Ryobi BT3100 manual HOW to Make a Featherboard, HOW to Mount a Featherboard

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.

in the featherboard. Positioning the featherboard will depend on the placement of the bolt and the position of the sliding miter 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 miter 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 Miter Table.

WARNING:

HOW TO MAKE A FEATHERBOARD

See Figure 24.

The featherboard is an excellent project for your BT3100. Select a solid piece of lumber approximately 3/4 in. thick, 3-5/8 in. wide and 18 inches long. Mark the center of the width on one end of the stock. Miter one-half of the width to 30° and miter the other half of the same end to 45°. See page 28 for information on miter cuts. Mark the board from the point at 6 in., 8 in., 10 in. and 12 in. Drill a 3/8 in. hole at the 8 in., 10 in., and 12 in. marks as indicated in figure 24. Prepare the saw for ripping as discussed on page 28. Set the rip fence to allow approximately a 1/4 in. "finger" to be cut in the stock. Feed the stock only to the mark previously made at 6 inches. 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 1/4 in. fingers and 1/8 in. spaces between the fingers.

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.

FEATHERBOARD

PUSH STICK

HOW TO MOUNT A FEATHERBOARD	“C” CLAMP	BEVEL LOCKING LEVER
Remove the adjusting clamp knob, bolt and washer from the		PUSH BLOCK
		Fig. 23
Miter Fence Holder. Place the bolt through one of the holes

	3/8 INCH DIAMETER
		30°
3-5/8 in.	1/4 in.
		45° 1-13/16 in.
3/4 in.	1/8 in.	6 in.
		8 in.
	10 in.
	12 in.
	18 in.
		Fig. 24
	Page 23