Router Table Feather Boards, Which Ones Are Best?

[richard poitras]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XRZUPHaLL._AA160_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/JessEm-4016-Feather-Board-Double/dp/B002GJUWS8/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1344726826&sr=1-2&keywords=feather+boards).<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>.http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51duxfwdAuL._AA160_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/Variable-Pressure-Featherboards-Pair-Woodpeckers/dp/B005GLX7EO/ref=sr_1_9?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1344726826&sr=1-9&keywords=feather+boards)

JessEm 4016 Feather Board Double ___________________Woodpeckers VPFB


What brands are you guys using for feather boards on your router tables? I am reviewing these two and are on top of my list. Does anyone have these or have used them and what are your thoughts? Also I was wondering how well they work on an Incra router table fence system? Or are there better ones to use?

Thanks Richard

[Bill Huber]

I have 4 of the Jessems and really love them, I use them on the router table, table saw and band saw. The thing I really like is the way you set them up, place it and tighten two knobs then push the feather boards in and lock them down with two different knows, this make for a much better setup then some and you can stack them.

There is a mod I did to them, I cut the ends out so you can pull them out and flip them for where you are using them. If there are on the fence the feather go one way and if it is on the table they go another. So now if I need to switch them I just loosen the 2 knobs pull the feather board out and flip it over and put it back. With out cutting out the ends you have to take the thing apart flip it and then put it back together, kind of a pain.

238899

[richard poitras]

Bill, thank you for the recommendation and the tip of cutting them for faster usage. Does the one shorter set up finger work as good as the manufacture say’s when setting them up? (First one in the line) Or do you still have to adjust more to your board size?

Thanks Richard

Here are videos of both to review…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mD3BBUkfDAM


http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DE0ciKn1a920&sa=U&ei=25wnUMSjCuW-6QHEv4GQDA&ved=0CB4QtwIwAw&sig2=fNIzwzzaPUCWf4uWmi2vRw&usg=AFQjCNHo1umCuoPHtxCdxD4z4dhy1mfxpQ


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[Bill Huber]

Does the one shorter set up finger work as good as the manufacture say’s when setting them up? (First one in the line) Or do you still have to adjust more to your board size?

The shorter finger does make it easier to set up but it is not quick as good as they show, it will cock a little if you are not watching it. I normally just set them with the board thickness, just drop them on the board and then apply a little pressure to the fit you want.

On the band saw I will stack 2 together when I am doing any resawing, this holds the wood against the fence very well. For normal use I have 2 set for the top and 2 set for the bottom, which is also good for the table saw.

I really don't know that much about the Woodpecker, he makes some really good stuff but then so does Jessem.

I had Bench Dog and a mag mount for the table saw but setting them up was what I didn't like, just had to fiddle with them to get them right.

[Prashun Patel]

Bill, great tip. I hated that at my rocker fbs. I'm going to modify them similarly...

[scott vroom]

I gave up on trying to get featherboards to hold my stock flat and against the fence. No matter how tight I set them, I still got too many defects on my profiles from the stock "jumping" from vibration etc.

I now use 2 push blocks and rarely have a problem. A power feeder would be even better but I'm holding off until I buy a shaper (soon).

[Jim Andrew]

My first router table was a craftsman, with the plastic featherboards. Found the plastic ones lacking, and used them as a pattern to cut some out of ash. Turned the grain to parallel the "fingers". Much stiffer, still use them. Gave the cman router table to my nephew.

[Lori Kleinberg]

I use the benchdog brand of featherboards. They work really well on the router table and the table saw.

[Mike Shields]

I bought the Jessems for my Jessem table. I'm glad I got them on sale, as they don't come across as anything really fantastic, IMO.
Maybe it's the type of plastic they use, not really sure.

Try them out at a store, before purchase, if you can.

[Jeff Duncan]

You mean people buy feather boards:confused:....I guess I shouldn't be surprised with all the gadget stuff sold these days!

I make them out of whatever scrap is luying around....takes all of maybe 5 minutes to make a small one and maybe a little longer for a bigger one, and they're made to the tension needed for the project. Try making one and I bet you'll never spend money on one again;)

good luck,
JeffD