The way I cut dados for drawer bottoms used to be a mess

For a long time, I'd just run a 1/4 inch straight bit on my router table and hope the plywood fit, which it never did cleanly. After a job in Tacoma where a client pointed out the gaps, I switched to a Freud 3/8 inch spiral upcut bit and a jig I built. The fit is perfect now, no more slop. Anyone else have a drawer bottom method they swear by?

3 comments

3 Comments

theac6321d ago

Yeah, that spiral upcut bit is a total game changer. I used to fight with tear-out on plywood all the time, especially on those thin dados. Switched to a similar bit and built a simple fence jig with some toggle clamps, and now the pieces just drop in with a light tap. No more sanding or forcing things.

caleb_price21d ago

Right? @theac63 makes it sound so easy, like we've all been fighting plywood for fun this whole time.

garcia.tyler21d ago

But sometimes you just need a dado that fits tight, a little friction keeps things from shifting later.