multiple passes when routing dados

[tlt]

I'm working on a project that needs 3/4" wide by 3/8" deep dados....I read somewhere that when making multiple passes on a wider dado, you should move the fence further away with each pass so that the board doesn't fly into the wall...but I want to make multiple passes on the depth of the dado -- is there any special trick to doing this, (feed direction?) or do you just raise the bit and run it through the table again?

Thanks for your help,
tlt

[LarryG]

do you just raise the bit and run it through the table again?

Exactly. No change to the feed direction.

One thing you do have to be careful of when routing dados on a table, however, is the workpiece wandering away from the fence. If you're cutting a rabbet on the edge of the piece, it's no big deal because you just back up a little and shove the workpiece back against the fence and resume. But with a groove out in the middle, it'll mess up the cut.

So if the workpiece is small enough, I rig a featherboard to make sure it doesn't wander around. If it's too big to allow using a featherboard, I cut the dados by hand (router) or at the table saw (dado set).

[crokett]

If you have a dado stack for your TS and you are cutting a lot of them, that is the preferred method. You can cut your dados in one pass vs 2 or 3 and avoid the potential for screwups on multiple passes.

[cgallery]

If you have a dado stack for your TS and you are cutting a lot of them, that is the preferred method. You can cut your dados in one pass vs 2 or 3 and avoid the potential for screwups on multiple passes.

I would have to be making a lot of dados before I'd be willing to change my TS blade to the dado stack. Tossing a router bit into the router table is so fast and painless.

Thanks,
Phil

[crokett]

Well.... don't look at it as having to set up the dado stack, look at it avoiding repeating cuts and decreasing chances for screwups. Will it take you less time to put the dado stack on than to make those repeat cuts and worry about setting the fence properly, etc? With the stacked dado, you set up once and forget about it.