I came up with this idea while cutting pieces for a segmented bowl on a tablesaw sled. I was doubtful I could hold the workpiece and the cutoff securely without getting my fingers too close to the blade. So I came up with this simple solution.

I mounted two self-closing cabinet door hinges on the fence of the jig and connected them to a single piece of wood I call a hold-down bar. The bar acts as both a hold-down and handle. The self-closing action of the hinges causes the bar to apply pressure to the stock, which I supplement with pressure from my hands. When I use the hold-down to push the jig forward, it applies even pressure to pieces on both sides of the blade and keeps my fingers safely clear. Be sure to push the workpieces all the way past the blade and remove them before pulling the sled backward.

With this jig, I can cut small workpieces safely all the way to the very end. And since it is hinged, it accommodates various thicknesses of stock from very thin to more than 1 in.

Drawing by Jim Richey

Drawing by Jim Richey

Mike Harman, Beavercreek, OH