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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    Default Something better than a featherboard?

    I am setting up a band saw to cut veneers. So far so good.

    One of the final issues is keeping the work piece pressed firmly against the fence as the cut is made, especially when cutting wide veneers (200 -350 mm).

    The ideal solution is a power feeder, but that is a bit pricey for me. Thought about featherboards, but although feasible I will need to apply pressure at the top and bottom of the board to keep it pressed firmly against the fence.

    Another wild and as yet unsupported idea was to make up something with rubber wheels or rollers that could be clamped in position with the right pressure against the wood. I am happy to push the work piece through if the wheels/rollers/featherboards will hold the work piece firmly against the fence. Here is one "off the shelf" option ... Magswitch® Attachment Risers : CARBA-TEC

    Seems someone must have conquered this problem already. Can anyone provide guidance and/or experience?

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Canberra
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    Default

    John

    I've got the magswitch stuff - it is pretty cool and extremely versatile. The feather board is great on the tablesaw - it literally takes 2 seconds to attach/reposition/remove. Plus is sticks to the side of my TS cabinet.

    I'm not totally sold on it for resawing. I don't do much resawing but I think there would be too much flex in the plastic of the magswitch to give you confidence that it's giving equal pressure at the top and bottom. Also, I don't think it would be anywhere near high enough if you are resawing 300mm.

    Magswitch also have a roller guide which would be better. http://www.magswitch.com.au/workhold...ttachment.html. I've actually got it, but never used it, so I'd be happy to put it together and give it a go if you'd like some real feedback. From what I understand though, it might be more of a fence replacement than a feather board.

    Sorry I can't help more.

    Trav
    Some days we are the flies; some days we are the windscreen

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Brisbane (Chermside)
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Trav View Post
    John

    I've got the magswitch stuff - it is pretty cool and extremely versatile. The feather board is great on the tablesaw - it literally takes 2 seconds to attach/reposition/remove. Plus is sticks to the side of my TS cabinet.

    I'm not totally sold on it for resawing. I don't do much resawing but I think there would be too much flex in the plastic of the magswitch to give you confidence that it's giving equal pressure at the top and bottom. Also, I don't think it would be anywhere near high enough if you are resawing 300mm.

    Magswitch also have a roller guide which would be better. Dual Roller Guide Attachment : Magswitch - Magswitch. I've actually got it, but never used it, so I'd be happy to put it together and give it a go if you'd like some real feedback. From what I understand though, it might be more of a fence replacement than a feather board.

    Sorry I can't help more.

    Trav
    Thanks, Trav.

    The more I think about it the more I like the idea of a couple of rollers/wheels that press the work piece against the fence.

    Am playing with the idea of pneumatic wheels. That way I might be able to use air pressure in the tyre to set the amount of pressure on the fence and don't need to fiddle with springs.

    Cheerio!

    John

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Drouin Vic.
    Posts
    166

    Smile Something Better than a Featherboard

    Hi John,
    I have two bandsaws with the larger 20" one set up for resawing. I made up a wooden presser board using several polyurethane wheels that are sold by Lee Valley in the USA for this purpose. They are similar to roller blade wheels and I also fitted quite a few magnets into the underside of the board to hold it down. Two other points points;1-Fence system- I fitted a Kreg unit and then added a large additional hardwood piece onto the arm for resawing 250-300mmboards. The original fence systems are not that good and this one has been in constant use for over a year. 2-Blades -Good blades make a huge difference and I have found after a lot of trials that Henry Bros in Sydney have high quality to suit all applications.
    Cheers,
    Paintman

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