[jbishop]

Hey guys! I am planning a couple of projects, and want to make a dado jig for my router. What should I use for the base that the router slides on, and what thickness? Hardboard, MDF, or plywood? I tried to search the threads, but too many, so little time! John

 

[rwyoung]

I just use the plastic base of the router itself. Either run the edge of the base against a straight edge or use a bushing and run the router up along the straight edge with the bushing guiding.

Simple jig for dados has 2 straight edges so you can define the width of the dado (groove) and run the router down one side and back the other, for example.

The key is getting and keeping the guide board perpendicular to the work piece edge.

Good example of one over in the podcasts at www.woodworkingonline.com, you just have to root around for the router jig podcast. Likewise, at woodmagazine.com I think one of their videos has a similar jig in action.

The uber simple one I made is just an "L" made with 3/4" MDF and I ran the router base against the edge. FYI, if you go with this method, always run the same point of the base against the edge. Sometimes the base can be a little bit off-center.

 

[bobj3]

HI John

Here's just one more

Here's very easy one to make,,most router base plates are NOT true , this jig will not need the base to be true because it works off the brass guide that is true all the true with the bit, this jig will work for almost any router that can take on the brass/steel guides...plus the board will not need to be true just the slot that you put...you can use the router table to put the slot in place or a pluge router with a edge guide.. so like I said it's very easy to make with just some scrap stock you have around the shop..

The slot can be 3/4"or 1" what ever bit you have on hand plus the guide that will just drop into the slot..

I should note****if you are using veneer plywood you can make a simple jig with a razor blade that will drop in the slot and pre cut the veneer plywood , very clean and very sharp slot.....just drop it in the slot, pull it up one way and then flip it around and pull it down the other, it precuts the veneer right on the button...

Plus one other jig to pre cut veneer plywood when it's 4' x 8' size, just clamp a edge guide to the plywood, my jig is setup the same as my power hand saw with the 1/16" wide blade .

Plus it can be use to make inlay strips quick and easy..


http://www.routerforums.com/jigs-fixtures/2711-dado-jig-plunge-router.html

Hey guys! I am planning a couple of projects, and want to make a dado jig for my router. What should I use for the base that the router slides on, and what thickness? Hardboard, MDF, or plywood? I tried to search the threads, but too many, so little time! John

 

[Gene Howe]

Take a piece of MDF 6-8"wide and long enough to extend across the piece you want to dad. Glue/screw a 3/4X3/4 at one end of the mdf, insuring it's at a 90 with the edge of the mdf. Make another one. Lay one across your work, clamp it at your dado line, put a piece of what ever needs to fit in the dado up against the MDF, slide the other piece of mdf up against that piece. Clamp that piece of mdf.
Use a pattern bit of less diameter than your proposed dado's width. Run it along one side of the jig and back down the other. Perfect dado.

 

[dovetail_65]

This type jig from the thread Bob posted has always been my favorite becasue you just take the material you want to match(thickness), stick it in the gap, clamp down and the gap is the right size and the jig is ready to go for a perfectly sized dado every time. If you are going to use the base as the reference for the side stops just make a nice perfectly square mdf base for the router. I actually have a spacer so I can stick in my material plus spacer to get a gap the correct size to accommodate a template guide. Then template guide acts as the reference within the gap.

 

[bobj3]

HI Nick

That's a nasty looking slot in the plywood when I saw that jig for the 1st. time I said you got to be joking.. that type of slot comes from running the router up one way and than down the other, when you use the right bit for the right slot the dado will come out clean without the rip out of the plywood..you will sometimes just a little rip out in plywood...

=====

This type jig from the thread Bob posted has always been my favorite becasue you just take the material you want to match(thickness), stick it in the gap, clamp down and the gap is the right size and the jig is ready to go for a perfectly sized dado every time. If you are going to use the base as the reference for the side stops just make a nice perfectly square mdf base for the router. I actually have a spacer so I can stick in my material plus spacer to get a gap the correct size to accommodate a template guide. Then template guide acts as the reference within the gap.

 

[derek willis]

A very easy way, and one that I always use, is to make a tee square, use a length of mdf about 9inches wide, rout a centre slot to fit a guide bush, fiw a tee piece at right angles to one end, line the centre up with the mark for your slot, (Dado) drop the router in to engage the bush and rout, simple, I have been using this method for 15 or 16years and always get it right.
Derek.

 

[harrysin]

Derek, pictures, pictures are worth a thousand words!

 

[derek willis]

So, Harry,
you send me out to the workshop in all this cold and deep snow, just to get a picture to please you, the things I do!!!
Here it is, no action photos, too darned cold!!!!!

 

[harrysin]

So, Harry,
you send me out to the workshop in all this cold and deep snow, just to get a picture to please you, the things I do!!!
Here it is, no action photos, too darned cold!!!!!

Derek, I don't expect anyone to do what I'm not prepared to do myself so I just went into my shed (it's 10.45 PM) and took a shot of my jig.

 

[derek willis]

SNAP!!!
Fine, but, how deep is the snow where you are.
Derek.

 

[Dr.Zook]

Snow

Fine, but, how deep is the snow where you are.
Derek.

SNOW, come on Derek, it doesn't snow in Australia. Harry has no idea what snow is.

 

[Bogydave]

Doc
You never saw the movie
"The Man from Snowy River"
Made down under


Derek
I hear you only get snow once every 20 years,
Nice "T" square Dado


Picture of snow for Harry

 

[opelblues]

hi all
i dont know if this helps but this is mine, have a look a my attachments there is a plan for this dado jig

 

[harrysin]

"SNAP!!!
Fine, but, how deep is the snow where you are."
Derek

Ah, you got me there Derek.
Guys, let me further your education, I DO know what snow is, I didn't leave England until I was 32. As a young TV technician in the 1950's I occasionally had to use chains on the van's wheels.
Australia does have snow, even here in Western Australia around Albany in the south of the state and in Victoria we have snowfields with chair lifts for the holiday makers who congregate the every year.

 

[harrysin]

Dave, I must admit that I can imagine myself sat in front of a blazing wood fire with all that snow outside, but only from Christmas eve to boxing day!

 

[jbishop]

It even snows down here in Texas ya'all! Course everyone knows that our snow is bigger!

John

 

[Gene Howe]

Ran across this video by Wood Mag that shows exactly what I tried to explain in a previous post. I believe it truly is about the simplest and most accurate method for routing dados for today's weird sized plywood.

http://www. woodmagazine. com/bettertv/;jsessionid=0X2APZXOZLN2XQFIBQSCCAQ?id=979295690&lid=1338929770&tid=1442

Take out the spaces before pasting into your browser.

 

[harrysin]

Sorry Gene, but I had to give up on that URL.

 

[harrysin]

It even snows down here in Texas ya'all! Course everyone knows that our snow is bigger!

John

But of course John, even downunder we know that!