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Half-lap joints

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Step 2: Test cutting depth

Step 2: Test cutting depth

Set the cutting depth of the dado set so it removes precisely one-half of the workpiece thickness. Test your cutting depth with two pieces of scrap stock of the same thickness as your workpieces. After cutting the scrap pieces, lay them on a flat surface and align them as shown. The top and bottom faces should be flush.

Continued on page 4: Step 3: Cut the joint

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Comments (5)

blurover wrote:

I believe mmyjak has a good point. You should us a short stop block against the fence that allows the work piece to clear before the cut begins. Also, the method described by berowen uses much less material.

9/2/2012 07:57:04 AM Report Abuse

wdworker509644 wrote:

Miter gauge can be used safely IF the cut is not all the way through the stock.

7/21/2012 05:43:39 PM Report Abuse

kerrygmo wrote:

Berowen, thanks for that tip. That's as easy as it gets.

7/19/2012 10:41:18 PM Report Abuse

mmyjak wrote:

I don't like to advocate using the Miter Gauge in conjunction with the Rip Fence. Rather then instill a potentially bad habit, its just as easy to use a gauge block clamped to the rip fence.

5/4/2012 08:33:23 AM Report Abuse

berowen wrote:

Alternative method for setting depth is to use a scrap piece that is the same thickness as your project wood. Raise your blade to just under 1/2 the stock thickness (eyeballing will do). Make a test cut, flip the piece, make another cut. Bump up the blade height again and repeat the two cuts until the left over sliver of wood just disappears. You should now have a perfectly set blade height.

5/3/2012 10:34:22 AM Report Abuse