sides working against each other as I transfer my weight from my right to left foot. Then as the hand approaches the cutter, the most effort goes into the heel, then transfers to the finger tips when they are past the gap. You can do the same with your paddles.
Once my left hand is past the cutter, it never crosses back over to the infeed side. Once it is past the cutter, it becomes the primary force, while the right hand slides back. Then the right hand smoothly takes over the dominate feeding role, while the left hand slides back to just behind the cutter, it then takes over as the right hand moves up to the cutter.
Both of my hands are always moving in the opposite directions, without the wood ever stopping.
Some craftsmen will push down and feed with a backward walking motion with both hands passing over the cutter. I have had three friends over the years who lost parts of their hands doing it that way, although while using the TS.
I have only had one friend who lost fingers to the jointer, and I think that happened at the end of the cut when a long board tipped up, while he strained to keep it down.
While the jointer is not a tool prone to kickback, and your paddles would bridge the gap if it came down flat. But if your jointer would gobble it into chips by standing it on end, like the chippers used by tree service companies.
Yes it is safe to run the paddles over the cutters. The paddles I have slipped from day one ( about 1969). I drilled a hole in the back of each one for a 3/8" dowel.I cut the dowel an 1- 1/2" or so long and tap it into the hole. The dowel protrudes about 1/4" past the bottom of the paddle.This assures the paddle will not slip over the stock.The dowel catches the rear of the stock as you push thru.When the dowel gets chewed up,tap it down another 1/4". Maybe ten years later you may have to install a new 1-1/2 long x 3/8" dowel.
If you decide to do the same, test the hole on scrap.Most store bought dowels seem to be undersize.
mike
As others have said, you are okay as long and your are not jointing anything that is really thin.
Additionally, pressure is really important. You only want to use enough that you control the movement of the board. Too much will prevent you from straightening the board.
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