Hinged hold-down locks down small cutoffs

When miter-cutting multiple small pieces for a segmented turning, I needed a way to secure the workpiece without getting my fingers close to the blade. My solution is as simple as opening and closing a door.

First, connect two lengths of scrap of the same thickness with a pair of self-closing cabinet hinges. Transfer the miter angle to a basic crosscut sled (a piece of plywood with runners that fit the saw's miter channels), and mount the hinged fence to the sled with screws, leaving the hold-down bar free to pivot. The self-closing action of the hinges pushes down evenly on both sides of the blade, keeping the workpiece steady and the cutoff captured.
—Mike Harman, Beavercreek, Ohio