Playing with blocks

Backing up your cuts makes as much sense when routing as when using a tablesaw. In both cases, you transfer the tear-out to a piece of scrap instead of your project parts. When routing, combine tear-out prevention with safety by using pushblocks to keep fingers a safe distance from spinning bits. With router pushblocks, because of the many different bit profiles, you need either lots of blocks or ways to reuse the same block.One solution: Make this sacrificial pushblock, shown in drawing, from a 4"-square piece of scrap that's been drilled to accept a dowel handle. Use it once, turn it 90°, and you have a fresh backing to use with your next bit, plus up to two more sides standing by. Make these blocks large enough and you can remove the chewed-up edges on your tablesaw and reuse them another four times. Larger blocks double as braces for keeping long workpieces perpendicular to your router table fence. The profile in back shows this block has backed up one router bit already, but still has three more grain-supporting edges left.