Delta 36-5100 T2 - Grooving and Rabbeting; Featherboard

FEATHERBOARD
Featherboards are used to KEEP the work in contact with the
fence and table as in Figure 58, and help prevent kickback.
Featherboards are especially useful when ripping thin 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 c-clamps. Clamping a
featherboard in front of the blade can increase safety during non-
through cuts, like grooving and rabbeting, and through cuts.
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
20° (see miter cut section for information on miter cuts).
3. Set rip fence to allow approximately a 1/4 inch “nger” to
be cut in the stock.
4. Feed stock ONLY to mark previously made at 6 inches.
5. Turn saw o 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 ngers and 1/8 inch spaces
between ngers.
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
57. 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.
Figure 57 Figure 58
GROOVING AND RABBETING
Clamping a featherboard in front of the blade can increase safety during non-through cuts, like grooving and rabbeting, and through cuts.
Use a featherboard to guide the workpiece against the table and fence when making non-through cuts such as rabbeting. A featherboard
helps prevent kickback.
CUTTING AIDS AND ACCESSORIES
3/4 in.3/4 in.
12 in.12 in.
20˚20˚
2 1/2 in.2 1/2 in.
1/4 in.1/4 in.
1/8 in.1/8 in.
PUSH BLOCK PUSH BLOCK
FEATHER BOARD FEATHER BOARD
PUSH STICK PUSH STICK
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