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OPERATION
FEATHERBOARD
A featherboard is a device used to help control the workpiece
by guiding it securely against the table or fence. Featherboards
are especially useful when ripping small workpieces and for
completing non-through cuts. The end is angled, with a
number of short kerfs to give a friction hold on the workpiece.
Lock it in place on the table with a C-clamp. Test that it could
resist kickback.
WARNING:
Place the featherboard against the uncut portion of the
workpiece, to avoid kickback that could cause serious
personal injury.
HOW TO MAKE A FEATHERBOARD
See Figure 24.
The featherboard is an excellent project for your BT3100
K
.
Select a solid piece of
timber
approximately
19mm
thick,
92mm
wide and
457mm
long. Mark the centr
e
of the width on one
end of the stock. Mitr
e
one-half of the width to 30
°
and mitr
e
the other half of the same end to 45
°
. See page 28 for
information
on mitr
e
cuts. Mark the board from the point at
152mm
,
203mm
,
254mm
and
305mm
. Drill a
10mm
. hole at
the 203mm, 254mm
and
305mm
marks as indicated in figure
24. Prepare the
saw for ripping as discussed on page 28.
Set the rip fence to
allow approximately a
6mm
. "finger" to
be cut in the stock.
Feed the stock only to the mark previously
made at 153mm.
Turn the saw
OFF
and allow the blade to
completely stop
rotating before removing the stock. Reset
the rip fence and
cut spaced rips into the workpiece to allow
approximately 6mm
fingers and
3mm
spaces between the
in the featherboard. Positioning the featherboard will depend
on the placement of the bolt and the position of the sliding
mitr
e
table on the rails. Place the washer on the bolt and
attach the adjusting clamp knob, loosely. Position the
featherboard with the hex head of the bolt in the mitr
e
table
slot but do not tighten. Completely lower the saw blade.
Position the rip fence to the desired adjustment for the cut to
be performed and lock. Place the workpiece against the
fence and over the saw blade area. Adjust the featherboard
to apply resistance to the workpiece just forward of the blade.
Securely tighten the adjusting clamp knob to secure the
featherboard in place. Attach a C-clamp to further secure the
featherboard to the edge of the Sliding Mitr
e
Table.
WARNING:
DO NOT locate the featherboard to the rear of the
workpiece. Kickback can result from the featherboard
pinching the workpiece and binding the blade in the saw
kerf if positioned improperly. Failure to heed this warning
can result in serious personal injury.
HOW TO MOUNT A FEATHERBOARD
Remove the adjusting clamp knob, bolt and washer from the
Mitr
e
Fence Holder. Place the bolt through one of the holes
fingers.
PUSH BLOCK
Fig. 23
“C” CLAMP
FEATHERBOARD
PUSH STICK
BEVEL LOCKING LEVER
Fig. 24
10mm DAMETER
3mm
6mm
30
0
45
0
46mm
152mm
203mm
254mm
305mm
457mm
19mm
92mm
