Customer Reviews

Mesa Vista Design GRIP-TITE Magnetic Table Saw Featherboard

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The product being shipped now differs from the illustration above; the base is heavy plastic instead of wood. There are also two small "wings" that screw in the notches on the side to hold side pressure. This holds on two axis when the "L" piece shown is installed.

It sticks firmly to any iron tool table and a release cam is mounted on the rear to help lift the strong magnet through leverage. The magnet is embedded in the bottom in resin and I can't imagine it ever failing. They are really easy to reposition when holding the cam in the release position; get it where you want and let the cam loose - it will snap down on the table and stay put.

I bought one to start but could see that two will do a better job, especially on the jointer when surfacing. They also recommend using two on the table saw for dadoing and other non through-cut operations I'm wishing I had an iron router table to stick these on! I'll have to stick to my track mounted feather boards there.

You'll have to assemble this when you get it. They provide a one-page instruction sheet with some helpful hints on use. I think you'll find one very useful and two even more so.

A couple of weeks ago, I caught a small piece of ash right in the gut when it kicked back from my tablesaw. Ouch! Luckily I got away with just a nasty bruise. What I needed was a second pair of hands or the Grip Tite. The clamping power of the magnet that holds it to the top of my tablesaw is unbelievable. The design of the Grip Tite is simple and solid. Out of the box, you have to screw on a couple of plastic "feathers," but even a novice can be using it in two minutes. This is one of those things that is so clever and so simple that you'll wonder why no one ever thought of it before. Excellent tool! Highly recommended!

I bought two of these tools a few years back and it was a wise choice! They don't slip and can be used on anything that has an iron table. Great for making moldings on the shaper and cutting narrow stock on the table saw. I thought they were a little pricey at first but changed my mind after using it a few times. They really give you a little more confidence when making those close dangerous cuts. for creditibility, I not only teach cabinetmaking at the local high school but have also been working in the cabinemaking field for over 32 years. Buy two if you decideto use the tool, one just doesn't do the job properly. Good luck and save your fingers.

If you've got a lot of wood that's the same width to rip, this featherboard is a great help! It locks onto an iron table like a suction cup, and is hard to move without using the built-in cam. The built-in cam makes it easy to move when you're ready to reposition it.

Here are the only things I don't like about the product:

1) If you're not doing a lot of repetitive cuts, it's sometimes more trouble than it's worth to set it up.

2) If there's ANY dust on your table, the effectiveness is immediately reduced.

3) The plastic holddown makes a loud SLAP sound when you push the wood past it. You get used to it, but it does cause one's attention to be diverted sometimes, and that's not great.

Having said all those negative things, however, I'd rate the tool 4 stars out of 5, and I use mine on my table saw at least 2 times a week.

This featherboard was a very welcome and useful addition to my shop. It sticks to the sawtable with incredible force and makes accurate ripping easier, just be sure to keep your fingers out of the way when positioning it, 'cause snaps down with authority!

I received this feather board for Christmas 2005 and have already used it on one project. Because I already own the Bench Dog feather board, and liked it pretty well, I used that as a benchmark to compare this model.

First the good:

1. The magnetic base is very strong yet releases easily with the tilting lever.

2. The flexible strip that puts sideways pressure on the board you are cutting is stiff enough to do its job, yet flexible enough to bend easily when adjusting the unit.

3. The price is fair for what you get.

As for bad marks...

1. I am disappointed in the flexible strip that holds the workpiece down to the table. It is not adjustable for height and seems to be pushed to its limit while cutting anything that is a full 3/4" thick. If you have thicker stock you will have to remove this for the cut.

2. When using on the table saw as I near the end of a cut, when the end of the board slides out from under the hold down there is a startling "SNAP" noise made as the plasic hold down slaps onto the saw table. Of course you never see that coming because your eyes are on the blade where they should be.

Overall, I like this tool and have found it to be great for jointing the edge of panels that are usually a challenge on the jointer. As for table saw use, its not a terrible design by any stretch of the word but I much prefer the Bench Dog feather board for that application.

I purchased an inexpensive table saw which I was very disappointed in until I purchased the Tite-Grips (2) - I was able to use the grips by installing a metal plate to my aluminum fence - the grips now add stability to my ripping and allow me to repeat cut narrow pieces without moving the fence.

I believe that the value of my fingers far exceeds the cost of the grips.

Safety never was this easy or inexpensive. holds a wide variety of sizes of boards and adjusts quickly. Never wears out.

I will let others extoll the virtues of this product. My message is that you should consider buying the complete "Mesa Vista Design GT2000 42" Magnetic Featherboard System". This comprises two Grip-Tites, a 4" high, 42" steel cover for your aluminum table saw fence, and roller guides that attach to each each Grip-Tite. Yes, at $150 it costs a lot more than one or two Grip-Tites, but it much more useful, and really essential for narrow rip cuts on your table saw. I started with two Grip-Tites, then bought the fence and roller guides. They are well-worth the additional cost. Please see my review, and reviews by others, of the GT2000 system.

I love these so much that I just purchased a second set. I use them on my table saw, band saw, shaper, and jointer, any place I want to keep my fingers away from moving cutters while holding material tight to a fence or table top.