Cutting A Deep Slot In Wood

A router can be used as a hand-controlled tool to guide cuts along an edge, or it can be fastened in a router table to make grooves and slots in wood. With a few precautions and a proper setup of equipment, the process of cutting slots with a router can be fairly easy.

1. Place the wood in the miter box with the cut mark lined up with the appropriate slot for the angle, or for a straight cut. Place the saw blade in the slots and line it up with the mark.
2. Learn how to make a simple router jig for cutting dado slots. This simple jig makes it easy to cut accurate dadoes with a router. This jig is easy to build a.
3. When cutting a dado slot, try to avoid cutting any deeper than one-third of the way through the piece, to keep from weakening the stock. For instance, when cutting a dado in a 3/4-inch-thick material, make your dado cut no more than about 1/4 inch deep.

This article is from Issue 35 of Woodcraft Magazine.

Solid connectors that allow wood movement

Many woodworkers have learned the hard way not to glue or screw a solid wood tabletop to its base. This can be a painful lesson in wood movement because a secured tabletop that shrinks during the dry season can crack in response. On the other hand, expansion during the humid months can cause the joint to blow apart at the apron.

The solution is to use fasteners designed for the job. The three most common forms are store-bought 'figure-8' and 'Z-clips' and shop-made wooden 'buttons.' They’re all easy to install and allow the wood to expand and contract seasonally. Keep in mind that wood moves only across the grain, so mount the fasteners appropriately, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure-8 fasteners

Figure-8 or “desktop” fasteners screw to both the apron and the tabletop, and can pivot slightly to allow some wood movement. These work well for smaller tables but, due to their limited swing, I wouldn’t use them for tops wider than about 18'.

To allow tabletop-to-apron contact, drill a recess for each fastener in the top edge of the aprons on the drill press before attaching the legs (Photo A). Position the screw location about 3⁄16' in from the inside edge of the apron. Chisel the edges of the recess to allow for swing, and then install the fastener with a flathead screw (Photo B). After assembling the table base, orient the side apron fasteners at an angle before screwing them to the underside of the tabletop.

Determine the necessary offset of the apron slot by measuring the clip offset and adding 1⁄32'.

A 1⁄8' slot cutter can rout clip grooves after the table base is assembled. Clamp a board to the apron to prevent router tip.

Z-clip fasteners

Z-clips are strong and offer a good choice for all sorts of tables (although they’re not very attractive). One end is screwed to the tabletop, while the other sits freely in a slot cut into the apron. To locate the apron slot, measure the offset of the clip (Photo C), and then add 1⁄32', which will ensure that the clip pulls the top tightly to the apron.

The apron can be slotted various ways. One approach is to cut a 1⁄8'-wide × 3⁄8'-deep groove on the tablesaw before attaching the table legs. Alternatively, cut the slots after assembly with a biscuit joiner set for a #20 biscuit or with a router outfitted with a 3⁄8'-deep slot-cutting bit and bearing (Photo D).

When attaching the tabletop, position the clips far enough from the side aprons to allow the appropriate amount of cross-grain wood movement. The end-apron clips should be seated fully in their slots. Attach the clips with panhead screws long enough to provide a good bite into the wood.

How much movement?

When calculating seasonal movement of a tabletop, figure roughly 3⁄16' per foot of board width. This determines how deep to place the fasteners in their side-apron grooves. For example, if you’re attaching a 24'-wide tabletop during the most humid time of the year, seat side-apron clips fully in their grooves. In the driest season, set them back 3⁄16' to allow for future expansion. For wide tabletops, use large buttons with longer tongues that slip into deeper apron grooves.

Wooden buttons

Wooden buttons are used to attach tabletops on much high-end furniture. They’re very strong and exude an aura of fine craftsmanship. You can make a bunch at one time and save some for use on future projects. Install them in the same manner as Z-clips.

To make buttons on a tablesaw, first mill a strip of hardwood 3⁄4 × 1 × 24' long for safe handling. Set up a dado head for a 5⁄8'-wide cut, and outfit your miter gauge with an auxiliary fence that reaches to the blade. Place a thick stopblock against the fence 1' to the side of the blade. Then clamp the stopblock to the fence a few inches in front of the blade and lock the fence.

Register the strip against the miter gauge and stopblock, to saw a dado on each end. Use a spacer to reposition the fence 15⁄8' further from the blade (Photo E), and then cut the next dado on each end. Reposition the fence and repeat the process to dado the rest of the strip (Photo F).

Bore a series of clearance holes for the screws (Photo G).

Saw each button from the strip by aligning the saw teeth with the rear of the adjacent button (Photo H). (For safety, stop the saw before moving each offcut button away from the blade.) Finish up by sanding decorative chamfers on the rear ends and sides of the buttons, as shown in the lead photo.

Cut a dado in each end of the button stock and then use a 15⁄8' spacer to reset the fence and stopblock for the next cut on each end (left). Continue in this manner to dado all the buttons (right).

How To Cut A Slot In Wood With A Router

Statistics show that a router is a standard tool that is highly applicable in woodcutting. Its usage is mainly-attributed to its high level of efficiency and reliability. Routers come in different shapes and professionally crafted for various purposes. Thus it is vital to be clear with the type of the router that you require according to its purposes.

Nevertheless, some people also prefer other types of cutting tools. Like any other tool, routers also come with their shortcomings. In this article, there are highlights on the pros and cons of a router. Also, it gives insight on how to cut a slot in wood with a router. Consequently, you will have an easier time in fathoming the work-ability of your tool and also how to drill slots using a router. Hence, keep on reading to learn more

Advantages Of A Router

Every time I am deciding on which tool to get for my workshop, I usually highlight all its pros and cons. Later I weigh them to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the device. Out of experience, I can make a firm conclusion that this unique approach never fails to earn you the ideal tool for your activity. After intensive research, here are highlights on the pros of using a router to cut slots in wood and one more detail on how to cut a slot in wood.

• Setting up the routers does not require a high level of expertise. Hence routers are very recommendable for amateurs in woodwork. Also, due to its high level of simplicity in its operations, the router is recommendable in a time-saving environment.
• High level of accuracy. Mortising requires a high level of accuracy. Slight mistakes may cause to wastage of wood which may turn out to be expensive thus uneconomical. Sharpening your skills in mortising may fail to bear fruits if you are using a faulty tool. As a precaution, routers are skillfully-fashioned with a high level of accuracy. As a result, their cuts are very smooth and attractive
• Super-versatile tool. A router is a multipurpose tool. Among the applications is cutting slots and making grooves in the wood. All its cuts are very smooth and perfect. It is a tool that will serve in place of a variety of tools hence a very economical machine.
• Safety of the workers. The employer to ensure that your workforce is not at any peril. Ignorance may cause the ruining of your reputation and some immense losses. The crafting of routers effectually-considered the safety of the workers and ensures that they are not at any risk. Hence it is a tool that will increase productivity and build your reputation
• Recommendable in the time-saving environment. Routers work at high speed without altering its high level of accuracy. Thus using a router in pour woodworking will help to conserve time hence increasing output in a specified time. It is a useful tool that will guarantee you soar high in your work without any defects. More so, this tool is very affordable and available in the shops. You can visit the nearest hardware to purchase it or make an online order.
• Routers have an elegant, ergonomic, and portable design. They are ultra-light to reduce strain while using them and during movements.
• The compatibility of the workshop is a very vital feature. Routers are very fit; thus, they take very little space while storing them. Thus they are very relevant in space-limited working places.

Disadvantages Of A Router

• Cannot make deep cuts in a single pass
• Routers are not efficient in heavy-duty cutting
• Router bits availability is limited

Despite the shortcomings of routers, their usage is indispensable. They have a high level of efficiency and accuracy that is not commutable. They have a top-notch level of work-ability and it is a wise decision to use them in slot cutting

Cutting A Deep Slot In Wood Chipper

How To Cut A Slot In A Wood With A Router

1. Place the wood on the routing table. Advisably, when using a router, you should also have a routing table. Place the wood to be cut on the routing table horizontally.
2. Using a straight-edged ruler, draw clear and accurate slots boundary on both sides. Ensure you use a sharp and visible pencil while drawing the slot lines.
3. Set the bit size in the router. To avoid fatigue, ensure that you have a mid-size and portable router to prevent strain on the heads.
4. Place the fence of the router on the center of the slots. This step requires a high level of accuracy. ensure the fence is entirely on the middle of the bit slot before going to the next step
5. set the left top in the right position and secure it
6. using the bits, drill overlapping holes within the slot boundaries
7. with the auxiliary guide, feed the router part until it hits the stop
8. using the router, rout the slots of the required depth

Final words

Routers are conventional in most of the workshops. It is a result of their relevant pros, which increases their efficiency. A router is professionally-crafted to promise an error-free cutting. They have a high level of accuracy; hence all its cuts are smooth thus-reducing wastage of materials. It is a tool that will ensure that all your employees are safe from all possible accidents. Thus an original router will help to build your reputation and increase productivity.

Cutting A Deep Slot In Wood Floors

What about time-saving. In all our duties, we aim at saving as much time as possible. Also, we prefer a tool that will ensure that we meet the given deadlines. A router is one of such devices. It works at super high speed compared to other devices of its like. Hence it is highly recommendable to increase the output of your work. This article has also briefly- discussed how to cut a slot in wood with a router. All the steps are clear from ambiguity; hence they will offer the needed guidance. Nevertheless, ensure that you wear the appropriate safety attire. one more thing you need to know how to use a slot cutting router bit. More Details