Beefy jointer featherboard adds a helpful hand

When jointing long or wide boards I find it difficult to keep the board tight against the fence and solidly against the bed. To solve this, I added a shop-made featherboard to hold the workpiece tight against the fence.

The featherboard sits on top of a 2×4 block bolted into holes drilled through the edge of the bed. Two ³⁄₄ "-thick braces, miter-cut to 45° and nailed to the top of the block, keep the featherboard from pivoting.

I mounted the featherboard with a long bolt and a knob through a slot. Finally, I radiused the end of the featherboard so my shop apron won't catch on it while I'm jointing.
—Bill LaPrade, Westboro, Mass.