Replies

1. 
   Manny | Jan 05, 2006 02:20am | #1

   Charnwood,

   I have those and for cutting sheet stock are great. They really hold it down to the table and close to the fence. You cannot use them to close to the fence and they way I mount them on my unifence are on a track placed on top of a thick maple board attached to my fence.

   Hope that helps, I don't use them all the time, but I just finish some closets, and used them well.

   Manny

2. 
   John_D | Jan 05, 2006 03:48am | #2

   No extra cost to have both, as feather boards are very easy to make.  I've found horizontal feather boards very useful in keeping stock tight against the fence, especially thin pieces I'm trimming to width that there's no safe way to keep in place without fingers too close for comfort to the blade.  Even if I had board buddies, I'd still use horizontal feather boards.

   If you've not read it, I'd very strongly recommend Jim Tolpin's "Table Saw Magic", which has a lot of really useful information on these topics.

   My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
1. 
   charnwood123 | Jan 05, 2006 11:06pm | #4

   Thankyou to everyone who has replied 

   Further I have read Table Saw Magic by Jim Toplin and I agree with John D the book is well written and a good source of practical advice

    

   regards Charnwood

3. 
   muleboy | Jan 05, 2006 09:30am | #3

   I have been using mine for about 3 years.    They work well.   there are some situations that they cant cover but over all I am pleased with them.

   They can help alot when making trim work with a router table.   they can be set to hold an unusually shaped piece against a fence.   Tehy take some time to get used to but I would say it was worth the investment.   They can be removed and re-installed easily is you leave the little brackets attached to the fence.

    

   Muleboy.

    

4. 
   Glaucon | Jan 05, 2006 11:57pm | #5

   I've not used them on my TS, but on my RAS, where they work very well.  They are good enough to rip with on a RAS, so that's something.

   Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

5. 
   RickL | Jan 06, 2006 04:08pm | #6

   Waste of money in my opinion. A friend bought some years ago and used them once. Once you get some experience with a table saw you won't need them or feather boards for most operations.  A good book on tools is typically a better investment than a lot of  gadgets.

1. 
   adastra | Jan 07, 2006 05:48pm | #8

   If your friend still has his and isn't using, could you put me in touch?I wouldn't mind having them on my router table for making small trim.Thanks.

1. 
   RickL | Jan 08, 2006 12:01am | #9

   Feather boards are much better or the Gripper perhaps.

6. 
   Pondfish | Jan 07, 2006 05:06pm | #7

   I use mine for most all ripping operations; if the stock is already at a single width I will use them AND a featherboard.  When the stock tapers significantly (or is otherwise irregular), a featherboard won't work but the board buddies will.

   Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
7. 
   mudman | Jan 08, 2006 12:16am | #10

   They were a necessity when I had a contractors saw, now I have a Unisaw with an acre of outfeed/side tables and still use it, though not as often. I process a lot of panels and they really help when working large pieces. They also help a lot when cutting laminate sheets and thin ply.

   Mike

1. 
   charnwood123 | Jan 08, 2006 05:31pm | #11

   Thank you to everyone for your replies

   The conclusion I have reached is Jim Toplin,s Book Table Saw Magic is well written and gives sound practical advice Therefore  if Mr. Toplin finds them useful they are probably worth a try

   regards Charnwood

    

    

1. 
   Dunwright | Jan 08, 2006 09:03pm | #12

   I have been extremely pleased with the Board Buddies for the past 15 years. The only downside I am aware of is that the fence needs to be of the style that locks down at the outfeed end as well. I am not sure they would work with the Beis. type aftermarket fences that secure at the infeed end only.
   Mine are mounted on an Excalibur fence that has a pair of "T" slots atop and running the entire 45" length.
   The BBs slide and adjust S/S in their supplied base plate. Clamping the base to a fence with "T" slots affords another dimension of adjustability. Add to this the U/D setting; and you have quite a versatile system.
   On my setup, the "Near" wheel is positioned 2"-3" before the blade, with the "Far" wheel set 1" after the throat plate.
   The "control range" I have noticed is 1/4" W x 1/8" Th. strips through 3" thickness. I particularly appreciate the simultaneous "Hold-In and Hold-Down" help when ripping sheet goods. The "downward" spring tension is adjustable to a point, strong enough, that fearing a spoiled 1st cut in a Melamine sheet, is no longer an issue. I suppose an additional clamp could be added to the outfeed end of a "Tube Only" clamping model fence.Arlington, Texas (The dash in Dallas-Fort Worth)
   Practice...'till you can do it right the first time.

8. 
   mike4244 | Jan 10, 2006 01:43am | #13

   A short answer,yes they are worth it. I also have a powerfeed, for one off operations I use the board buddies when ripping and dadoing.

   mike