Dado Joints

Dado joints are one of the basic joints used in woodworking.

In the cabinet and furniture industries they're used to hold stationary shelves, cabinet backs, drawer parts in place along with endless other applications.

They're easy to cut using table saws, routers, hand planes, or chisels. this is a basic joint used by almost every woodworker.

There are several variations to the basic dado joint. A couple of the most used variations are the blind dado and the sliding dovetail dado.

The blind dado stops normally about a inch before the face end of the cut. When put together the face of the project looks like just a butt joint and you can't see the dado.

The sliding dovetail dado is cut just like the tail of a dovetail while the opposing piece has a mating pin. When slid together it locks the pieces in place. This dado joint variation works good on projects where any other fastener would be unsightly if seen on the finished piece.

Joinery Tools for Dado Joints

Freud SD608 8'' Dial-A-Width Dado
Now you can have dial capability with no wobble! Stacked dado set features dial hub for shim-free adjustability and laser-cut blade plates for extreme accuracy. Freud SD608 8'' Dial-A-Width Dado

Freud 8'' Dado Set
This stacked dado set features kickback-reducing shoulder design and cuts all sizes from 1/4" to 7/8". Perfect for shelving, joints, tongue and groove, and rabbets. Freud 8'' Dado Set

Undersized Plywood Router Bit Set
These bits are specially designed to cut grooves and dadoes to accept plywood that measures less than its stated nominal thickness. This set includes the three most common sizes of straight bits for undersized plywood: 23/32'' for 3/4'' plywood, 31/64'' for 1/2'' plywood, and 15/64'' for 1/4'' plywood. Undersized Plywood Router Bit Set

More Common Woodworking Joints

Biscuit Joints
Bridle Joints
Box Joints
Butt Joints
Dado Joints
Dovetail Joints
Dowel Joints
Finger Joints
Miter Joints
Mortise and Tenon Joints
Pocket Hole Joints
Rabbet Joints
Scarf Joints
Spline Joints
Tongue and Groove Joints

Joinery Tips and Techniques

Woodsmith Box Joint Jig DVD
Tap into a wealth of tips and techniques on how to cut perfect box joints quickly and easily! Covering everything from stock preparation to table saw applications, this detailed DVD shows you how to get the most from your Woodsmith Box Joint Jig. Woodsmith Box Joint Jig DVD

Woodworker's Guide to Joinery, Book

The longevity of every project is determined by the strength of its joints. This book, part of the Back to Basics series, gives clear, detailed instructions on joinery fundamentals: miter, lap and groove, mortise and tenon, dovetail joints and more. Hundreds of full - color photographs and illustrations guide you through. Whether using hand tools or power tools, you'll get plain-spoken advice on how to make your joinery stand the test of time. 192 pages.

Woodworker's Guide to Joinery, Book

Router Joinery DVD
Routers can be used to cut a wide variety of joints quickly and accurately. In this video, professional woodworker Gary Rogowski demonstrates router joinery techniques that can be mastered by any woodworker. Youâ€™ll see firsthand how to do the work, the tools, the techniques, and the subtle rhythm of each process. 45 minutes. Router Joinery DVD

The Pocket Hole Drilling Jig Book
Learn how to use this time-saving tool to create durable joints without clamps or special fasteners in a range of stunning furniture projects. The Pocket Hole Drilling Jig Book