Woodstock W1104 Board Buddies, Yellow

 (21 customer reviews)

I grew tired of the awkward to align splitter/blade guard on my Delta CS and these seemed like an ideal way to get some anti-kickback protection. The idea is that the wheels, which sit at an angle, hold your stock to the table and against the fence. Since they only turn one way, a work piece that binds against the fence and the blade can't shoot back at you. You should also get more square cuts since the work piece can't drift away from the fence.They seem well made (cast aluminum bodies, large yellow rubber-like wheels), but there are some problems.Mounting is the main problem. The mounting base that comes with them has a 4" x 2" flat bottom that is a problem to attach to most fences. The picture on the packaging shows them using some kind of aluminum insert to ride in a TS fence extrusion -- this isn't included. Short of drilling holes in your fence, the flat bottom bracket that comes with the Board Buddies isn't exactly mounting friendly.I...Read more

The review by swb@mercury.campbell-mithun.com, though accurate seems a little harsh and may put some people off. I've been using "Board Buddies" in one configuration or another for probably 12+ years. I wouldn't be without them. They hold the work solidly down and against the rip fence. If I'm ripping a board -- vertually any size -- I can remove my hands from the board and walk away while the saw continues to run and the blade is in the kerf of the board and the board *will not move*. A convenient feature when you realize you left your push stick on your work bench. swb is right in saying they can be difficult to mount to your rip fence without the T-Slot accessory . But with the T-slot extrusion permanently mounted to the top of your rip fence, the Board Buddies are quick and easy to adjust, and can be removed easily. The only time I ever injured myself during a ripping operation was when I failed to set up the rollers because I was "just making a...Read more

I have a Powermatic table saw and was having a hell of a time with the fence and spreader that came with it. I could never properly align the blade guard and spreader. It was constantly binding. It was especially bad when I tried to cut an angle. I ultimately removed the guard. Like many others I had wood bullets shoot back at me. Board Buddies seem to be the answer. The stock is pressed firmly to the table and I have had no kickback. I recommend getting the 24" track also. It's long enough to cover most of the fence and you only have to install it once. If you need a different position you loosen two screws. If you didn't have the track you would have to install the buddies each time you needed a new position. It's just more efficient with the track.I did have some misgivings recently when I noticed that there is a set of Board Buddies you can get from Amazon(Tool Crib?) directly and not pay shipping. For some reason I did not notice the W1104's. I ordered the...Read more