Tip of the Week

The Secret to Perfect Dadoes and Grooves

Dado Bit. Rout dadoes, grooves, and hinge mortises with this bit.

Cleanout Bit. Short cutting edges allow bit to ride inside a dado.

The router bits shown in this article are usually used to trim the full edge of a workpiece flush to a template. But the two short pattern-type bits shown above are also perfect for cutting precision joinery.

The dado bit (left photo above) is designed to cut crisp, flat bottom dadoes and grooves when guided by a straightedge guide (lower left drawing). Since most cuts like this are shallow, this short bit is perfect for the job.

The cleanout bit at the upper right has even shorter cutting edges. It’s designed to ride along the walls of a dado or groove to cut a flat bottom. You don’t need a separate template or guide (lower right drawing).