Filter
Top Products
29
FEATHERBOARD
Featherboards are used to keep the work in contact
with the fence and table (Figure 35), and help prevent
kickback. Featherboards are especially useful when
ripping small workpieces and for completing non-
through cuts. The end is angled with a series of narrow
slots to give a friction hold on the workpiece, It is
locked in place on the table or fence with a c-clamp.
To avoid binding between the
workpiece and the blade, make sure a
horizontal feather board presses only on the uncut
portion of the workpiece in front of the blade.
Dimensions for making a typical featherboard are
shown in Figure 35. Make your featherboard from a
straight piece of wood that is free of knots and cracks.
Clamp featherboards to the fence and/or table so that
the featherboard will hold the workpiece against the
fence or table.
CUTTING AIDS AND ACCESSORIES
(continued)
FIGURE 35
FIGURE 36
CUT OFF GAUGE
When crosscutting a number of pieces to the same
length, you can clamp a block of wood (A) (See Figure
36) to the fence and use it as a cut-off gauge. The block
(A) must be at least 3/4-inch (19 mm) thick to prevent
the cut off piece from binding between the blade
and the fence. Once the cut-off length is determined,
lock the fence and use the miter gauge to feed the
workpiece into the blade.
Always position the cut-off gauge in
front of the saw blade.
JIGS
Jigs may be created with a variety of special set-ups
to control particular workpiece shapes for particular
cuts. Guidance on how to make specialized jigs can
be found in woodworking and carpentry websites and
publications.
1. Select a solid piece of lumber approximately
¾-inch thick, 2 ½-inches wide and 12-inches long.
2. Mark the center width on one end of stock. Miter
width to 70° (see miter cut section for information
on miter cuts).
3. Set rip fence to allow approximately a 1/4-inch
“finger” to be cut in the stock.
4. Feed stock only to mark previously made at 6
inches.
5. Turn saw off and allow blade to completely stop
rotating before removing stock.
6. Reset rip fence and cut spaced rips into
workpiece to allow approximately 1/4-inch fingers
and 1/8-inch spaces between fingers.
4.5”
3/4”
1/8”
1/4”
70º
12”
A
3/4”
Do not attempt to create or use a jig
unless you are thoroughly familiar with
table saw safety. Do not use any jig that could result
in pinching a kerf or jamming the workpiece between
the jig and the blade. Incorrect setups may cause
kickback which could result in serious injury.