Shop-Built Dado Jig

[Tarheel]

Hi,

I need to cut several dado's for a "cubbie" for a day care center. It is really just cluster of cubes where the kids can store stuff. I plan on building it out of either 1/2" or 3/4" ply. I have about 38 dado's to cut. Rather than invest in a dado set for my TS, I was going to try and cut them with my plunge router and a straight bit. I have been successful in the past with just a straight edge to ride the router along, but todays plywood is never exactly 3/4" or 1/2". I tried the set of CMT plywood bits, they were close but the ply was never consistent.

A while back, I saw a jig that could be used with your router and a 1/2" straight bit. You could set the jig dado size with a piece of scrap, it would capture the router base and with usually two passes you could get a perfect fitting dado.

Has anyone out there seen or built this jig and would have access to a plan? (Someone told me it sounded like a version of the jig that was in Shopnotes Vol 13 issue 76. That is an old issue that I do not have. I thought perhaps someone out here would a similar version of the jig and be willing to help me out.

I have attached a picture of the type of jig that I was tryin' to describe.

Thanks,

Wayne

[ChrisD]

Wayne,

I built one a while back based on this: http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/dado.html

This is probably one of the slickest, most common-sense design I have ever seen for a jig.

[Ed62]

This is not shop-built, but I think it's the one you're asking about. http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews...eguidervu.html

Ed

[gad5264]

This is not shop-built, but I think it's the one you're asking about. http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews...eguidervu.html

Ed

I have this accurate guide and for the money you cannot go wrong.

[thestinker]

cool!!

That is slick!!! I googled "The Accurate Guide" and couldn't find where to buy it. Where did you guys get yours from?

[Tom Miller]

Wayne,

I built one a while back based on this: http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/dado.html

This is probably one of the slickest, most common-sense design I have ever seen for a jig.

I made one that's kind of like that, except I needed my dados at an angle, so I made all vertices pivotal:





Also shown is the type of router bit you'll need for this type of jig.

The nice thing about either of these designs is that, if your shelves are all the same thickness, you can set the jig for thickness once, and then slide it down the workpiece for each shelf dado.

Regards,
Tom

[ChrisD]

I made one that's kind of like that, except I needed my dados at an angle, so I made all vertices pivotal:


[ATTACH]4036[/ATTACH]


Also shown is the type of router bit you'll need for this type of jig.

The nice thing about either of these designs is that, if your shelves are all the same thickness, you can set the jig for thickness once, and then slide it down the workpiece for each shelf dado.

Regards,
Tom

Nice setup there, Tom.

The greatest benefit I have derived from this type jig so far is the ability to work with both a straight bit and a dovetail bit (both with a top-mounted bearing guide) with the same setup. For cutting sliding dovetails and dadoes for web frames in a solid wood carcase, this is Da Bomb Jiggity.

That Accurate Guide is pretty slick, too. I just can't see myself paying $100 (with the STG) for it.

[Stormbringer]

Here's some other info you might find useful

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...light=Dado+jig

http://www.newwoodworker.com/rtrdadojig.html

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...light=Dado+jig

Good luck,
Greg

[messmaker]

I think I just read the other day that the mfg. had just sold the rights to it. He hid not say who it is but it will show up somewhre soon, I bet.

[thestinker]

All of my strait cutting bits are with out anykind of guide bearing. Is that something you can add onto an existing bit, or do you need to buy them with the guide bearing already present?

RS

[gad5264]

Wayne,
I bought mine on ebay. I just checked and he is out of them right now.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQ...0QQsassZexctmt

[Tarheel]

All great ideas!!!!

I did manage to find a copy of the Shopnotes plan (Shopnotes Vol 13 issue 76) in the pic that I initially posted. Looks easy enuff to build, so I think that I will give that a whirl. I do like 2 piece version that allows for angled dado's too! May do that one as well. Got to love jigs!!! Like clamps....you can never have too many varieties!

Maybe I'll slip in a gloat here as well. Found the Freud 8" Super Dado set on Amazon last night for $129.99 - free shipping. Managed to get an order in. I see that it is back up to $199 this morning.

Thanks again.

Wayne

[cabinetman]

I've made several of these dadoe jigs. Have posted them before. It's basically a "T" square that's used in conjunction with a bar clamp. It sets up in about 15 seconds. The first pass on a new one sets the line for the pass. The next time it's used you simply put the groove line on a pencil mark and add the clamp. The far end of the clamp sits against the right side of the jig to keep it from moving left. For a two pass (using a 1/2" bit to do a 3/4" + or -), a spacer would be added to the edge while running.

In the photo, the panel in the jig is 18" x 18". If the bit is correct for the panel thickness, this is a very fast and accurate jig. The one in the photo will do a 49" dadoe. Jig is all plywood.



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[footprintsinconc]

Great Jigs! i like the one posted by Tom, that allows the angled dados.

Tom, any chance you can post some dimensions for us? and where did you get the knobs from? From what i can see, the bottom board also has a slotted hole, does it have a recess at the bottom side for the bottom end of the knob screw to ride in?

thanks for the help!

[BrazosJake]

All of my strait cutting bits are with out anykind of guide bearing. Is that something you can add onto an existing bit, or do you need to buy them with the guide bearing already present?

RS

Yep, a bushing guide will work.

My dado jig uses a 3/4 od guide bushing with a 1/2" router bit.

You don't need either for a dado jig, you can simply index the cut on the router base, but then you're wed to a single router/bit size.