The pivoting shutoff switch I added to my tablesaw is even easier to access than those on commercial models. It includes a big bar that reaches across the front of the saw, where I can hit it instantly with a hand or knee no matter where I’m standing or what I’m cutting.

First I attached a narrow board to the support rail of my rip fence. To that board I attached a pivoting piece of plywood with a 3-in. door hinge. A short section of piano hinge would also work. The plywood has a cutout to allow me to access the On switch, and a rubber bumper screwed to the back to hit the Off button. I used the bumper from the back end of an old pool cue, though all sorts of knobs would work. At the bottom of the pivoting plywood plate, I screwed a long turning I had left over from a past project, though any long, rounded board will serve the purpose.

Aside from locating the knob and cutout, the other key is fine tuning the assembly so the knob or bumper hangs about 1⁄2 in. in front of the Off switch. I did that by screwing an old racquetball to the attachment bar so it just contacted the pivoting plate. You might not need to. When the job is done, you’ll be able to switch off your saw instantly if something goes wrong, without looking down or moving your hands. In fact, it’s always nice to be able to turn off the saw quickly and easily when you’re done cutting.

—LEON SEGAL, Monroe Township. N.J.

More tablesaw jigs on FineWooodworking.com:

• Simple Jig Aligns Tablesaw by Brian Grella
• Tablesaw Sled Makes Safe, Precise Cuts At Any Angle – #272–Tools & Shops 2019 Issue
• Cutting Thin Strips on the Tablesaw by David Diana

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