Foam-Finger Featherboard
The FeatherPro locks into a miter slot to provide just the right amount of pressure needed to prevent kickback.
The first time I saw the FeatherPro featherboard in an advertisement, I went to their website and forked over the $30 without a moment of hesitation. I had homemade wooden featherboards and plastic featherboards, but knew immediately that this one was going to be more convenient and would offer better protection against kickback.
The heart of this plastic tool is a removable hardened-foam insert. Fingers cut into the foam create what the manufacturer refers to as a “living hinge” setup. This means in normal operation, the foam fingers easily flex out of the way as you push a board through the cut, but prevent the board from moving backward, essentially eliminating the chance of dangerous kickback. The FeatherPro is also quick and easy to set and adjust, which means it’s more likely to actually be used. I’ve been using the standard foam insert, but lighter-weight foam inserts are also available for more delicate cuts, and everything is replaceable, interchangeable, and reversible to accommodate cuts in either direction.
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