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SHOP-MADE SAFETY ACCESSORIES

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).
A
B
30°
2"-3"
1/16"-1/8"
Kerf
1/16"-1/8"
Kerf
2"-3"
10" (Minimum)
Initial Cut
Progressively
Longer Cuts
3/8"
3/8"
Figure 63. Patterns for making
featherboards.
Only Steps 1–3 are required to make a
clamp-mounte d featherboard. Refer to
Page 46 for instructions on clamping
the featherboard to the table.