Originally Posted by
William Hodge
I make multiples that can run into the hundreds on a regular basis. Stock feeders make everything quicker, safer, and more accurate than hand feeding.
The mini feeders are great. I have had one since 1998, and it's still running. I use it on a 1 1/4" spindle 5 hp shaper. I have a regular stock feeder for big stuff.
On a saw, I use the mini feeder for running rabbets on a dado blade and ripping moldings off wider boards. I have a bigger feeder on a 14" saw for ripping rough lumber.
The good thing about a feeder on a saw is that one can stand on the side of the saw to feed it, and reach the pieces as they come out. You can feed and catch at the same time. There is no need to walk around the saw, or reach over the blade. The feeder makes a great guard.
Mount the feeder with the hexagonal arm in line with the saw arbor. This will give you the greatest reach.
To set the feeder up, put a 1/4" piece of plywood on a wok piece, and set the feeder body on it. Toe the wheels in 1/4" to the fence. This will set adequate downward pressure. When ripping, the blade can sit between the first and second wheels to allow for ripps as narrow as 1/4", if no one is behind the saw.
Remove the wheel guard and jam the crevice tool of a shop vac between the first and second wheels. Clean pitch off the wheels with isopropyl alcohol.
Where do you mount the feeder on a cabinet saw that doesn't reduce the width of a board you can run through it? My router table already cuts down my space to the right of the blade to less than 30". I would think a feeder would cut this down even more. Am I missing something here.
Am I'm with Tom. Land them in a cardboard box and get on with it. I've made plenty of elaborate shop devices / jigs. They look great, but rarely worth the effort and especially time.
- After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
- It's above my pay grade. Mongo only pawn in game of life.