I need to cut some small pieces of blood wood 1/4"x3/8"x1/2". I have no problem with ripping a long piece of 1/4"x3/8". My problem is with making the last cross cut. I tried to cut them by hand and can't make the cut to the precision I need. When I try with my chop saw, I get tear out. I tried wrapping it with tape. That didn't work. I tried making a 1/4"x3/8" groove on a piece of pine and wedge the bloodwood strip in there tight and cut. Still I got tear out. I need to make them today so I can't go order a very sharp cross cut blade. Right now I'm heading to the borg and try to buy the best blade I can find there. Hopefully it'll work this time.

Thanks all...

Here are the result mounted on a $15K classical guitar. As you can see, I couldn't afford to show any tear out since they are mounted on a very carefully crafted piece of instrument.

I know that I should have made them out of ebony to make them match but the bloodwood has some emotional significance. I'm planning to make some out of water buffalo horn that are jet black later.