Reply by USCJeff

All good suggestions. I’d add a few more possible issues. It’s possible that the vibration from the saw makes the cutoff walk back to the blade. It could also be the wood itself. Changes in feed rate and the boards density could cause the board to “twist” as the blade cuts the last bit. The kerf closing as mentioned could do this too. Is there much runout with your blade? The blade wobbling (even slightly I would think) at high speeds could catch the cutoff.

Another solution is to use a sled of some sorts. A sled or long miter fence will push both pieces past the blade. They have their limitations though. Good luck. Stay safe.

-- Jeff, South Carolina