I will probably use my table saw, often for a single dado I don't even bother to install the dado head, just make several passes and if it needs to be centered I rarely use the dado cutter but just flip the board end-for-end and tap the fence, particularly tiny increments as I approach the correct size.
Cutting dados with a router though does leave wonderfully clean and chip-free edges where that is desirable and although not exactly the same, cutting sliding dovetails is another very good joinery method which will also often require a jig. There are many ways of designing jigs, I think I would prefer an edge under the jig set far enough in to permit easy 90 degree alignment and the setting of a stop for blind dados. I used this method for mounting the dust frames in a set of four chests of drawers recently but I didn't really build a jig I more or less cobbled one together. Some of this plywood is rather bent so getting a good equally deep dado with the table saw might be more difficult. The smaller base of the router will give me a bit better control and once I pull it together with clamps I should be able to straighten out the panels well enough, we will see. Dale Leavens, Cochrane Ontario Canada [EMAIL PROTECTED] Skype DaleLeavens Come and meet Aurora, Nakita and Nanook at our polar bear habitat. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lenny McHugh" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 3:32 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] cutting dados > Dale > For what you are cutting I would use my table saw. I have never used a > straight edge guide. I prefer my table saw. There were a few projects > where > I needed a dado about 4" from the edge and my router table worked great > for > this > For the last blind dado I cheated. I ran straight through then glued in a > small piece at the end. It saved a lot of setting up time and no one > knows, > that is until now. > If I were going to make a lot of dado cuts there is a jig that I thought > about making. This may work for both your and Max's projects. > Hope I can explain correctly. > I first planned to take a 2'x4' piece of plywood and fasten a wood guide > along the 4' edge. Now from that edge screw a squared 2' piece with a 5/8" > stop near the other end > Now you should be able to slide in a scrap 3/4" piece of stock and a c > clamp > at the far end will secure it. > using the 2' guide, run your router through the jig cutting a small dado > and > You now have a jig that is set up for your particular router. > By using the clamp to hold your good stock in place you will have a > consistent way to line up and cut your dados. > The reason for the 5/8" is to allow the 2' clamp to move down enough to > secure your stock. > I thought about this every time I made a dado cut maybe this will give me > the incentive to actually build the jig. > Lenny > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dale Leavens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 1:50 PM > Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] A router for Christmas. > > > Lenny, > > Debate is healthy and you are correct for very small pieces. You only get > a > few inches between the table fence and the bit. Where this is all the room > you need it works wonderfully well. > > If, as in the case of his radio desk or in the case of the dados I am > cutting for this router station carcass, you require dados in long wide > pieces then a router table can't do it. As Max got a router and not a > router > table I expect he will be requiring a straight edge guide > > I will be cutting dados 23 inches long and 17 inches from the closest end > in > two pieces, two more the same length and 15 inches from the nearest end in > some horizontal pieces. There is no way I could use my router table for > this > even with the fence removed and using a miter gauge, it would require a > router table at least 4 feet long and if using the fence a minimum of 17 > inches plus the width of the base of the fence to just one side of the > bit. > Even the much larger station I am building won't accommodate that sort of > table mounted dado cutting. > > If cutting for something like floor to ceiling book shelves just > supporting > the gables while pushing through a router table would be challenging. I > will > be very surprised in deed if max would be able to cut dados for shelves in > a > desk with a router table. Of course I could be mistaken. I was wrong once > before I think it was 1983. > > > Dale Leavens, Cochrane Ontario Canada > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Skype DaleLeavens > Come and meet Aurora, Nakita and Nanook at our polar bear habitat. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lenny McHugh" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 11:44 AM > Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] A router for Christmas. > > >> Max, I can not agree with Dale. >> Most of my dado cuts are made with a stacked dado blade in my table saw. >> However I do make some with my router table. It is easy to set up the >> router table fence as opposed to clamping a guide to the stock. >> Lenny >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Dale Leavens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 9:52 AM >> Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] A router for Christmas. >> >> >> Hi Max, >> >> You will find a router to be a very useful and quite versatile >> woodworking >> tool. There are many who believe it to be the superior way to cut dados, >> certainly they can do a very good job, particularly cutting blind dados >> and >> sliding dovetails. I am not sure I always agree, I really like a dado >> blade >> in my table saw for a lot of that work too, the table is larger and the >> rip >> fence makes set-up very quick but a router forms a perfectly flat >> bottomed >> groove although there are those who claim the double groove at each edge >> of >> a properly dado blade cut provides some space for the glue. >> >> If ever I have a problem with cutting dados with a router it is only in >> keeping it tracking absolutely straight. There are many ways of >> accomplishing that, the most important is moving in the direction of the >> cutter. When cutting a dado one side of the cutter is moving against the >> direction of the cut while the other edge is moving in the other >> direction. >> The point is that you are pushing the cutter against the direction of the >> cut so it tends not to pull the router along and therefor out of control. >> >> I prefer to use guide bushings inserted into the router base just because >> it >> is easier to get the cut positioned. The collar is like a short tube >> projecting below the baseplate through which your bit protrudes. If you >> are >> cutting a three quarter dado you fit a collar a little better than three >> quarters inside diameter the outside diameter will probably be 14 16ths >> so >> you can clamp a straight piece of quarter inch or half inch plywood >> within >> a >> sixteenth of an inch from the true location of the dado and set the >> router >> on that guide and follow the edge with the collar. >> >> The other way to do it is to include the width of the router base divided >> by >> two and minus half the diameter of the bit and clamp your straight edge >> there. I have done this many times too but getting the location exact can >> be >> a little frustrating. For example, if the dado is to be 3 quarters of an >> inch and the router base is 7 inches in diameter then you will offset the >> straight edge guide half the diameter of the base = 3.5 inches minus half >> the diameter of the router bit which is 3 8ths so you will place the >> straight edge three and one eighth inches from the desired edge of the >> dado. >> If you want a stopped dado say three quarters from the edge of your board >> that all gets a lot harder but much easier using a collar. >> >> I have made up templates for cutting the stringers for stairs and cut >> them >> with a router. >> This is the only way to go in my view. >> >> If you will be doing any amount of wood working you will also soon want a >> router table. >> >> I now have three routers, a monster plunge router from Australia, a >> 'D'-handled one from sears and a nice little porter-Cab;e. They all have >> their strengths and weaknesses. Just now the sears is mounted in a router >> table and I had to remove a handle to get it there, it isn't my favorite. >> I >> really like the little Porter-Cable it seems to take all my collars and >> such >> but requires two wrenches to remove the bits and the switch is a toggle >> switch, not ideal. >> >> The big Triton is a variable speed with two position plunge but, as it >> stands I don't see how to instal collars, it is big and heavy and the >> switch, though very safe is difficult to manipulate. It is behind a >> sliding >> door, you slide the door then press the rocker switch with your thumb. >> when >> you press it off the door springs over it so you cannot accidentally turn >> it >> on but believe me, deliberately turning it on is something of a >> production. >> It does come with a very nice combination circle guide and a fence out to >> about 7 inches which is easily attached and removed and wonderful for >> cutting dados out to that distance. It is a pretty expensive router and >> very >> powerful. >> >> I would like a really small one for trimming and such and maybe a small >> plunge router but I can't imagine Janet allowing me five or six of them. >> I >> have destroyed a cheap Black & Decker router and a rather valuable Sears >> electronic variable speed router over the past 25 years or so. >> >> Yesterday I began cutting plywood in preparation for building a router >> table >> of more decent size. I began recording bits of the process however the >> recorder I have isn't doing a wonderful job, I have another better one >> and >> will get some batteries for it today and maybe a cheap separate mike. I >> sent >> the last mike I had to my daughter for her Skype. As I began cutting up >> the >> plywood I discovered it to be warped, maybe because it has been standing >> in >> my shed too long, I will probably use a router to cut the dados in that >> because it will sit flatter on the panels than I will get with my table >> saw, >> the saw though will permit much more rapid set-up. >> >> Do have fun with your new router and if I can be of any help just let me >> know. >> >> >> >> Dale Leavens, Cochrane Ontario Canada >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Skype DaleLeavens >> Come and meet Aurora, Nakita and Nanook at our polar bear habitat. >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Max Robinson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "Blind Handyman" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 12:26 AM >> Subject: [BlindHandyMan] A router for Christmas. >> >> >>> Hi all. Sue gave me a Ridgid router for Christmas. I used the article >>> about >>> routers to pick it out but now I would like some hints, dos and don'ts >>> of >>> using it. The radio desk has been started. I intend to use the router >>> to >>> make the dados. >>> >>> Regards. >>> >>> Max. K 4 O D S. >>> >>> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >>> Transistor site http://www.funwithtransistors.net >>> Vacuum tube site: http://www.funwithtubes.net >>> Music site: http://www.maxsmusicplace.com >>> >>> To subscribe to the fun with tubes group send an email to, >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> >>> >>> >>> To listen to the show archives go to link >>> http://acbradio.org/handyman.html >>> or >>> ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ >>> >>> The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. >>> http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday >>> >>> The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. >>> http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml >>> >>> Visit the new archives page at the following address >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man >>> list just send a blank message to: >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Yahoo! 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Groups Links >> >> >> >> >> >> >> To listen to the show archives go to link >> http://acbradio.org/handyman.html >> or >> ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ >> >> The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. >> http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday >> >> The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. >> http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml >> >> Visit the new archives page at the following address >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man >> list just send a blank message to: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Yahoo! Groups Links >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.29/608 - Release Date: >> 29/12/2006 >> >> > > > > To listen to the show archives go to link > http://acbradio.org/handyman.html > or > ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ > > The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. > http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday > > The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. > http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml > > Visit the new archives page at the following address > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man > list > just send a blank message to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > To listen to the show archives go to link > http://acbradio.org/handyman.html > or > ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ > > The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. > http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday > > The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. > http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml > > Visit the new archives page at the following address > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man > list just send a blank message to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Yahoo! 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