I’m planning a project to make a small box with finger joints. I have a bt3000, dado blades and a router. I’m wondering which is the best way to go. I don’t have a box (finger ) joint blade. I’ve seen plans on YouTube for using table saw or a router and I’m unsure of the way I should go. I would probably use my stack dado blade on the table saw or a 3/8” bit on my router. Would using a dado blade create small ridges ar the bottom of the cut that would require cleaning up with a file?
Box (finger) joints - table saw or router
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I've done it both ways and prefer to use the router. I have a Freud 8" dado stack and the bottom of the dado is not nearly as smooth as with a router bit. Note that when using a router you need to back up the board being cut with a spoil board to prevent tearout on the backside of the cut.Chr's
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I agree that a table mounted router is the better way.just another brick in the wall...
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I prefer the table saw. I think TS dadoes make a cleaner cut.Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questionsComment
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I've done it both ways and prefer to use the router. I have a Freud 8" dado stack and the bottom of the dado is not nearly as smooth as with a router bit. Note that when using a router you need to back up the board being cut with a spoil board to prevent tearout on the backside of the cut.
NGComment
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For a drawer where the joint is unlikely to be examined up close none of these would matter. For a box or a chest where the joinery is on display, My opinion is that you you get a cleaner joint with a router.
[sarcasm on]Since the responses are two to one for a router, Loring is clearly wrong [/sarcasm off]Chr's
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An ethical man knows the right thing to do.
A moral man does it.Comment
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Since I have a very good home made router table, I have a box finger set up for use with routers. I thought long an hard on which will produce the most repeatable and quickest set up for me.
The hard part for me on a table saw is the kerf width and setting that up with the right width of movement. ON my router table, I have set block sizes and set router bit sizes.Hank Lee
Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!Comment
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Since I have a very good home made router table, I have a box finger set up for use with routers. I thought long an hard on which will produce the most repeatable and quickest set up for me.
The hard part for me on a table saw is the kerf width and setting that up with the right width of movement. ON my router table, I have set block sizes and set router bit sizes.
https://www.amazon.com/Freud-20T-Joi...6869590&sr=8-3
Last edited by LCHIEN; 03-27-2021, 02:28 PM.Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions👍 3Comment
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Just stumbled into a purchase of the jointech clincher CL-18 with all the books and accessories for a great price. I am itching to try this type of joinery. Maybe after the honeydoos are extinguished.Harumpf!
GrumpyDadComment
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I will add that its important to have all your dado blades on the flat part, not the threaded part of the arbor to get flat bottom.
Wobble dadoes have a radius to the bottom which is the radius of the blade... a 6" wobble will have more curvature than an 8" because its radius is smaller.
Note that the picture below exaggerates the wobble some. This shows a 6" dia. wobble dado cutting a 1" wide groove 1" deep...which most cannot do that wide or that deep. If the dado groove was 1/2" wide and 1/2" deep, then the curvature of the bottom would be half as much as shown in relative size. An 8" wobble dado would have even a bot less curvature.
The bat ears are also relative... probably only a few -.010" or so deep.
If you want a truly flat bottom you have to pick the dado set carefully.
I Know so much about dadoes because I own 5 sets: 6" HSS set. 8" Craftsman excalibur Wobble, 8" carbide Freud set, a 6" carbide Freud Set and a 8" Freud Box Joint set. I can say I learned the hard way.
Here's a little graphic I threw together.
Last edited by LCHIEN; 03-28-2021, 01:10 AM.Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions👍 2Comment
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Here's the reasons for bat ears on many dados.
Note the angled scoring tips on the right and left outer blades while the inner chipper blades have flat tops to span the bottom.Last edited by LCHIEN; 03-28-2021, 12:46 PM.Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questionsComment
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Thanks for those drawings. I was completely unaware of a true flat bottom dado sets. I have the first two types although I don't think the wobble blade has been used since the 80'sChr's
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An ethical man knows the right thing to do.
A moral man does it.Comment
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I have one of those Freud box joint Dado sets that has the precise 1/4 and 3/8" dado assemblies and perfect flat bottoms. Pretty much fool proof and instant setup.
https://www.amazon.com/Freud-20T-Joi...6869590&sr=8-3
"Like an old desperado, I paint the town beige ..." REK
Bade Millsap
Bulverde, Texas
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Since I only have dado blades that are not box joint blades, I’ll make a jig and use my router to make the box joints. Later if I get a box joint blade set I will try that method for future projects.Comment
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