: To prevent the cutoffs falling on the table and against the blade
: (resulting in kick back) the jig base can be wider, ie. both
: sides of the saw blade.

Not no, buy HELL NO! It sounds good having the sled on both sides but that is exactly how I got hurt. I will never have another sled that spans both side of the blade unless both parts are clamped in place.

YOU DO NOT want the cut off laying on the sled period, you want it to fall on the table. If you trim the sled with the saw blade, there is no gap to speak of between the sled and balde. That makes it very hard for the cut off to get behind the blade and since it is laying on the table it's harder for it to get on top of the blade, that is what kicks it back you. I didn't say impossible, but very unlikely.

On a full width sled the cut off is vibrating around on the sled there is nothing to stop it from vibrating over behind the blade while you reach for your push stick or in my case the off switch. And there is the possibility you will hit the blade with your push stick and have it thrown at you.

I have never posted photos of my thumb, but here is a link to the photo. Warning, it still makes me sick at my stomach, but this is why I am so passionate about this subject. I don't want someone else to do what I did because of a poorly designed sled.

WARNING