Perfect Grooves & Dadoes

When routing a deep groove (or dado) on the router table, you'll get much smoother results by making a couple of shallow cuts. To do this in the conventional way, you simply raise the height of the bit between cuts. But here there's a catch. Adjusting the bit height often shifts its position enough to create a "stepped" cut (photo at right). So you end up trading a clean cut for an inaccurate groove..

But all is not lost. There's a simple trick you can use to get both a clean and accurate cut. The key is to avoid having to change the bit height between cuts. To do this, I set the bit to full height and then install a spacer over it, as shown in Figure 1. The ¹/₄″ hardboard spacer is held in place is held in place with a cleat at each end and can be be added or removed in a snap.

You make the first, shallow cut using the spacer, then slip it off for the second, full-depth cut. And the bonus is that you actually get the job done quicker.

drawing

Good woodworking,

Ted Raife
Editor, Woodsmith

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Printer-Friendly Version Perfect Grooves & Dadoes When routing a deep groove (or dado) on the router table, you'll get much smoother results by making a couple of shallow cuts. To do this in the conventional way, you simply raise the height of the bit between cuts. But here there's a catch. Adjusting the bit height often shifts its position enough to create a "stepped" cut (photo at right). So you end up trading a clean cut for an inaccurate groove.. But all is not lost. There's a simple trick you can use to get both a clean and accurate cut. The key is to avoid having to change the bit height between cuts. To do this, I set the bit to full height and then install a spacer over it, as shown in Figure 1. The ¹/₄″ hardboard spacer is held in place is held in place with a cleat at each end and can be be added or removed in a snap. You make the first, shallow cut using the spacer, then slip it off for the second, full-depth cut. And the bonus is that you actually get the job done quicker. Good woodworking, Ted Raife Editor, Woodsmith Send for a preview issue of Woodsmith magazine More Tips & Techniques Index of Tips by E-mail More Tips & Techniques WoodNET, Woodworking on the Web Subscriber Links Update your Email Preferences Subscribe
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