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Building a Darkroom: Joinery
Disclaimer: Warning! Just because you read it here, doesn't make it safe. Use extreme caution around power tools.If you have a router
There is a bit for cutting dadoes and rabbets. Use a guide on the wood to make sure you cut a nice straight line. Unless you have an industrial strength router, cut in increments. You might want to use dovetail dadoes, instead of rectangular ones, they you don't need nails or clamps. Make test cuts on scraps of wood to test fit first.If you have a table saw or a cross cut saw
I have to borrow one of these too! I use a dadoe head attachment. It can cut different widths by changing the number of blades and spacers. I've seen a head that is adjustable without having to remove it and change blades. That would be nice. If you've never used a dadoe cutter before, they're really easy to use, you'll have no problems. Just be sure to make test cuts on scraps of wood to test fit first. If you don't have, can't borrow, can't buy (I hate that word) a dadoe head, never fear. You can just pass the wood over the blade many times, sliding it sideways 1/8" at a time (or whatever the thickness of the cut made by your blade). Just be careful. Rig up a stop so you get the right width. Or you can cut the sides and chisel out the middle.If you have a circular saw
I suggest you cut the sides of the dadoe and chisel out the middle. You'll wear yourself out trying to remove all the middle wood in a dadoe with a circular saw, and that could be dangerous. For the rabbets, cut across the face of the wood with the circular saw, but cut across the end with a hand saw.If you have a hand saw
Cut the sides of the dadoe and chisel out the middle. For the rabbets, cut across the face of the wood, then across the end.If you got this far, and didn't find an answer
Ask someone who has seen a piece of wood before to help you.Visitor Comments
The comments stated below are not necessarily the opinions of Andy Hughes or DarkroomSourceJust a word of caution regarding the use of dadoe cutting blades on a table saw. Because a dadoe blade removes more wood than a \'regular\' blade, feed the wood slowly. Also use all safety devices such as push sticks/blocks, feather boards, anti kickback pawls, etc. Failure to use safety devices/attachments can allow kick back of the wood causing injuries. I have seen the results of a kicked back piace of wood on a friend and co-worker, he was missing part of two fingers from his hand.Contributed by on 2006-06-15 13:13:38
