When making plywood shelves, I like to cover the front edge of the shelf with a thin strip of hardwood. Making the strips can be a challenge, though. If the strips are cut between the blade and rip fence, there’s a chance the small piece will kick back. But cutting the strip on the left side of the blade requires adjusting the fence between each cut, introducing possible error. The method I use is simple and accurate and uses nothing more than a combination square, a hardwood block, and a drill bit.
Start by cutting a block that fits snugly in the miter slot and sits proud of the saw table by 1⁄4". Using a drill bit as a spacer to set the thickness of the strip, I adjust my combination square so that it just touches a tooth on my saw blade.
Now I can remove the drill bit and adjust the rip fence until the workpiece touches the end of my rule. Then just remove the square and make the cut.
