| Project by GaryK | posted 473 days ago | 49208 views | 111 times favorited | 78 comments | ![]() |
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You might want to add this one to your favorites so you don’t forget it.
This idea has been rolling around in my head for quite a while. (lot’s of extra room in there) I wanted to make a tool. Something that would be useful to have atound the shop.
This clamp can be used on either the table saw, router table or even the band saw. It’s main purpose is to keep your hands away from the blade. You can use it if you are right or left handed.
The material came from a crate that was used to ship a machine from asia. I have no idea what kind of wood it is. All I can say is that’s it’s vary hard.
I designed this so that it could be made with only a table saw and drill and hand tools. A bandsaw or scroll saw would make a couple of parts faster though. If any of you would like to make one you can download the Following PDF file. It includes full size drawings that you can print out to use as templates.
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Click here to download Templates
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First of all let me show what it does and how it works:
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I started off by planing it all to 1/2” thickness.
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Here you can see all the printed templates I used to make it.
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I started out by laying the templates on one of the bars and transfered the locations of
all the holes. Then I clamped both bars together and drill a hole in each end and beat in
a dowel. This will hold them together while all the other holes are drilled.
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After taking them apart I countersunk all the holes.
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Then the bars were cut to 1 5/16”. This left just enough of the holes.
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Here I used spray adhesive to stick the templates to the stock. I then
cut them out. Go ahead and drill the single hole in the moving clamp, but
for the handle use the holes in the bars to guide you. This way the holes will
line up perfectly.
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Here I glued the small blocks used to build up the thickness of the clamps.
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Here I show the assembled clamp with the handle and spacer glued in between the
bars at each end. The glued up adjustable clamp is also visible.
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Instead of relying on the template for the location of the hole on the adjustable
clamp, I left a small section on the bars at the end with no holes. Insert the
clamp and use a 1/4” drill bit to transfer the location of the hole. Just hold the
drill bit against the bar and tap it with a hammer. Then drill out the hole.
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The following two pictures show how I layed out the notch in the clamps. When you
actually cut them make the cut at a little more of an angle so that only the
bottom part will touch the wood to be clamped. Make sure to leave at least 1/2”
of material above the notch. This will allow the blade to cut it and not the bars.
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Here you can see the adjustable clamp in the position where it is being moved (left)
and the engaged position (right)
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Here is the open and clamped position for the hand clamp.
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It is important to note here that the 2 moving clamp part are replaceable. They are made
to get cut up. When there is not enough material left to safely hold your stock it’s
time to make another pair. I made a couple of sets to start with.
Another note. Don’t raise the blade too far above the stock you are cutting. Don’t cut
into your bars. They are not made to be replaceable.
I made the bars 24” long because that was the length of the material I had. You can make
them longer or shorter. Just print out extra templates of the center section of the bars
to make them longer.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.































78 comments so far
Russel
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2030 posts in 817 days
posted 473 days ago
Okay, I like that alot. Very cool.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
Chardt
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141 posts in 479 days
posted 473 days ago
Great idea, simple construction. Very practical.
Thanks much!
-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.
CharlieM1958
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7459 posts in 1096 days
posted 473 days ago
Great invention, Gary!
The thing I hate about most push sticks is that you never feel like you have good control of the material. This solves that problem wonderfully.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
sIKE
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1093 posts in 632 days
posted 473 days ago
That is so cool. The design is great! Very inovative.
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
gizmodyne
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1659 posts in 968 days
posted 473 days ago
Gary.
That is very clever. Thanks for taking the time to blog this and provide plans and the video. You should submit this to a magazine.
Finewoodworking just had a video where a guy was cutting large panels using a bar clamp to hold it. I don’t like putting metal near the blade.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Douglas Bordner
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3415 posts in 942 days
posted 473 days ago
Way cool, Gary. No Grrr-ipper needed!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
dsb1829
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369 posts in 505 days
posted 473 days ago
Excellent. Thanks for sharing.
-- Doug, woodworking in Alabama
Nick Solimine
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37 posts in 609 days
posted 473 days ago
Thanks Gary great idea. It will become project4 on my list
-- Nick , North Carolina
Bob #2
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2987 posts in 899 days
posted 473 days ago
I’ll put that one my first to do list once I get my shop back.
Thanks Gary.
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
brunob
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1465 posts in 1047 days
posted 473 days ago
Gary, another winner.
-- Bruce from Central New York
Bill Akins
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236 posts in 576 days
posted 473 days ago
Outstanding. I love homemade jigs/tools. I could definitly use one of those. It reminds me of one of those things a brick mason carries a bundle of briicks with.
-- Bill from Lithia Springs, GA I love the smell of sawdust in the morning.
jockmike2
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7222 posts in 1124 days
posted 473 days ago
Are you sure your name isn’t McGyver? LOL Pretty neat idea Gary, I’m amazed at your brain. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
PurpLev
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2675 posts in 526 days
posted 473 days ago
thats an awesome design and implementation. makes safety even cooler ;)
-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
SPalm
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921 posts in 760 days
posted 473 days ago
Sweet Gary. That is just Grrrreat.
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
Gary
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437 posts in 1202 days
posted 473 days ago
“There’s your 1/8” piece; you can sit there and do it all day long.”
That’s just perfect!
-- Gary, Florida
Mark Shymanski
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1547 posts in 590 days
posted 473 days ago
Another GaryK blog added to my favourites.
Thanks Gary!
-- ...it's rennovation time!!!
YorkshireStewart
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779 posts in 779 days
posted 473 days ago
Most excellent Gary! Great use of what would otherwise be wasted. Thanks for all the construction details too! I’m just off to prepare some .pdf templates for my entry.
[big grin]
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
DAN
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6396 posts in 861 days
posted 473 days ago
Gary
another amazing project posting. you should patent this one.
Regards
DAN
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
bayouman
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86 posts in 543 days
posted 473 days ago
Gary, I agree with the others on two counts. First this is a fantastic. Second you should patent it. This could save many of us from losing body parts. If you decide to make any to sell, let me know.
depictureboy
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300 posts in 520 days
posted 473 days ago
you need to send that plan into some of the magazines, it may just score you a sweet piece of equipment.
-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 592 days
posted 473 days ago
Very cool!!.... and dang it, now I’ve got ANOTHER GaryK thing to make!.... lol…
Great Job Gary!
—Steve
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
Garyb6
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262 posts in 508 days
posted 473 days ago
Great idea. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the PDF so we can “leverage” your work.
-- Garyb6, “Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler” - Albert Einstein
thetimberkid
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1944 posts in 581 days
posted 473 days ago
Great work!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/
daveintexas
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338 posts in 754 days
posted 473 days ago
Gary-
That is a neat looking tool. And the good thing about it is when your not using it in the shop, you can be using it to catch those east Texas rattlesnakes. :)
Thanks for posting the info and if you find out what kind of wood that was, let me know. As I have about 20 bd ft.
-- MISSION FURNITURE-My mission is to build furniture
Karson
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25271 posts in 1278 days
posted 473 days ago
Cool looking clamps and some nice wood.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
USCJeff
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899 posts in 946 days
posted 473 days ago
I’ve tried what Gizmo mentioned in using a bar clamp. Metal near a blade makes me scared as well. Gary, very creative, to say the least. Thorough post. Love the video, template, and shot by shot steps. Thanks for the time put into it.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
RobS
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1231 posts in 1184 days
posted 473 days ago
Brilliant! Going for the win again, I see. Nice design and functionality.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
manilaboy
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119 posts in 813 days
posted 473 days ago
Ang galing naman talaga!
-- "Real jocks do it on a bench"
DAN
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6396 posts in 861 days
posted 473 days ago
really cool … I must repeat ! really cool ….
I nominate this one to make Fine Woodworking !!!
Anyone 2nd that nomination ?
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
griff
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897 posts in 640 days
posted 473 days ago
Very nice invention Gary, looks great, Very good build.
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
Bureaucrat
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6897 posts in 530 days
posted 473 days ago
Gary thanks for sharing this project and the templates. Ingenious!!
-- Gary, South Central Wisconsin. So much to learn, so little time!
Russ553
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19 posts in 577 days
posted 473 days ago
Gotta make one, gotta make one, gotta make one.
That’s great. Thanks.
-- Getting to be an antique - been there, done that, can't remember!
Dave T
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89 posts in 498 days
posted 473 days ago
The ultimate push block/stick. That is a perfect idea. Much better control of the work piece. Excellent idea
matt garcia
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678 posts in 550 days
posted 473 days ago
SWEET!!!!!!!!!
-- Matt, Houston Texas
griff
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897 posts in 640 days
posted 473 days ago
Just looking at the wood, it looks like Apitone (may not be spelled correctly) we use apitone stacking stick at the mill, because they could be run through the kilns several times before ruin , and they were very hard. I think they came from Asia also
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 729 days
posted 473 days ago
Suits Lefties as well, great!.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
rtb
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652 posts in 591 days
posted 473 days ago
I nominate you to be LJ mentor #1 I doubt if any can’t learn a lot from you.
-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6989 posts in 1177 days
posted 473 days ago
Another great item made by you.
Whoever you worked for, sure must miss you a lot.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Rob
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197 posts in 545 days
posted 473 days ago
This is a good invention but I’m just not sure what the purpose is. Does it do something that a push stick and a finger board can’t or is it just intended to be easier to use?
Sac
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236 posts in 511 days
posted 472 days ago
Very sweet tool/jig. So practical for zero clearence cuts and much more. I look forward to making a few. So would it be called a tool or jig? I filed the PDF in the LJ Jig Folder. Gary have you tested different hole placing in the handle area? Thanks for shari9ng this PDF file and video with us.
-- Jerry, Set in the foothills of the Smokey's
Miket
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265 posts in 650 days
posted 472 days ago
Fantastic idea! I am going to have to make one of these!
-- It's better to have people think you're stupid rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt.
cotfessi
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21 posts in 752 days
posted 472 days ago
Great design! Looks like I’ve got something new to build this weekend… thanks!!
dalec
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581 posts in 766 days
posted 472 days ago
Gary,
Great design. It should be submitted to FWW.
Dalec
Raymondz
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52 posts in 491 days
posted 472 days ago
Great idea! Thanks for the PDF templates. I think I’ll have to make myself one.
-- - Ray
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 472 days ago
Rob – It provides infinitely better control over your workpiece and the offcut
Just one example: suppose your piece starts to bind the blade? Try pulling it back with a just push stick.
This will allow you to pull the piece out with perfect control.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
manilaboy
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119 posts in 813 days
posted 472 days ago
Yes Griff. Could be “Apitong”. It’s real hard wood.
-- "Real jocks do it on a bench"
teenagewoodworker
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2470 posts in 646 days
posted 469 days ago
awesome!
Rustic
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1220 posts in 474 days
posted 467 days ago
I’ll buy 2 LOL or the plan
-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 467 days ago
Rick – Show me the money! :-)
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
PineMan
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57 posts in 472 days
posted 466 days ago
Very cool. I could use something like this.
-- I never started a project I couldn't screw up.
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 729 days
posted 460 days ago
Good luck in the contest Gary.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
woodworm
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7821 posts in 468 days
posted 456 days ago
Hi Gary.
I like the jig very much. I have a number of fixed jigs for ripping small work-piece of different sizes. This idea surely never hit my up-stairs at that time, and ever after..
Thanks for the templates. It shall be in my to-do lists.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
PopPop
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6 posts in 996 days
posted 456 days ago
Nice clamp Gary. Well thought out design and well built. I’ll have one for my shop.
-- Chuck, Sparta, Tennessee, http://sarkon.net/poppopshop/
bman
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3 posts in 766 days
posted 451 days ago
Gary I would have to say that is a absolutely the best and simple solution that I have seen thanks ….. I not sure but you might need to paten that one before the plastic versions start hitting the shelves
great job you deserve to win
Barry
scottb
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3391 posts in 1205 days
posted 451 days ago
someones trying to give Niki a run for his money in the McGyering/jig dept for sure. you have submitted the plans to FWW by now, right?
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 348 days ago
I have some good news.
This will be in Shopnote Issue #103.
It also won the editors choice so I get a Bosch Impact driver (model PS40-2).
Pretty cool!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Max
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13957 posts in 1151 days
posted 348 days ago
GaryK,
Hey that is great, congratulations…
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
sIKE
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1093 posts in 632 days
posted 347 days ago
Awesome Gary! Can’t wait to see it when it comes in!
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
Douglas Bordner
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3415 posts in 942 days
posted 347 days ago
Yahoo! Fame and fortune…
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Dennis Zongker
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1005 posts in 470 days
posted 327 days ago
WOW, Gary this is awesome. Great ingenuity!!! I’m going to have my son make this. He is always scared of the table saw. I’m printing the drawings right now. Thanks Gary.
-- Dennis Zongker
DAN
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6396 posts in 861 days
posted 326 days ago
Shop notes ! Congratulations !
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
DustDawg
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9 posts in 491 days
posted 323 days ago
Just received Shop Notes #103 in the mail today – Congratulations!
USCJeff
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899 posts in 946 days
posted 320 days ago
Just got my copy in the box today. Thought it looked awfully familiar. :) You’ll love the Bosch. I won one from WoodSmith an issue ago and it is becoming my go to driver. Little loud, though. Still haven’t built this clamp yet. I like my fingers (all ten), so it seems like it would work very well. Still work well for you>?
-- Jeff, South Carolina
GaryK
home | projects | blog
9496 posts in 866 days
posted 318 days ago
Jeff – That Bosch tool is very nice. I already had one that I reviewed here, so I gave this one to my wife. She likes doing things around the house.
The clamp is working great. I find it to work extremly well with small parts like those in the following projects.
It saves me the trouble of making speciality fixtures for every small part I make.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
rikkor
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11338 posts in 752 days
posted 318 days ago
Good job (as usual) Gary. Congrats on making it into Shop Notes.
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 312 days ago
Thanks rikkor.
I also wanted to mention to everyone that that this also works for holding parts on machines other than just the table saw.
Router table
Belt sander
Jointer
Bandsaw…
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Dusty56
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3392 posts in 566 days
posted 293 days ago
Fantastic invention , Gary …..I hope to be making one soonto use on my Jointer and Belt Sander …Thank you so much : )
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
woodspyder
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59 posts in 508 days
posted 231 days ago
Gary
Great invention, and thanks for posting the plans for us to use. I just finished mine and it works great.
-- Measure three times, cut twice.
David_Bethune
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242 posts in 271 days
posted 231 days ago
Swwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
Peik Löf
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109 posts in 250 days
posted 208 days ago
Great job, im gonna try and make one for myself tomorrow if i have time :D
-- My signature is awesome.
patron
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2244 posts in 219 days
posted 189 days ago
just downloaded your templates .
thanks for this , anything to improve shop safety !
this is why i joined this site .
your projects are awsome !
good work .
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
tmblweed0429
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42 posts in 189 days
posted 185 days ago
OK, I am SO making this! What an ingenious design! Thanks for sharing.
-- Trent Tidmore, Grapevine, TX
Kent Shepherd
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717 posts in 164 days
posted 157 days ago
Gary, a friend of mine made your jig and brought it to a woodworking class I was teaching. I was impressed by how well it worked. I really like all ten of my fingers. Great design. Keep up the good work.
-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!
Rick
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63 posts in 88 days
posted 87 days ago
You REALLY need to patent this. It will sell. The best and most popular tools of all time are the most simple with the most effectiveness.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
maluco
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34 posts in 373 days
posted 43 days ago
nice tool !
great finger saver
nmkidd
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255 posts in 51 days
posted 35 days ago
Great idea…....being the klutz that I am, I need all the safety items I can find. This will definitely become one of my shop tools!
Tanks for the detailed photos and plans.
-- Doug, New Mexico.......the only stupid question is one that is never asked!........don't fix it, if it ain't broke!
Eddie23
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1 post in 35 days
posted 35 days ago
Great idea!
Why didn’t anyone think of that before?
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 32 days ago
I’m very happy that a lot of people like this.
It just had the drawing downloaded for the 300th time. So if only 1/3rd of the people who downloaded it actually made it, then 100 people are that much safer.
Take care
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.