Cutting 3/4 inch dato

[Tom Dunn]

I need to cut a dado 1/2 deep, centered in some cherry stock, 2x2-1/2x14.
This dato will need to accept 3/4 stock, the endgrain of some glued up panels.
I do not have a dado head for my table saw.
Would I be better off to use a 3/4 router bit and have on a tight fit, or to use the table saw, single blade, to cut a dado a bit over 3/4? Being that the panels are glued up, they perhaps are not PERFECTLY straight/flat, so an exact 3/4 dado might be a tough fit?

 

[Ray Martin]

Hey Tom,

You didn't say if this will be a stop dado. If not, you might want to consider thta he bottom of the dado will show. I thnk you'll get a flatter bottom to the dado if you use a router bit. If it is a stopped dado, the router might give you more control at the ends of the dado cut. If the panels are slightly tight, a bit so sand paper should fix you up.

Doing this work on a router table will also give you more control since this is narrow stock. If you are going to use a hand-held router, you could clamp some stock the the sides of the piece that will receive the dado to give the router a wider base to ride on.

I think I'd do the job in two passes to minimize the tear-out.

Ray

 

[jmauldin]

Definitely go with a router. If you use a 1/2" bit or 5/8" bit you can "sneak" up on the width of the dado you need. Just clamp a good straight edge as a guide you should have no problems. I made me a jig from Woodsmith plans several yrs. ago which is adjustable (width of dado). It can handle stock up to 24 " wide. It has really proved helpful. Just clamp it to the stock, adjust the width of the dado needed, lock it down and go for it, or as the cable guy says, "get'r done".
Jim in Mayberry

 

[Joe Scharle]

I've mentioned this jig before, but it's so handy I'll show it again.

See it at:
http://www.shopnotes.com/main/sn76-toc.html

 

[P Crews]

I used this adjustable jig dado jig making dadoes for shelves. It's similar to the one bladeburner showed.
http://www.plansnow.com/adjustdado.html
It's easy to set up, place the panel in the jig to set the dado width and then clamp the jig where you want the dado. For stopped dadoes I used double stick tape to place a scrap piece of wood on the jig and then put some clamps on it.

I got the jig out of this book Jigs and Fixtures.
http://www.woodsmithstore.com/jigsbook.html
The book is a compilation of jigs from Woodsmith and Shopnotes.

Paul

 

[clowman]

I'd vote for bladeburner's jig, if you can't get use from a dado blade. I have used something similar before, and it works great.