When making rip cuts, it’s often helpful to have featherboards supporting the workpiece from both the side and top. Side support keeps the board pressed against the rip fence, and top support prevents the board from “climbing” the blade. I created a jig that incorporates both types of featherboards.
A feather-board for side support is built into the plywood base of the jig. And an adjustable arm allows you to position a featherboard above the workpiece. The base of the jig has two switchable magnets built into it, so you can position the jig anywhere on the surface of the table saw.
To make the jig, cut all the parts to size on the table saw. To accept the featherboards, there are wide, angled dadoes cut in both the base and feather-board support block. A notch on the side of the base allows the featherboard to slide in and out of the dado more easily.
Then rout slots in the faces of the arm and the two featherboards to make them adjustable.
A groove along the bottom face of the arm fits over a tongue on the top of the riser block. I formed the tongue by cutting rabbets on the top edges of the riser block. Make sure the fit of all the parts allows for smooth and easy adjustments. Once all these cuts are made, you just have to drill a few holes and add the hardware shown in the illustrations. Then you can position the jig anywhere on the table saw top, and simply “switch” on the magnets to lock it securely in place.
