Power miter boxes are great for removing small amounts of material from the end of a piece of stock. But sometimes it’s the offcut that you want, be it for a mitered return or a shim to fix a goof. The trouble is, the saw’s blade has a habit of trashing tiny offcuts or launching them into the nether regions of the job site. The drawing shows the trick I use to snatch tiny workpieces out of harm’s way.
As shown in the drawing, I hook a couple of rubber bands to a spring clamp, which I clamp on the end of the miter-box fence. Then I thread a piece of masking tape through the rubber bands, and with the bands stretched tight, I affix the tape to the workpiece. When the blade exits the stock — presto! My rubber-band helper plucks the prize away from an uncertain fate.
With repeated cuts the tape won’t stick anymore because of sawdust contamination. When that happens, cut the tape back, leaving a tape stub that’s a couple of inches long attached to the rubber band. Stick on new tape, and you’re ready for another go.
James D. Bass, Sarasota, FL
