How to Cut a Dado

If you're making a cabinet or drawer, the best way to join the pieces together is to make a dado. A dado is a channel cut across the grain of a piece of wood so that another piece of wood can be fitted into the channel. It's simple to cut a dado with the right tools, and you'll have a strong joint to make your project solid.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Boards
• Pencil
• Scrap wood
• Clamps
• Router and wood bit
• Wood glue
• Finishing nails
• Hammer
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Table saw
• Dado head cutter and chippers
• Measuring tape

Cutting a Dado With a Router

1. Place the board you are cutting the dado into on a flat surface. Stand the board that fits into the dado onto the board, and scribe with a pencil to mark the dado's width.

2. Use scrap wood to make a guide. Clamp guide parallel to dado mark. Make sure the router bit is centered and the edges of the bit graze both marks. Tighten clamps to secure guide.

3. Put a 1/2-inch router bit into your router. Set depth so bit goes no deeper than halfway through the board. Dial down the speed of the router to keep the wood from burning. For dadoes wider than the router bit, construct more than one pass with the router as necessary.

4. Squeeze a bead of wood glue into the dado and place a board into the channel. Using small finishing nails, nail through board on other side of dado and into piece slipped into the channel.

5. Repeat the previous steps to make the other side of the drawer or cabinet.

Cutting a Dado With a Table Saw

1. Install a stacked dado head cutter into a table saw. Add chippers, as necessary, to cut the dado to your desired width. Set the blades to a depth no more than half the thickness of the board.

2. Clamp a guide to the table saw to run the board against as you make the cut. Measure from the end of the board to the outer dado marking, then use that measurement to set the guide from the edge of the outer blade.

3. Run the board face down across the blades to cut the dado.

4. Squeeze a bead of wood glue into the dado, and place a board into the channel. Using small finishing nails, nail through board on other side of dado and into piece slipped into the channel.

5. Repeat the previous steps to make the other side of your project.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear safety glasses or goggles when using a router or table saw.