CUTTING AIDS AND ACCESSORIES
PUSH BLOCK
Push blocks are blocks used to securely hold down the
workpiece against the table. They include some gripping
surface or handle to hold the block. Any screws running
through the underside of the block to fasten the handle should
be recessed in order to avoid contact with the workpiece.
1.
Select a piece of wood about 4-inches wide, 6-inches
long and 1- to 2-inches thick (a cutoff from a 2 by 4
makes a good blank for a push block).
2.
Drill a hole in the block and glue in a dowel to use as
a handle (you can angle the hole to provide a more
comfortable grip on the handle).
3.
Glue a piece of rough or soft material such as
sandpaper or rubber to the bottom of the block to grip
the workpiece (old mouse pads work well). (Fig. 22).
FEATHERBOARD
Featherboards are used to keep the workpiece in contact
with the fence and table (Fig. 23), 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. Clamping a featherboard in front of the blade can
increase safety during non-through cuts, like grooving and
rabbeting, and through cuts.
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
(Fig. 32). Make your featherboard from a straight piece of
3 / 4
3 / 4
i n .
i n .
Figure 23A
22
Figure 22
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.
1.
Select a solid piece of lumber approximately
thick, 2
/
-inches wide and 12-inches long.
1
2
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 �-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 �-inch fingers and
between fingers.
PUSH BLOCK
PUSH BLOCK
/
-inch
3
4
/
-inch spaces
1
8
PUSH STICK
PUSH STICK
FEATHER BOARD
FEATHER BOARD
Figure 23B