When should you use a push stick with a table saw?

• A. Only for rip cuts on wide stock.
• B. Always use a push stick, even if your hands won't be close.
• C. When stock would bring your hands within the blade’s kerf; keep hands away from the blade.
• D. Only when stock is thinner than 1 inch.

Answer: (C)

Keeping your hands away from the blade is the main idea behind using a push stick. If the stock would bring your hands into the blade’s kerf—the width of the cut—you should use a push stick to push the wood through while your hands stay clear of the blade. This tool gives you control and leverage on pieces that are narrow or tricky to feed, reducing the risk of contact, kickback, and injuries. It isn’t about the stock’s width or thickness alone; it’s about whether your hands would be in the danger zone. Use the push stick whenever that proximity would occur.