Woodworking advice: Cutting dados

[rockweasel]

This year I'd like to have a go at making a workbench along the lines of this:

Mine will be smaller and simpler. I've watched the build video a couple of times and I'm confident that I can build the top, bottom and frame, but I've no experience cutting dados into the sides (which is what the drawer bottoms slide into.) The workbench shown used a table saw to cut the dados - but I don't own one. I've looked at some of the ways dados are cut and I'm looking for some experienced advice on what to avoid or go for. I reckon there about 30 linear metres of dado to cut for the drawers in my rough design.

Options I've come across:

1) Table saw with extensions (or tables) either side to support the sheets of plywood while they're being cut. Seems an expensive options and I've little room in the workshop as it is.

2) Homemade table saw using an upside down circular saw (I DO have one of these).

3) Router. I don't have one, but the less expensive ones wouldn't blow the budget and it would be easy to store in my limited space.

Thanks

 

[cumbriasteve]

Did you intend to post up a video, it's just a photo so a bit difficult to get the full idea.

A router with decent cutters is a great thing to have, I use mine a fair bit now I have spent the time learning how to use it properly, it's easy to make a mistake and get a nice cut where you did not want a cut at all.

 

[waddycall]

How about using the circular saw with a fence/straight edge. Don’t see the need to mount it upside down to make a table saw.

 

[rockweasel]

Did you intend to post up a video, it's just a photo so a bit difficult to get the full idea.

A router with decent cutters is a great thing to have, I use mine a fair bit now I have spent the time learning how to use it properly, it's easy to make a mistake and get a nice cut where you did not want a cut at all.

No, I didn't post the video just a photo to give an idea of what I was doing.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Track saw in a pinch will break down your board stock to suit and thought time consuming could cut your groves they might do a dado blade suited to traxk saws

Unless you have a big sliding ts the tracksaws are great for sizing sheets.

 

[Parm]

A router with good bits and a correctly set fence is by far the easiest. Dado cutters are American and I don’t think they are approved for use in the UK.

 

[rockweasel]

How about using the circular saw with a fence/straight edge. Don’t see the need to mount it upside down to make a table saw.

I forgot to add that as a 4th option. I did see a video where the table saw was used the right way up with a guide to cut the dado:

Once both side of the channel are cut, the saw is used to clear out the wood that's left in between.

 

[rockweasel]

A router with good bits and a correctly set fence is by far the easiest. Dado cutters are American and I don’t think they are approved for use in the UK.

I'm talking out my backside! I watched the video again and he uses a table saw to cut down the sheets, but a router to cut the dados. I should pay more attention in class.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I forgot to add that as a 4th option. I did see a video where the table saw was used the right way up with a guide to cut the dado:

Once both side of the channel are cut, the saw is used to clear out the wood that's left in between.

That's a clever [and very simple] work-around. I'd have been using a chisel to remove that material.

 

[Parm]

I'm talking out my backside! I watched the video again and he uses a table saw to cut down the sheets, but a router to cut the dados. I should pay more attention in class.

That’s going to be one serious table top

 

[rockweasel]

That’s going to be one serious table top

Yes, I'm not going down the concrete slab design though - something much simpler. A flat surface will do me.

 

[bigegg]

An alternative to cutting dadoes in 18mm ply is to use 8mm ply and glue strips of 5mm to each side to form your runners.
Or three layers of 6mm.
Use 12mm ply +6mm for outer case.

Alternatively, there is a router in the "for sale" section which will do the job - it is the same model which I used to cut 1000s of metres of dadoes to make bookcases.

A router with good bits and a correctly set fence is by far the easiest. Dado cutters are American and I don’t think they are approved for use in the UK.

The problem with them is that european saws have a brake to make sure they stop within 30seconds. When the brake is activated, the momentum of the (much heavier than a blade) dado set makes it unscrew from the arbour - or just not slow down in time.
There ARE saws which can be used with a dado set, but they tend to have a secondary locking mechanism for the blade and a heavier brake - and are £££££££

 

[bigegg]

Track saw in a pinch will break down your board stock to suit and thought time consuming could cut your groves they might do a dado blade suited to traxk saws

Unless you have a big sliding ts the tracksaws are great for sizing sheets.

They do a track that a router can be run along - get an 8mm collet, and 8mm TCT end mills are about 2 quid apiece of the 'bay


I've been toying with the idea of making a "MFT" - "a multifunction table" - which is basically a sheet of MDF with 20mm holes in a VERY precise grid.
Drop 20mm pins into the holes. Butt straight edges/edge of workpiece against the pins and it can be used to as crosscut guide for dadoes.
If it could then mounted vertically, I would effectively have a panel saw/router such as is used in B&Q to cut down the sheets - but also to rout grooves

 

[bigegg]

PS - if you do any sort of woodworking a router is essential IMO - template cutting, edge planing, bevels. roundovers, decorative inlays, dadoes(!), shelf pin holes, dovetails - and thats before you mount it in a table to make your own mouldings and raised panels.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

They do a track that a router can be run along - get an 8mm collet, and 8mm TCT end mills are about 2 quid apiece of the 'bay




I've been toying with the idea of making a "MFT" - "a multifunction table" - which is basically a sheet of MDF with 20mm holes in a VERY precise grid.
Drop 20mm pins into the holes. Butt straight edges/edge of workpiece against the pins and it can be used to as crosscut guide for dadoes.
If it could then mounted vertically, I would effectively have a panel saw/router such as is used in B&Q to cut down the sheets - but also to rout grooves

Aye planned building one too theres a router jig for the hole cutting on ebay at least there was. Would make it an easy build. Once the mills runing il make up a guide for my router to run on my rails. Already own a beefy router so wont be giving festool my money for one

 

[bigegg]

Aye planned building one too theres a router jig for the hole cutting on ebay at least there was. Would make it an easy build. Once the mills runing il make up a guide for my router to run on my rails. Already own a beefy router so wont be giving festool my money for one

Axminster(?) do one called a "ParfGuide" - designed by Peter Parfitt who has a you tube channel showing it use

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

They do a track that a router can be run along - get an 8mm collet, and 8mm TCT end mills are about 2 quid apiece of the 'bay


I've been toying with the idea of making a "MFT" - "a multifunction table" - which is basically a sheet of MDF with 20mm holes in a VERY precise grid.
Drop 20mm pins into the holes. Butt straight edges/edge of workpiece against the pins and it can be used to as crosscut guide for dadoes.
If it could then mounted vertically, I would effectively have a panel saw/router such as is used in B&Q to cut down the sheets - but also to rout grooves

Here

 

[bigegg]

35 quid instead of the £150 + for the parfguide.
I know where my money would go...

 

[Parm]

An alternative to cutting dadoes in 18mm ply is to use 8mm ply and glue strips of 5mm to each side to form your runners.
Or three layers of 6mm.
Use 12mm ply +6mm for outer case.

Alternatively, there is a router in the "for sale" section which will do the job - it is the same model which I used to cut 1000s of metres of dadoes to make bookcases.



The problem with them is that european saws have a brake to make sure they stop within 30seconds. When the brake is activated, the momentum of the (much heavier than a blade) dado set makes it unscrew from the arbour - or just not slow down in time.
There ARE saws which can be used with a dado set, but they tend to have a secondary locking mechanism for the blade and a heavier brake - and are £££££££

It’s 10 seconds, all pro woodworking machinery must come to a dead stop in 10 seconds or less or else it’s a prohibition notice

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

35 quid instead of the £150 + for the parfguide.
I know where my money would go...

Aye easy to turn some dogs up on the lathe then tracksaw rails to rout and cut true. Been meaning to do it for a few years now