Hi,
For my next project I’ve chosen to build a nightstand. It consists of one drawer and a lower shelf. I’ve decided to go with 3/4 inch pine. If I want to cut a 1/4 inch dado to fit the shelf how deep should I cut the dado. 2/3rds the width of the board or shallower? (what is the correct depth?) When using a hand held router is it ok to cut the dado moving the router away from myself when cutting across a piece of board? If I were rounding over an edge on a board I’d move the router in a counter clockwise direction… (left to right). I’m just not familiar with cutting dadoes.
Wanda
Replies
Wanda, I'm assuming the nightstand will be built entirely of 3/4" pine. If the pine is straight and shows no cupping, 1/4" deep dado will be enough. A lot of stuff the homecenters sell has cupping across the width. This makes it difficult to get a consistent depth of dado. In this case make the dado 3/8" deep, but no more. The reason for this is, any cup in the board may not come out with clamping and you want the shelf to sit in the dado.
If you move the router away from you, place the straightedge on your LEFT. The opposite if pulling towards you. Take 1/8" deep cuts, try to avoid knots.
Mike
Most of the time a dado that is cut to depth of 1/3 of the board is preferred.
There are times when it makes sense to cut a dado deeper then the 1/3 of the board. Dadoes should not be cut any deeper then one 1/2 the depth of the thickness of the board. so if you have 3/4 board no deeper than 3/8 or if you are using 4/4 no deeper then 1/2
1/4 to 3/16... Call it a fat 1/4"
Edited 8/24/2003 8:18:04 AM ET by CHASSTANFORD
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