91 - Planer Stand, страница 15
Magnetic: Grip-Tite FeatherboardUnlike most commercial featherboards, the Grip-Tite ($39.50) shown at right doesn't require a miter gauge slot or T-track to secure it in place. Instead, it uses a powerful magnet built into the base. To hold the workpiece against a fence, the Grip-Tite uses flexible wings to serve as the fingers. And a hold-down that slides through the handle keeps the workpiece flat on the table. Finally, when you need to remove the Grip-Tite, all you have to do is simply twist the release lever on the rear of the body. Adjustment Knob — Lead finger is shorter than others for easy setup photo at the bottom of the opposite page. It features cleats that fit into any standard miter gauge slot. Turning the knobs expands the cleats, locking the featherboard in place. Plus, the longer adjustment slots provide for a wider range of uses. Feather-Loc. For the "ultimate" featherboard, check out the heavy-duty Feather-Loc ($25) by Bench Dog (far right photo). A simple version of this featherboard uses hex bolts to secure it in a T-track and another model features an adapter that you can use in your miter gauge slot. You can see both in the main photo. All it takes is a quick twist of the knobs for a secure lock. And if you need support for a tall workpiece, you'll A Double-Decker. Feather-Locs can be combined to provide support for tall stock. Cleat miter gauge slot find the "stacked" setup shown above to be the perfect choice. But the feature I like best is the lead "finger," which is a hair shorter than the others. When setting up the featherboard, place the work-piece against the fence and then ▲ Double-Duty. This hardwood featherboard combines sideways pressure on the workpiece with an aluminum "thumb" to hold the workpiece securely against the saw table. adjust the featherboard so the short finger just touches the workpiece. After you tighten it down and start pushing the workpiece through, the remaining fingers are in perfect position to apply just the right pressure to hold the workpiece. Other Options. Take a look at the photo at left and you'll see a featherboard ($12, Lee Valley) that uses a built-in aluminum "thumb" to hold the workpiece flat against the table while a set of hardwood fingers press it tight against the rip fence. Finally, the box below features a unique featherboard that doesn't require a miter gauge slot at all. No matter what type of featherboard you choose, you'll find them all simple to use, while providing safety at a reasonable cost. And once you give them a try, I think you'll find them worth it. A Win9 Quick- Release Lever Flexible Magnet on Bottom Adjustable Hold-Down |
