Featherboard; Cut Off Gauge; Jigs - Delta 36-6022 Instruction Manual

CUTTING AIDS AND ACCESSORIES (CONTINUED)

FEATHERBOARD

Featherboards are used to keep the workpiece in contact
with the fence and table (Figure 45), and help prevent
kickback. Featherboards are especially useful when
ripping small workpieces and for completing non-through
cuts. The end is angled with a series of narrow slots to
give a friction hold on the workpiece, It is locked in place
on the table or fence with a c-clamp.
To avoid binding between the
workpiece and the blade, make sure
a horizontal feather board presses only on the uncut
portion of the workpiece in front of the blade.
Dimensions for making a typical featherboard are shown
in Figure 45 . Make your featherboard from a straight
piece of wood that is free of knots and cracks. Clamp
featherboards to the fence and/or table so that the
featherboard will hold the workpiece against the fence or
table.

CUT OFF GAUGE

When crosscutting a number of pieces to the same
length, you can clamp a block of wood (A) (See Figure 46)
to the fence and use it as a cut-off gauge. The block (A)
must be at least 3/4-inch (19 mm) thick to prevent the cut
off piece from binding between the blade and the fence.
Once the cut-off length is determined, lock the fence and
use the miter gauge to feed the workpiece into the blade.
Always position the entire cut-off
gauge in front of the saw blade.

JIGS

Jigs may be created with a variety of special set-ups
to control particular workpiece shapes for particular
cuts. Guidance on how to make specialized jigs can
be found in woodworking and carpentry websites and
publications.
1. Select a solid piece of lumber approximately 3/4-inch
thick, 2 1/2-inches wide and 12-inches long.
2. Mark the center width on one end of stock. Miter
width to 70° (see miter cut section for information on
miter cuts).
3. Set rip fence to allow approximately a 1/4-inch
"finger" to be cut in the stock.
4. Feed stock only to mark previously made at 6 inches.
5. Turn saw off and allow blade to completely stop
rotating before removing stock.
6. Reset rip fence and cut spaced rips into workpiece
to allow approximately 1/4-inch fingers and 1/8-inch
spaces between fingers.
FIGURE 45
Do not attempt to create or use a jig
unless you are thoroughly familiar with
table saw safety. Do not use any jig that could result
in pinching a kerf or jamming the workpiece between
the jig and the blade. Incorrect setups may cause
kickback which could result in serious injury.
35
FIGURE 46
A