Woodstock W1824 manual SHOP-MADE Safety Accessories, Featherboards, Making a Featherboard

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SHOP-MADE SAFETY ACCESSORIES

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Featherboards

Easily made from scrap stock, featherboards provide an added degree of protection against kickback, especially when used together with push sticks. They also maintain pressure on the workpiece to keep it against the fence or table while cutting, which makes the operation easier and safer because the cut can be completed without the operator’s hands getting near the blade. The angled ends and flexibility of the fingers allow the workpiece to move in only one direction.

Making a Featherboard
This sub-section covers the two basic types of
featherboards: 1) Those secured by clamps, or 2) those
secured with the miter slot.
Material Needed for Featherboard:
Hardwood 3⁄4" x 3" x 10" (Minimum)	1
Hardwood 3⁄4" x 6" x 28" (Maximum)	1

Additional Material Needed for Mounting Featherboard:

Hardwood 3⁄8" x (Miter Slot Width) x 5"L	...................1
Wing Nut 1⁄4"-20	1
Flat Head Screw 1⁄4"-20 x 2"	1
Flat Washer 1⁄4"-20	1

To make a featherboard, do these steps:

1.Cut a hardwood board that is approximately 3⁄4" thick to size. The length and width of the board can vary according to your design. Most featherboards are 10"–28" long and 3"–6" wide. Make sure the wood grain runs parallel with the length of the featherboard, so the fingers you will create in Step 3 will bend without breaking.

2.Cut a 30º angle at one end of the board.

3.Make a series of end cuts with the grain 3⁄8"–1⁄4" apart and 2"–3" long, as shown in Figure 63

(A). Alternatively, start cuts at 2"–3" deep, then make them progressively deeper, as shown in Figure 63 (B).

Cuts made across the grain result in weak fingers that easily break when flexed. When made correctly, the fingers should withstand flexing from moderate pressure. To test the finger flexibility, push firmly on the ends with your thumb. If the fingers do not flex, they are likely too thick (the cuts are too far apart).

10" (Minimum)
	30°
3/8"	Kerf
A	1/16"-1/8"
	2"-3"
	Initial Cut
2"-3"	Kerf
3/8"	1/16"-1/8"
B	Progressively
	Longer Cuts

Figure 63. Patterns for making

featherboards.

Only Steps 1–3are required to make a clamp-mounted featherboard. Refer to Page 46 for instructions on clamping the featherboard to the table.

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