indexed dado’s

vesta1 | Posted in Joinery on November 25, 2020 03:51pm

i will be making a cabinet for my daughter – it will have multiple drawers (about 8) that are 8″ deep. besides measuring and marking each side piece for dado’s (to accept fixed 3/4″ thick cross members for support) that are just over 8.75″ apart, any ideas for creating a (router) jig to accomplish this repeated dado action? a jig will give reproducible results, so i can cut drawer sides/front/back with the same table saw fence location, and the drawers will be interchangeable in different locations. if you have a jig for this purpose, please attach a photo. rockler just came out with a dado indexing jig, but my drawer spacing is wider than their jig will permit. if you can think of a modification of the rocker jig, please let me know. happy thanksgiving!

Replies

bilyo | Nov 25, 2020 05:30pm | #1
I don't have a picture but, I think, it would be fairly simple. Just make a router base plate with a runner (much like a table saw cross-cut sled) that will run in the previously cut dado. It could be pretty much like the Rockler unit only with a larger capacity. However, it doesn't need to be adjustable. That will make construction simpler. Of course, the first dado will need to be cut using an edge guide.
A variation of that would be to make an edge guide with a "runner" that will set in the previously made dado. It would be clamped in place and provide a guide edge for the router at the proper spacing.

vesta1 | Nov 28, 2020 02:30am | #2
thank you for the suggestion. i'll attach a runner to the extended router base plate.

[email protected] | Feb 16, 2021 01:07pm | #3
Another way is to cut both sides together before parting them.then you are sure each side is equal
geedubbee | Feb 16, 2021 03:05pm | #4
This is just what I did when I made my match fit table. I cut the first group with a guide, made a quick keyed router base plate, and the key rides in the previous slot making the next slot etc., etc.