Featherboard; How To Make A Featherboard; How To Mount A Featherboard - Craftsman 315.218061 Operator's Manual

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 and locked in place on the
table with a C-clamp. Test to ensure it can resist kickback.
,_ WARNING: Place the featherboard against the
uncut portion of the workpiece to avoid kickback that
could cause serious personal injury.
HOW TO MAKE A FEATHERBOARD
See Figure 17.
The featherboard is an excellent project for the saw.
Select a solid piece of lumber approximately 3/4 in.
thick, 3-5/8 in. wide and 18 in. 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 30 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.
Prepare the saw for ripping as discussed on page 29.
Set the rip fence to allow approximately a 1/4 in. "fin-
ger" to be cut in the stock. Feed the stock only to the
mark previously made at 6 in. Turn the saw OFF ( O )
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.
HOW TO MOUNT A FEATHERBOARD
See Figure 18.
Remove the adjusting clamp knob, bolt, and washer from
the miter fence holder. Place the bolt through one of the
holes 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.
_1_ WARNING: Do not locate the featherboard to
the rear of the workpiece. If positioned improperly,
kickback can result from the featherboard pinching
the workpiece and binding the blade in the saw kerf.
Failure to heed this warning can result in serious
personal injury.
PUSH BLOCK
FEATHERBOARD
PUSH STICK
II
3-5/8 in.
I
B
3/4 in.
_12 in.
--18 in.
Fig. 17
21