Before I developed this fixture for cutting thin strips, I found that I ruined about as many strips as I kept. The rotation of the blade tends to lift the workpiece or the strip off the table, and, if conditions are not perfect, the strip will catch on the blade and break. This fixture, however, eliminates this problem by holding both the workpiece and the just-cut strip on the table. To avoid problems, cut with a sharp hollow-ground planer blade, set the sawblade parallel to the fence and install a fingerboard before feeding the stock.

Harold Nachlin, San Diego, Calif.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, December 1991 No. 91

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Festool Cleantec CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor

The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.

Buy at Amazon

Festool DF 500 Q-Set Domino Joiner

This joinery machine revolutionized woodworking for so many. There is no easier way to get mortise and tenon joints—but it comes at a cost.

Buy at Amazon

Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander

The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.

Buy at Amazon