Here is an easy to make “Stop Block” for your table saw or bandsaw.

Needed:

• (1) magnetic tool bar (Harbor Freight, 18″ magnetic tool bar)
• (1) 3/8″ coupling
• (1) 3/8″ nut
• (1) 3/8″ x 4″ bolt
• (1) 3/8″ wingnut
• (1) 3/8” washer



• Shoe Goo (glue)
• Paint

Assembly:

1. There are 8 individual magnets in the bar. They are covered with a thin layer of tape. Each magnet is about 2″ long.

   In some bars the magnets are loose, you can just take a knife and separate two magnets from the rest leaving room at the end for the hole or cut a slot for a screwdriver.

   In other bars the magnets are glued in place. Place one end of the bar in a vice and using any tool, crescent wrench, twist the bar a little in both directions. The glue is hard. This will break the glue/magnets loose. Remove the magnets and clean them and the bar up. I used a sanding block to remove the glue.

   

   Cut the steel bar into equal parts if you want to make several. A hole or slot is cut into one end of each piece of bar to easily remove the stop block from your table.

2. I made several to give away. One bar will make 4 stop blocks.
3. Remove the burrs with a file or grind it smooth.
4. Remove the paint from the end of the bar opposite the hole or screwdriver slot you have made to help the glue stick.
5. Roughen up the surface of both the coupling and the bar where the glue will meet.
6. Move (2) magnets flush to this end of the bar, opposite the hole.



7. Take a long 3/8″ bolt and run it all the way down on the coupling.
8. Thread the nut on the other end of the bolt. The nut is for support and alignment while the glue dries.
9. Put some glue on the coupling and press it on the flat surface of the bar opposite the hole. Make sure the coupling extends a little past the bar. This will become the seat for the wingnut.
10. Once the glue dries, remove the nut and bolt.
11. Paint