Synopsis: Whether shopmade or manufactured, a featherboard is a valuable third hand that keeps workpieces tight to the fence or tabletop as they pass a blade or bit. Not only do featherboards add accuracy and consistency to cuts made on the tablesaw, router table, or bandsaw, they also help you keep your hands away from cutters and prevent kickback. Learn the basics of how to choose the right featherboard for the job and correctly position it for consistent, safe cuts.

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A woodworker’s third hand is often a featherboard —an accessory that guides workpieces through woodworking machinery. Featherboards are made of plastic or wood with thin fingers cut into an angled end. Mounted to a fence, they push a workpiece snug against the table. Mounted to a tabletop, they keep a workpiece tight against the fence. Like a hand moving over a bird’s feather, a workpiece fed past a correctly positioned…