I make Shaker oval boxes using thin bands of wood. Cutting these pieces on the table saw without some type of hold-down is dangerous so I came up with this version of my own. First I lower the saw blade and install a zero-clearance insert. Next, position a piece of veneer, put the L-shaped hold-down on top of the stock and clamp it in place, as shown in the sketch. Then I remove the veneer, turn on the saw and raise the blade until I hear it just touch the hold-down. I back off the blade just a bit and start cutting veneer. If the veneer tends to slip under the regular fence, clamp a wooden fence to it as shown.
– Larry Underrinwer
Westminster, Maryland
