Featherboard - Craftsman 315.218291 Operator's Manual

FEATHERBOARD
A featherboard is a device used to help control the
workpiece by holding 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.
HOW TO MAKE A FEATHERBOARD
See Figure 32.
The featherboard is an excellent project for the saw.
Select a solid piece of lumber approximately 3/4 in. thick,
2-1/2 in. wide and 12 in. long. Mark the center of the
width on one end of the stock. Miter the width to 70 ° (see
Making a Rip Cutfor information on miter cuts).
Prepare the saw for ripping as discussed in Making a Rip
Cut. 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 in. Turn the saw OFF and al-
low 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.
A
WARNING: Mount the featherboard in front of the
saw blade. 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.
FEATHERBOARD PUSH
BLOCK
PUSH
STICK
BEVEL
LOCKING
LEVER
Fig. 33
HOW TO MOUNT A FEATHERBOARD
See Figure 33,
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 C-
clamps to further secure the featherboard to the edge of
the saw table.
r I
3-5/8 in.
1__
i
3/4 in.
3/8 iNCH DIAMETER
\\
Y Y Y 1/4in _1/
,3,,°,°
45°1
1/8
in.
i
_, 6 in.
8in.
10 in.
12 in.
18 in.
Fig. 32
28