PR

Pieter Ruiter

08/01/2004 8:55 PM

Newbie - Attaching featherboards?

I'm so excited to finally have 220v for my unisaw - the first few cuts were
just amazing. Very quickly did I realize I will need some featherboards. As
easy as they are to make, attaching them to the saw's top and unifence is
less obvious - I'd like to avoid having to use clamps every time.

I found the obvious T-tracks etc that could be attached to a sacrificial
fence, or even the replacement unifence fence which has integral T-track
all over.

I'd like to keep cost low however, and the challenge of making something is
more fun than slapping (too much) money down. Has anyone made a mechanism
that clamps inside the miter groove? And what about attaching to the
unifence for downward pressure/guidance?

Regards,
Pieter


This topic has 5 replies

Bn

Bridger

in reply to Pieter Ruiter on 08/01/2004 8:55 PM

08/01/2004 6:10 PM

On Thu, 08 Jan 2004 20:55:09 GMT, Pieter Ruiter
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I'm so excited to finally have 220v for my unisaw - the first few cuts were
>just amazing. Very quickly did I realize I will need some featherboards. As
>easy as they are to make, attaching them to the saw's top and unifence is
>less obvious - I'd like to avoid having to use clamps every time.
>
>I found the obvious T-tracks etc that could be attached to a sacrificial
>fence, or even the replacement unifence fence which has integral T-track
>all over.
>
>I'd like to keep cost low however, and the challenge of making something is
>more fun than slapping (too much) money down. Has anyone made a mechanism
>that clamps inside the miter groove? And what about attaching to the
>unifence for downward pressure/guidance?
>
>Regards,
>Pieter



my table saw has t slots for the miter guage. I made a hardwood runner
that engages the t slots and has a nut recessed into the bottom of it
to recieve a knob above the table. the knob secures a dog that holds
down a featherboard. works pretty well.

I did it this way because the point loading of a sliding nut made me
nervous. prolly being anal, but it would suck to chip the t slot....
Bridger

GG

"GeeDubb"

in reply to Pieter Ruiter on 08/01/2004 8:55 PM

08/01/2004 4:42 PM

Pieter Ruiter wrote:
> I'm so excited to finally have 220v for my unisaw - the first few
> cuts were just amazing. Very quickly did I realize I will need some
> featherboards. As easy as they are to make, attaching them to the
> saw's top and unifence is less obvious - I'd like to avoid having to
> use clamps every time.
>
> I found the obvious T-tracks etc that could be attached to a
> sacrificial fence, or even the replacement unifence fence which has
> integral T-track all over.
>
> I'd like to keep cost low however, and the challenge of making
> something is more fun than slapping (too much) money down. Has anyone
> made a mechanism that clamps inside the miter groove? And what about
> attaching to the unifence for downward pressure/guidance?
>
> Regards,
> Pieter

Here's one that fits in the miter slot
http://www.woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=801-407

As for downward pressure using the unifence, make a feather board and clamp
it.

--
Gary

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to Pieter Ruiter on 08/01/2004 8:55 PM

08/01/2004 10:08 PM


"Pieter Ruiter" writes:

<snip>
> I'd like to keep cost low however, and the challenge of making something
is
> more fun than slapping (too much) money down. Has anyone made a mechanism
> that clamps inside the miter groove? And what about attaching to the
> unifence for downward pressure/guidance?

SFWIW, the following has worked for me.

Build a sacrificial fence using two (2) pieces of 3/4", 13 ply Birch that is
about 8" high, glued together which provides a 1/2" thick fence.

Why 1-1/2" thick?

Look at the Unifence calibration markings.

The space on the scale between the "inside" "outside" markings is 1-1/2".

Makes a no brainer out of setting the fence.

Installed a piece of 3/4" miter track about 5"-6" from the bottom edge of
the sacrificial fence the full length of the fence.

Bought a couple of ready made feather boards complete with knob and 3'4"
aluminum stock that slides in miter track.

At less than $5 apiece, it wasn't worth my time to make something.

Works for me.

YMMV


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures

PR

Pieter Ruiter

in reply to Pieter Ruiter on 08/01/2004 8:55 PM

09/01/2004 8:43 PM

exactly what I needed! Thanks a lot Bill. The slider design is where I was
confused - but not anymore ;-))

Pieter


"Pounds on Wood" <[email protected]> wrote in news:vvtq552q3bvda5
@corp.supernews.com:

> http://www.bill.pounds.net/woodshop

Po

"Pounds on Wood"

in reply to Pieter Ruiter on 08/01/2004 8:55 PM

09/01/2004 9:45 AM

I have a free plan for this on my site. Link below.

--
Bill Pounds
http://www.bill.pounds.net/woodshop


"Pieter Ruiter" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm so excited to finally have 220v for my unisaw - the first few cuts
were
> just amazing. Very quickly did I realize I will need some featherboards.
As
> easy as they are to make, attaching them to the saw's top and unifence is
> less obvious - I'd like to avoid having to use clamps every time.
>
> I found the obvious T-tracks etc that could be attached to a sacrificial
> fence, or even the replacement unifence fence which has integral T-track
> all over.
>
> I'd like to keep cost low however, and the challenge of making something
is
> more fun than slapping (too much) money down. Has anyone made a mechanism
> that clamps inside the miter groove? And what about attaching to the
> unifence for downward pressure/guidance?
>
> Regards,
> Pieter


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