How to Cut Rabbet Joints

Rabbet joints are common woodworking joints. Woodworkers use them as drawer joints and to hold the backs of furniture pieces in place. A rabbet is one of the first joints a woodworker learns to make, and it's a cut that he uses often to finish his wood projects. These directions utilize a router, but you may also make these cuts with a table saw.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Router
• Rabbet bits
• Wood
• Saw horses or cutting table
• Glue
• Nails
• Screws

1. Determine the depth and width to cut for the rabbet joint. Since it is a L-shaped joint, you need to figure in the size for the corresponding side of the connecting piece of wood. Don't remove more than half of the width of the wood.

2. Set up your router. If you don't have the exact size bit, use a smaller bit and make two passes. Remember to keep the router unplugged whenever you change bits.

3. Use a router bearing to give you more flexibility in choosing the depth and width of a rabbet joint. These bearings come in different sizes and make adjustments a lot easier.

4. Router the rabbet joint on a piece of scrap wood. It's a matter of listening to your machine to know if you're going at the correct speed. If you go too quickly, the wood can splinter. If you go too slowly, the wood can burn. At the correct speed, the wood gets shaved away and the router sounds like it's working.

5. Cut the good wood when you have the practice rabbet joint correct. Finish the joint by gluing, nailing or screwing the two pieces together.