Setup Your Table Saw For Dadoes
You want to cut a dado/rabbet ¼" deep and exactly ¾" wide so that your top and bottom pieces will fit snugly. Here's what your rabbit will look like:
[fig-1]
And here's how you'll do it on your table saw: [fig-2]
First, set the height of your blade so that it cuts into the wood ¼" deep, not all the way through. Use a tape measure to check the highest point and then test on a scrap. Measure the cut into the scrap and adjust accordingly.
Next, measure from the left side of the blade to the fence, ¾". In Fig. 2 you can see that we want to cut the rabbet ¼" deep and ¾" wide. That way, your top piece will 'go into' the side ¼". To help explain that, here's what the two pieces would look like assembled: [fig-3]
After you run the board over the table saw and get that first cut, you have a few options. If you have a router, you can route out the rest. For that matter, you can cut the whole rabbet with your router, but here again we're assuming you're not really a woodworker so I'll describe the table saw method.
Before you adjust the fence on your table saw, grab the other side piece and make a similar cut. Pay attention to which side you are cutting your rabbet into. If your wood has a 'prettier' side (and they usually do) you don't want to be rabbetting that side.
If you don't have a router, you have to make some other cuts. Move the fence about 1/8" closer to the blade. DO NOT CUT FARTHER THAN YOUR INITIAL CUT. Cut both pieces and then move the fence another 1/8" closer to the blade. This takes time, but you'll eventually cut out a nice chunk where your top piece will fit perfectly in.
[fig-1]
And here's how you'll do it on your table saw: [fig-2]
First, set the height of your blade so that it cuts into the wood ¼" deep, not all the way through. Use a tape measure to check the highest point and then test on a scrap. Measure the cut into the scrap and adjust accordingly.
Next, measure from the left side of the blade to the fence, ¾". In Fig. 2 you can see that we want to cut the rabbet ¼" deep and ¾" wide. That way, your top piece will 'go into' the side ¼". To help explain that, here's what the two pieces would look like assembled: [fig-3]
After you run the board over the table saw and get that first cut, you have a few options. If you have a router, you can route out the rest. For that matter, you can cut the whole rabbet with your router, but here again we're assuming you're not really a woodworker so I'll describe the table saw method.
Before you adjust the fence on your table saw, grab the other side piece and make a similar cut. Pay attention to which side you are cutting your rabbet into. If your wood has a 'prettier' side (and they usually do) you don't want to be rabbetting that side.
If you don't have a router, you have to make some other cuts. Move the fence about 1/8" closer to the blade. DO NOT CUT FARTHER THAN YOUR INITIAL CUT. Cut both pieces and then move the fence another 1/8" closer to the blade. This takes time, but you'll eventually cut out a nice chunk where your top piece will fit perfectly in.