Fence mounted hold-down roller

[niki]

Good day

Believe it or not but it was the idea of Cabinetman (yes, our good ol’ cabinetman).

When I posted the “Feeder rollers” (in other forum), Cabinetman asked me “what about fence mounted hold down roller?”, and I thought that it’s actually very good idea and went to work on it.

After I made it, I found is so useful that now, the roller is mounted almost permanently on the fence.

I use it together with the “feeder rollers” that are holding the work against the fence before entering the blade and the hold down roller keeps the work piece down and against the fence, after the blade.

On the pictures, I was “shaving” a few boards to make them exactly the same width, so you will not see any cutoff piece but only a little bit of dust.

In this occasion, I would like to thank Cabinetmat for this idea and many other good advices.

Regards
niki


Please click on the link to see the first pic

[Ed62]

Another great one, Niki. Thank you.

Ed

[Ed62]

What did you do to get the angle on the roller?

Ed

[Pappy]

Cool idea, and I think I have all the parts laying around.

[niki]

Thank you so much

Ed
You just drill the holes on the iron strip a little bit off center to each side.

Pappy
For all the jigs that I built, the parts and hardware are very easy to get.
Her in Poland, we don't have much of a selection like in US, even not a simple T track.

Regards
niki

[Ed62]

I think even I can do that. Thanks.

Ed

[LinuxRandal]

Hmmm, change the angle for the size of the wheel, and ...


I think he just found a way to make those bt3 wheels, one of the more usefull things in the accessory kit, LOL.

[radhak]

Niki,

a) is the roller height adjustable? if not, would one need multiples - one for each stock thickness? what is the clearance between the wheel and the table surface?

b) what does the roller angle achieve?

c) maybe some details/pics on the feeder roller too?

[rosesunkist]

I have been thinking up an idea for the same thing. But mine would be a bit more complicated. I might change my plan a bit, but idk right now, but I will know when I get back home and make it.
One thing I am unsure about your setup is the hard plastic wheels....do you have any issues with it marking the wood? But I love the idea of using the steel to keep the tension stable.

[niki]

Thank you

LinuxRandel
I don’t know the BT3 so I cannot comment.

Radhak
a) I’m adjusting the roller height by changing the spacers to different thickness to achieve ¼”~1/2” deflection of the roller. Usually, I work with the same wood thickness for a project so it’s not much of a problem. I can also use each spacer for 2 dimensions, horizontally and vertically.

b) When I push the work piece forward, the work piece wants to push the roller to the left side but it cannot because the roller is in fixed position, the reaction is, that the roller pushes the work to the right (toward the fence). I made the same on the “Feeder Rollers” to push the work piece down to the table.

c) Here they are.

Rosesunkist
This roller id made of some hard rubber, if the down pressure is too strong (more that ½” deflection of the roller), sometimes I get some light black line on the wood, but it removes very easy.

In total, I would say that it’s real pleasure and I’m very relaxed, especially when I work together with the “Feeder rollers” that are pushing the work into the fence and down to the table before hitting the blade, and the hold down roller takes care after the work leaves the blade.

niki

[niki]

[niki]

[dlminehart]

Niki, I wonder if there isn't some simple way to use sliding wedges, under a correspondingly wedge shaped top piece, to avoid having to have a bunch of spacers. Could glue sandpaper to one or both surfaces to increase the grip.

[niki]

Hi David

Maybe it can be done with two L shaped angle irons, one stationary on the fence and the other one, connected to the roller arm (or part of it) and sliding up/down on two elongated holes (channels) and bolts/ wing nuts.

Usually, I’m working with ¾” ply, MDF, Melamine or 1-1/4” Oak and the spacers, mounted horizontally (1/2”) or vertically (1”) are enough for me. I’m an amateur and “time is not money” for me not to mention that during the Polish winter my woodworking is also “frozen”.

But, I’m “buying” the sanding paper, very good idea.

Thanks
niki

[lcm1947]

Now that's pretty slick Niki. What an amazingly easy and simple method for a hold down/ feeder rollers. I'll be working on one this weekend for sure. Thanks for the great walk through and pictures.