Cutting and holding small pieces, such as miter returns, on a chopsaw can be tricky. Just cutting them accurately is one problem. The other is finding the little pieces after the cut. Because they aren’t bearing against the saw’s fence, they end up all over the room. For me, the hold-down device shown in the drawing solves both problems.

I make the hold-down by first cutting a 45° miter across the width of an 8-in.-long 1×4 scrap. Then I cut a couple of fingerholds into the edges of the piece. To complete the hold-down, I drive four brads into the mitered edge. They should protrude only about 1/8 in. through the hold-down.

Cutting the miter returns, such as those that cap the ends of window-stool aprons, is the easy part. First, cut the main apron section to proper length with the appropriate left- and right-hand miters. Stand some trim-stock scrap on edge, and cut both left and right-hand miters on the ends, leaving the pieces long.

Now swing the chopsaw around to 90°. Place the scrap piece facedown on the sawtable with the mitered edge facing left. With the saw off, lower the blade until it touches the cutline between the miter and the flat back of the board. The blade should be on the waste side of the cutline. While using the sawblade to “clamp” the workpiece, position the hold-down on top of the mitered end. The barbs of the brads secure the workpiece as you make the cut. With a sharp crosscut blade and a slow cutting speed, there should be no troublesome tearout on the face of the return.

Jim Barrett, West Springfield, MA

Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller

From Fine Homebuilding #189