Over the years, I’ve seen a variety of jigs for holding short pieces to be crosscut on a power mitersaw. Some incorporate toggle clamps and other hold-downs to secure the work while keeping your hands a safe distance from the blade.
These setups are fine for guys who love to make jigs. Me, I like to keep things simple. I usually crosscut small pieces using a technique I call “bridge-clamping.” All you need is a short piece of wood the same width as the one you’re cutting and a stout stick at least 12" long. Position your workpiece for the cut, and then firmly hold it in place by bridging over from the fulcrum scrap as shown, keeping your hand a safe distance from the blade. This same technique works on a crosscut sled or miter gauge extension fence.
—Peter Ashton, Sacramento, California
