A typical table saw comes with various safety features. Sometimes additional safety and operational equipment can be added by removing an existing one. One such piece of equipment is a featherboard. Featherboard is used to apply pressure on a wood piece, keeping it steady and giving you accurate results. It also prevents you from kickback and enhances the overall work experience.
In this article, we are going to learn how to use a feather board with a table saw.
How to Use a Featherboard With a Table Saw
Featherboards come in different shapes and sizes. The design difference is made to give you different cuts, but a featherboard is mostly used when you need straight cuts (rip cutting).
Installing a Featherboard – First of all, you need to buy a featherboard if it doesn’t come with the table saw. If you are purchasing an after-market featherboard, make sure it fits on the miter gauge slots. You can do this by measuring the miter gauge slots and then buying a specific featherboard.
Positioning the Stock – To position the stock with a featherboad, lower the blade and place the workpiece on the table. Now press the featherboad against the stock and tighten the locks on the featherboard. It is better to do a dry run with the blade still down. The sheet will move forward without any hassles, but it won’t come back easily.
Making the Cut – Once everything is checked, raise the blade, turn it on and make your cut. If you are using small pieces for cutting, remember to use a push stick. Make sure you follow all the safety measures and wear eye and hearing protection all the time while working with a table saw. Make sure there are no kids around while working with the blades.