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Table Saw Tips and Tricks-Cont'd
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Use featherboards for an extra set of hands
When it’s tough to keep a board aligned with the fence, pull out a featherboard for smooth, straight cuts. Featherboards have a series of wooden “fingers” that hold wood tightly against the saw fence. The fingers are slightly flexible and cut at an angle, so they allow you to push the wood through while maintaining firm, even pressure. They also dig in and hold wood in place if it starts to kick back. They’re a great “third hand” when you want the perfect rip. Just push the featherboard firmly against the piece of wood 1 to 3 in. before the saw blade, then clamp it tightly to the saw table. It should be fairly easy to push the wood forward but hard to pull it back. And when you’re ripping large boards, add a second clamp for extra-firm pressure.
Set up simple outfeed support
Trying to rip the last few feet of a long board without a helper or support at the other end is virtually impossible. An expensive roller support can solve the problem. But if you don't have one, set up a temporary outfeed support with clamps, two 2x4s and plywood. The 2x4s clamped to the saw table keep the plywood perfectly in line with the table surface. The boards you're cutting will slide onto the support without getting stuck.
Add a fence to the miter gauge for smoother crosscuts
The narrow width of most miter gauges offers poor support when you’re crosscutting, especially when you’re cutting at an angle. For better support, screw a wood fence to the miter gauge. (Most gauges have holes for this purpose.) Use a straight 1x3 or 1x4, and make it high enough so that the blade won’t cut it completely off. Then it’s easy to add a removable stop block for making multiple cuts or change the angle and make miter cuts with the same fence. However, always double-check the accuracy of the miter gauge with a square or protractor before making any cuts.
Clamp on a long fence for long boards
Keeping a long, heavy board or a full sheet of plywood tight against a short fence is a challenge, especially when you work alone. It's all too easy for the wood to wander away from the fence, ruining the cut or causing the blade to bind and leave burn marks along the edge. To avoid these problems, clamp a long level or a long, straight board to the fence. The longer the fence, the easier it is to keep the wood firmly against it.
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