Replies

1. 
   BG | May 26, 2006 10:46pm | #1

   mgsteve,

   Usually I put a grove in the bottom to accept the floor (1/4 wide, 1/4 deep). I use the router table and drop the piece on the cutter bit and pulling it off before it reaches the end....sounds more difficult than it is...if I want to be extra cautious, I'll shorten the router cut and finish up with a chisel. 

2. 
   eddiefromAustralia | May 26, 2006 10:53pm | #2

   Steve,

   You stop the groove short of the end by an appropriate amount.

   You can do this by using a stop on the router table fence on either end of the board, or by putting a mark onto the fence to show you where to stop the board.

   I'd cut grooves with a slotting cutter and then finish them off with a chisel, but it would also be easy to cut the groove with an appropriately sized bit in a laminate trimmer and the trimmer fence.

   Cheers,

   eddie

    

   Edit - Noticed that you're cutting a rebate, not a groove.

   You can make the box without the rebate and then use a pilot guided bit either freehand or in a router table to cut the rebate when you're finished.

   Or you can cut the rebate as suggested for the groove.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/26/2006 4:22 pm by eddiefromAustralia

3. 
   AdamCherubini | May 27, 2006 04:04am | #3

   For thru DT joinery, you cut the groove only in two sides of the box. The groove would be where a pin or tail is NOT on that board. The mating pin or tail would then cover.

   So if you put the groove on the tail board, the first (full) tail from the bottom would be a little more than 3/8" or so up from the bottom. Be sure to plow the groove first. That way, you'll know where to put the tail.

   If you need the groove to go all around you'll have to switch to half blind dt joinery. In that case you would put the groove in a half tail.

   Adam

4. 
   dukeone | May 28, 2006 04:57am | #4

   Steve: These other guys can help you with the joinery question, I'd just like to say don't let the pressure take your mind off of safety!! KDM

   Kenneth Duke Masters

   The Bill of Rights December 15 1791 NRA Endowment Member

   LEAA Life Member

   CRPA Member

5. 
   MikeHennessy | May 30, 2006 04:08pm | #5

   Are you doing a rabbet or a groove? I prefer a groove since it provides more support for the bottom and does not require any fastening of the bottom other than being supported in the groove. It also better allows for wood movement. That said, if you don't want to use a stopped groove (which requires some hand work with a mortise chisel), what I usually do is simply plug the holes that show with matching stock plugs. If you fit them carefully, you'll never see them and it's a lot quicker than stopped grooves.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

6. 
   dovetaylor | May 31, 2006 05:07am | #6

   How about getting a rebate cutter for a router and running first a back cut, to avoid chipping (back cut only needs to scribe the surface) then run the cut against the feed.

   You can run this after the box is assembled. Easier with a bench mounted router but achievable freehand.