Just a few days ago Stuart and I were wondering why we don’t follow Stuart Lees’ blog Stu’s Shed anymore. I still follow @StusShed on Twitter though, where I caught his tweet about the Incra PushGuard. Made in the USA, this over-sized push block features an integrated finger guard as an extra measure of protection for your digits, and a clear removable shield for deflecting debris away from you.
The Incra PushGuard’s handle is large enough that you can grip it with both hands, and it is slightly offset from the center of the base of the block, moving your hand farther away from the cutter. It looks to be angled outwards a bit, too. Incra mounted a thick 7″ x 3″ rubber pad to the bottom of the block to firmly grip your work.
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The hand guard is made from ABS and has a double walled design. It provides the mounting point for the clear acrylic deflector shield. Both the shield and the hand guard can be removed from the push block, depending on your needs.
Hopefully the Incra PushGuard pad is as textured and grippy as the Bench Dog push block reviewed here last year.
The Incra PushGuard is regularly priced at $20 at Incramental Tools, and $25 at Amazon. Right now, at the time of this posting, Incramental has it on sale for $17. Shipping for 1 PushGuard at Incramental starts at $9 for our zip codes.
Buy Now (via Incremental Tools)
Buy Now(via Amazon)
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Incremental tools also sells an upgrade kit for users that might already have an Incra push block, although it still will cost you $17. So until their sale is over, you’re probably better off buying the full PushGuard. It’s also interesting to note that you can purchase a replacement hand guard, deflector shield, or any of the mounting hardware.
Buy Now (Upgrade Kit via Incremental Tools)
More Info (Replacement Parts)
fred
Looks like a nice push block with a couple of added features – that I’m likely to give a try – once its in stock at Amazon.
What I currently use more often than other push blocks are a pair of Grrippers – which cost quite a bit more but offer added functionality.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=micro+jig+grr+ripper
Stuart
So did you ever work out why you don’t follow the Stu’s Shed blog anymore (other than by Twitter)? 😉
Benjamen
I’m pretty sure it was all Google’s fault. When they dumped Reader I just never resubscribed to all my RSS feeds.
Stuart
Ha ha – yes, I’ll pay that, well welcome back!
Allen
Can anyone tell me what is going on in the photo with the two hand grip ? Surely they don’t advocate routing in such a manner ? That isn’t a pattern bit is it ? Down pressure and gripping action of the push block the only thing preventing kick-back ?
Maybe I’m missing something.
Allen
I guess looking closer I see the bushing, still, nothing from the rear ?
Stuart
If you are pattern copying with a guide bush (or using a router bit with a bearing), what else would you want to see being used? You wouldn’t want the workpiece trapped between the router bit and a fence of some description – that is basically demanding a kickback of epic proportions.
About the only thing I think is missing is a guide pin to start with the job resting against it.
In fact, looking at the setup, the pale wood (including behind the dark workpiece) is all in one, so it supports and carries the dark workpiece past the router bit, while being engaged with the template guide.
If you look to the left hand side, you can see where this ‘sled’ is recessed by the distance between the template and the router bit, so it is a finishing operation to take of that final shaving, while holding the workpiece up, and against the router bit.
Allen
I would have something behind the workpiece, something to prevent kickback.
If I was useing my hand, instead of the push block, I would have two fingers on the rear of the work piece. As it is only the “stickiness” of the push block is keeping it moving forward.
A push block on the table saw has a “cleat” on the back to make sure the work moves forward. I don’t think I would trust it to not go flying back.
Maybe the material is sticky enough that down force is enough.
Stan
There has to be some irony here that using your words, this product is “missing something” from a tool that the main purpose to protect against losing ligaments.
None the less, what a interesting concept and thumbs up for this product being made in USA.