FIGURE 53
FIGURE 54
FIGURE 55
CUTTING AIDS AND ACCESSORIES
FEATHERBOARD
Featherboards are used to keep the workpiece in contact with
the fence and table (see Figure 54), and help prevent kickback.
Featherboards are especially useful when ripping narrow 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-clamps.
1.
Select a solid piece of lumber approximately 3/4 inch thick,
2 1/2 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.
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
53. 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. Clamping a featherboard in front of the blade can
increase safety during non-through cuts and through cuts.
CUT OFF GAUGE
When crosscutting a number of pieces to the same length, you can
clamp a block of wood
A
, in Figure 55, to the fence and use it as
a cut-off gauge. The block
A
must be at least 3/4 inch (19mm)
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.
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.
PUSH BLOCK
PUSH BLOCK
FEATHER BOARD
FEATHER BOARD
PUSH STICK
PUSH STICK
A
3/4 in.
3/4 in.
12 in.
12 in.
70˚
70˚
2 1/2 in.
2 1/2 in.
1/4 in.
1/4 in.
1/8 in.
1/8 in.
20°
35
