Featherboards 

The primary purpose of a featherboard in woodworking is to enhance both safety and accuracy during the use of power tools. It achieves this by applying consistent pressure to keep the workpiece firmly against the machine's fence or table, minimising the chance of kickback and ensuring the material is fed straight during cuts. This helps achieve cleaner, more precise cuts and significantly reduces the risk of accidents.

Featherboards enhance safety by keeping the workpiece securely against the fence or table, preventing kickback—a common and dangerous occurrence with machines. They also improve accuracy by maintaining steady pressure on the material, ensuring it feeds through the tool along a consistent path. This steady guidance helps achieve uniform cuts and significantly reduces the likelihood of the workpiece shifting, which could lead to inaccurate cuts or injuries.

To set up a featherboard effectively:

1. Position it before the blade or cutter to apply pressure towards the fence, ensuring it does not impede the forward motion of the workpiece.
2. Adjust the featherboard so its fingers lightly touch the material, providing enough pressure to maintain control without hindering movement.
3. Ensure it's locked securely in place by clamps or a track system to prevent shifting during operation.

Featherboards come in various designs, including horizontal and vertical orientations, to suit different tools and applications. Some featherboards are designed to be stacked, enhancing their adaptability and height for thicker materials. This versatility allows woodworkers to use them across various machinery and for tasks requiring specific pressure distribution or support, making them a flexible aid in the workshop.

Featherboards are commonly made from plastic, wood, foam, or composite materials. Plastic featherboards are durable, flexible, and resistant to wear, making them a popular choice. Wooden featherboards, while traditional, require more maintenance to prevent warping. Foam and composite materials offer a balance between durability and flexibility. The choice often depends on personal preference, the specific application, and the desired durability.

Adjusting the tension or pressure of a featherboard involves positioning its fingers to apply enough pressure to hold the workpiece firmly against the machine's guide without hindering its movement. This can typically be achieved by sliding the featherboard closer to or further from the workpiece until the desired pressure is reached, then locking it in place. The goal is to achieve secure support without compromising the ease of feeding the material through the tool.

Featherboards can be used with nearly all types of power saws and woodworking machines, including table saws, router tables, and band saws, enhancing safety and accuracy. They are not needed for hand sawing due to the different mechanics involved. When using a track-mounted featherboard, ensuring compatibility with the track size for secure mounting is essential.

A dual or multi-stack featherboard setup increases the contact area with the workpiece, providing enhanced stability and control, especially for taller or wider materials. This setup allows for adjustable pressure at multiple points, improving safety and accuracy for a variety of cuts. It's particularly beneficial when working with large, unwieldy pieces or when performing complex cuts that require extra support.

Maintaining a featherboard involves regular cleaning to remove sawdust and debris that could impede its function. It should also be stored in a dry, cool place to prevent material degradation with regular inspection for signs of wear or damage, especially in the fingers, and replace it if it becomes warped or the fingers are broken.

Magnetic featherboards offer the convenience of quick setup and adjustment without the need for track mounting or compatibility checking, as they can magnetise directly to the metal surfaces of machines like table saws. This feature allows for greater flexibility in positioning and can be easily customised with additional magnetic accessories, such as risers, to accommodate various material sizes and shapes. Their ease of use and adjustability make them versatile for many woodworking projects.