Exact-Width Dado Jig

I was just reading about featherboards and I came across this. I don’t have a dado set, but, one day!
Check out picture number 6 &7.

-- I came, I was conquered, I was born again. ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν

Excellent video as always Mark.
Since you asked of our version of a router dado jig, here is my SketchUp version. It works without the need of guide bushing and has an adjustable fence and t-clamp for better stability.
Your thoughts will be appreciated.
Thanks
Stelios L.A. Stavrinides
Cyprus (E.U.)

-- Stelios L.A. Stavrinides: - I am not so rich to buy cheap tools, but... necessity is the mother of inventions !!!

cool vid, I made one of these awhile ago they give very precise measurements either in the width or depth. I can’t think of anything to make it better besides what you did with the 1/4” strips of wood on the edges where the router rides against. I’d like to see anything anyone has to improve this little jig too.

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://[email protected]

Hey Steliart. I considered making that style of jig. But the reason I decided against it was because the jig is dependent on the router. If you have more than one router or if you ever buy a different model, you might have to make a new jig. If the system is based off a guide busing, you can use any router you like as long as you use the right bit and guide bushing combination. So its mostly personal preference but those are my thoughts on it.

-- For free video tutorials and other cool woodworking stuff, check out http://www.TheWoodWhisperer.com

Thanks Mark

-- Stelios L.A. Stavrinides: - I am not so rich to buy cheap tools, but... necessity is the mother of inventions !!!

Great video as always Mark, thanks so very much! Look for me soon in the guild. Just gotta get a few details out of the way first.

-- Buzz ---- Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most.

Great video, Mark. And thank you for the clarity! I had made a similar jig a while back for making dadoes for shelves in a large cabinet. I modified the design to use countersunk T nuts and countersunk hex driver bolts to eliminate the knobs, since that was what I had in the shop. That and a top bearing pattern bit did what i needed. Still works great!

-- -Gerry, Hereford, AZ ” A really good woodworker knows how the hide his / her mistakes.”

steliart
I have a jig I made several years ago based on your design. I made a special base plate that is square. That way I just attach the plate that matches the jig to the router. I have several proter cable routers so it will work on any router I have.

I like Mark’s design, especially the rabit. I’ve never seen that before and it’s a good idea.

-- Emmett, from Georgia

Now that’s using your noggin Woody! GREAT idea!!

-- For free video tutorials and other cool woodworking stuff, check out http://www.TheWoodWhisperer.com

Marc I made more or less the same jig as yours out of 1/2” phenolic leftovers from a laboratory bench & so I could mount it supported by the bench I just made my cross rails wider (4”) that way instead of having the knobs on the underside I was able to put my slider bolts up from below & lock it down using a Bristol lever. The extra width gives plenty of clearance for the locking lever to clear the router path
Trevor

-- God created wood that we may create. Trevor East Yorkshire UK

This is great. thanks

These jigs work great. Whether they ride a fence, or use a guide bushing they are quite handy. I added a vertical fence to one end of mine. It is the starting point for routing dados, and keeps the router from cutting a deep dado across the jigs cleat (which would ruin the jig). With my dust shroud on my router I can’t see the bit very well, so the fence helps me stop at the right point.

I also added a router stop at the other end for stopped dados. It is just a piece of 1/2” plywood with a runner underneath. The runner rides in the main dado channel, and the stop is secured with a star knob.

Thanks for all the great info

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush