Router guide for dado cutting

I was building a couple of wood cabinets today, and needed a way to plow 18 dadoes through the sides of the cabinets for shelving supports, so I made a guide for the router to make things easier and more accurate. It is simply 2 pieces of 1 X 6, along with 2 pieces of 1 X 4, assembled into a rectangle, with just the right dimension between the guides to allow a router to slide freely between them. The jig could also be built on an angle if angled dadoes are needed. Once the first dado is located and cut, it then becomes a simple matter to slide the jig to the next location, as the cut of the router through the wood of the jig becomes an accurate locator for the next cut to be made. I timed the cuts, and was able to easily make one complete cut per minute with this method, including relocating and clamping the jig. As an added bonus, the jig was made from free crate wood that my workplace gives me. Enjoy.

I love it.

I've done several sets of bookcases that required that kind of cut, and I always reach this point where I forget how I did it the previous time (table saw with dado blades? router? before cutting the lengths or after?). That's a simple enough fixture that you could make one every time you make shelves.

I Like it...I am making me one of those!
An adjustable one, with slides and wing nuts!
Thanks for sharing!

And if you make one of the top pieces wide enough (a chunk of plywood or 1 x 8), you can screw a 3/4" wide cleat on the underside to drop into the last dado, automatically creating the spacing for the next.

Steevo said:

And if you make one of the top pieces wide enough (a chunk of plywood or 1 x 8), you can screw a 3/4" wide cleat on the underside to drop into the last dado, automatically creating the spacing for the next.

Click to expand...

That's an excellent idea, Steevo. I would not have been able to use your idea in my case, as each shelf was custom located by what it would be storing, but your idea is mentally filed if the occasion arises.

I use the router bits that are slightly undersize for use with plywood. I have a T shaped jig with clamps made into both ends. I have cut three spacer boards one for each size 1/4 , 1/2 and 3/4 inch plywood. I lay the spacer board next to the jig and then line it up with the line drawn on the board to cut.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NJ7AZG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

roland iam going give it a try its a great jig thanks rock477

Thanks Rock. You should see my shop at this moment. I sure won't be welding in there anytime soon. It's wrapped up with sawdust right now. I don't think even you would have enough extinguishers to put it out. I made some cabinets for the house and used some of the crate wood from work for the face frames by picking nice knot free sections to cut from. Nothing like free materials.