thanks guys, I got the featherboard yesterday and finished the box. featherboard makes a big difference!
I believe the nail will grow back.
No matter how careful you are, if hands are close to the blade when wood kicks back hard, anything can happen. It happened so fast, I dont know exactly how my finger hit the blade. I thought at first that only the wood kicked back and hit my finger, then I saw the RED.
I just hope the bees appreciate what went in to making their slatted board :-D