Board Buddies

[TerryB]

What's everyone's favorite way of mounting Board Buddies to the fence of a TS3650? Do you mount them to the top of the fence only, or build an auxilliary fence as it suggests in the Board Buddies directions?

I picked up a set cheap at a garage sale and I'm open for suggestions.

Terry

[djame]

So far I've simply attached them to the fence itself, but if the tension is to great,it seems like it makes the fence harder to lock down and in some cases they literally push the fence up. I'm gearing up to make the aux fence. if you try it let us know how it works


A nuby

[cutnail]

I checked the fence on my TS3660 and I'm able to lift the saw up with out the fence coming up. I just ordered board buddies 3 days ago and I will let you know how they work on my saw.

[Rafael]

I had one of my board buddies break. The casting is garbage.

[niki]

In my opinion, the Board buddies are good only when you cut MDF, Plywood or Chipboard...In this case they keeps the workpiece against the fence and reduce the "Operator Induced Kickback"

But, if you are ripping Solid Wood that is a "Reaction Wood" type, I don't think that the board buddies will save you from kickback...not only but if - as Rafael said - one of them broke under "normal conditions", the kickback forces might rip them off the fence and who knows what can happen...

To prevent a "Reaction Wood Induced kickback", one have to use different ripping technique.

Regards
niki

[cutnail]

In my opinion if the board buddies prevent the piece from rising up the back of the blade there will be no danger of kick back which is the rapid horizontal movement of the piece towards the user. If the piece being cut is reactionary and is kept down against the table it will be continually cut by the blade. It's only dangerous when the piece is allowed to rise to the top of the blade's arc.

[niki]

Hi Cutnail

Maybe you are correct but after reading on "WoodNet" forum that a guy got a kickback that shuttered the Anti-kickback pawl and the blade guard (and he "got" it...), I don't know if the board buddies are much stronger...
I bookmarked the thread but it was more that 1 year ago and woodnet automatically deletes older that 1 year posts...

Anyway - as I said - if the BB broke under normal stresses, I think that under a "kickback conditions" that the stresses are much stronger, it might brake too.

As I understand, if a reaction wood "springs" to the right (toward the fence), it will "back press" on the back teeth of the blade and I'm not sure that they will cut....I think that they will try to lift (or push) the wood up and it depends on the strength of the "hold-down" device if the wood will kickback or not (that's why the "big guys" are using Power Feeder).

I think that a "reaction wood" that springs out, is similar to a situation that the rip fence is "toed-in" that is very dangerous and can lead to a "good" kickback.

It's only my opinion of course.

Here is the one that I made...as I said - I use it only with man-made boards.

Regards
niki
4479

[cutnail]

Hi Niki,

I can see by your homemade jig that you agree with the Board Buddies method. Have you ever tested how much up force your rear wheel holds before the metal bar flexes up? Have you ever tested the hold down force of the Board Buddies?
Thanks
Cutnail

[Rafael]

My buddy broke from my own strength. I am of average strength.
My sense is that these things fatigue over time and eventually I think they become dangerous. They appear to be made out of cast aluminum, which I dont think is known for it's strength.

[cutnail]

Hi Rafeal,

The Board Buddies are advertised and sold as a “safety” device and should perform accordingly. When you stated that it broke under your own strength do you mean it broke while you were clamping your work piece? Do you know how many working hours this devise had on it before it failed? I ordered a set of Board Buddies a few days ago and I’m still waiting to receive them. Before I ordered them, I read reviews at various sites that sell them, and they were all good, so I ordered them. I’m the type of person that will NOT accept inferior goods. When something works properly I will make it known to all who will listen, conversely if a product works poorly and is DANGEROUS I will demand recourse!!! I’ll let you know.
Thanks

[niki]

Hi Cutnail

No, I did not test the force that the iron will bent but, I'm not using them as an "Anti-kickback" device but only as an helper to control large man-made boards that I cannot use the "Feather Rollers"...

And, because I use them only for man-made boards that - as you know - almost, there is no risk of kickback I don't care so much about the force because, they just help me to minimize the "operator induced" kickback.

I just know that when I set them to 1/4"~5/16" below the workpiece thickness, the iron springs but does not bend beyond the "yield point" (like the BB, they press the workpiece down and to the fence).

As for the Board Buddies, we don't have them around here (nor use them) so, obviously I don't have any idea what is the "press-down" force...

I wish you to enjoy your new BB"s

Regards
niki

[Rafael]

I was loosening one of the buddies nuts(dont take that out of context) when the body of the buddy broke.
I'd had them for about 2 years and used them only for rip cuts, they did not get alot of use. They worked well when I used them. I used them to keep the wood pushing toward the fence and to keep wood from rising off the table.
Because I think the body of the thing is cheap I would recommend using a splitter also.

[cutnail]

Hi Djame,
I just wondering what kind of TS you are using the BBs ON. I have the Ridgid TS3660.
Thanks

[cutnail]

Hello Woodcellar,
It sounds like the material of the body has a serious quality issue. The body should be the last thing to give way. I’m already committed to the purchase of the BB so I will experience them first hand. Thank you for the info. I hope others chime-in with their experiences with the BB.

[cutnail]

Today I received the board buddies and the T-bolts that I ordered from right-tool.com. The t-bolts fit the top slots of my fence which made installation a breeze. The board buddies adjusted very easily and when I made a few test cuts they did a great job of keeping the work down and tight to the fence. I'm pleased with the purchase.:)

[The Wood Meister]

Hmm, never heard of "board buddies". Went and "googled" them and for me, I do NOT like crap in the way of me pushing the wood through! Just like those overhead "safety" contraptions that cover half the board with blade guards.

As far as kickback, that "may" happen but I don't see how they can stop it from coming back. AND, if you've ever had a goofy board clamp on the blade, having it stall the motor sucks! As soon as I hear it coming, I lift the board straight up so as not to max-amp the motor. I dunno, I still say there is too much "crap" being sold as "safety" stuff that actually just gets in the way.



Mark

[cpw]

Hmm, never heard of "board buddies". Went and "googled" them and for me, I do NOT like crap in the way of me pushing the wood through! Just like those overhead "safety" contraptions that cover half the board with blade guards.

As far as kickback, that "may" happen but I don't see how they can stop it from coming back. AND, if you've ever had a goofy board clamp on the blade, having it stall the motor sucks! As soon as I hear it coming, I lift the board straight up so as not to max-amp the motor. I dunno, I still say there is too much "crap" being sold as "safety" stuff that actually just gets in the way.



Mark
The board buddies video with the sheet of 1/4" plywood, where the guy starts feeding it with barely any control and then moves to the back of the saw scared the crap out of me.

[cutnail]

Kickback is when the board rises up the back of the blade and when it reaches the top of the arc the board gets thrown by the forward moving blade. the back board buddie prevents the rise and also directs the board towards the fence. I don't do woodworking for a living so setup time does not bother me if might lower the chance of injury. I witnessed kickback a few times and in 8th grade shop class our teacher who had 30 + years experience cut his thumb clean-off right in front of us (the class). He was demonstrating how to use the table saw!

[The Wood Meister]

The board buddies video with the sheet of 1/4" plywood, where the guy starts feeding it with barely any control and then moves to the back of the saw scared the crap out of me.


CPW....were is the video? I looked for a web site but came up empty.

I did see some for sale and still dont like the idea of them. I don't think they can provide enough down force to stop a 5hp TS from pushing a clamped up tweeked piece of Oak back through the blade. Also, the track that mounts to the fence???? I have a Jet TS and the fence is only held tight at my end. The other end, like a Besmyer, will rise if pulled up on.

Like I said earlier, to me, it seems that so much is pushed as "safety" when they can actually get in the way and screw things up. Best thing anyone can do is learn how to use the tool correctly and to respect anything sharper then a butter knife!! LOL

Mark

[cpw]

CPW....were is the video? I looked for a web site but came up empty.
I looked, but can't find it anymore either.

[cutnail]

You're correct Wood Meister, using proper procedure is #1 but the board buddie is designed to prevent the board from drifting away from the fence and keeping it down, it helps the user keep things under control. I have the TS3660 so my fence locks down front and back so fence lift is not an issue. The board buddie will help prevent the kick back that is cause by the rise of the work piece to the top of the arc were all the force is towards the user. I'm sure board buddies can't prevent all kick back, like if the user does'nt use proper support for ripping long lumber and expects the board buddies to hold the weight. The board buddies are not the "end-all" solution to kick back but if used properly (like all tools) they add more control.

[Rafael]

The BBs are like any safety device, they are not perfect. When I used them they did an excellent job of keeping the wood toward the fence, which is also a factor in preventing kickback. BUT, the splitter is still the best way to prevent kickback. Nothing will prevent kickback like a splitter or riving knife.

[rberry]

I have only seen BBs on this forum. There is a similar product (anti-kickback hold-down) sold by Woodworker Supply, item #96974. Does anyone know of this product. A long time ago it was sold by Leichtung.

Bob