Can a router make dado cuts?

The router is the one tool that will handle all the dadoing and grooving you’ll do in woodworking. The dado is prime-choice joinery. It follows that hoary adage of woodworking, “Use the simplest joint that will work.”

How tight should a dado joint be?

My experience is that ‘tap tight’ is about perfect. It should take a light tap with your hand or a wooden mallet to drive the board fast into the dado when dry fitting.

Do I need a dado blade if I have a router?

Routers don’t have guides, and you will have to rely on your woodworking skills to make sure that your cuts are straight and perpendicular. It’s much easier to do precision work with a table saw and a dado blade than with a wood router.

How deep should shelf Dados be?

The dado depth should be no more than one-half the thickness of the stock being dadoed, and its depth should ideally be one-third the stock thickness. For example, in ¾” stock the dado should ideally be ¼” deep and no deeper than ⅜”.

How deep should Rabbets be?

The depth of the rabbet for this joint should be one-half to two-thirds its width. When assembled, the rabbet conceals the end grain of the mating board. The deeper the rabbet, the less end grain that will be exposed in the assembled joint.

How do you use a router dado?

First, attach the alignment board square with theedge guide. Then position your routeragainst the edge guideand rout a dado across the guide board. You now have an exact reference point for all your cuts. Just line up the dado in the alignment board with the marks on your workpiece.

What is a router dado jig?

C.N.C. machined from a solid piece of aluminum, this router jig allows you to make precise dados, rabbets and mortises up to 2″ (50mm) wide. See below for more details and watch the video to see how useful this Infinity Tools innovation will be in your shop. Exclusive, 4-Pc. Router Dado Jig Package Make Perfect Fitting Dado Joints Quickly & Easily!

How do I use the dado as a reference point?

You now have an exact reference point for all your cuts. Just line up the dado in the alignment board with the marks on your workpiece.

How wide should a dado be?

For the optimum joint strength, a dado’s width must be just a few thousandths greater than the thickness of the mating piece. The dado on the left is obviously too wide, the center dado acceptable (though just a skoshe wide), while that on the right is dead on. How to cut a dado?