Steve Turner wrote in
:

*snip*


So John installs the insert and proceeds to hold it down from above
with a block of wood (don't know how big, what kind, or what shape) to
keep it from lifting while raising the blade. The block was
sacrificial, and for some reason he thought it was OK to let the blade
cut into the block as he was raising it while also holding the block
in place with a push stick (one of those long things with a notch at
the end; I HATE those things!). Does this raise any red flags with
you yet?

*snip*

Those push sticks with a notch at the end are worthless. They're
dangerous partially because of where the pressure is applied and
partially because of the failure mode. If they break, they break fast!
and your hand will head in the direction pressure was applied, usually
TOWARDS THE BLADE.

Some time ago, someone on here passed on a piece of advice: Consider
what would happen (where your hands would go) if the wood suddenly
disappeared. This certainly applies to push sticks as well.

Puckdropper
--
Make it to fit, don't make it fit.