Hello
I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply is
1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long. I have around a dozen to do. I would
like 1/4"slots 2" across the width every 8".
The best way I can think of doing it is to very carefully mark out one
piece of ply & cut the slots with a router and use that piece as a
template for the rest.
Perhaps some one has a better idea. Is there a giant dovetail jig maybe
Thanks
[email protected] wrote:
> Hello
> I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply is
> 1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long.>
> Thanks
Table saw with a dado blade, and a quality fence with an accurate rule
would make this easy. If it was me, I'd cut the grooves first and then
rip the smaller pieces from it.
One question though, if you cut a 1/4" slot on a 1/4" thick piece of
wood, it's not really a slot anymore, is it?
Mike Marlow wrote:
> Perhaps. Here's a crude depiction of how I understood it...
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> | -------- |
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> | -------- |
The original poster's reference to a "giant dovetail jig" made me think
he meant something like this:
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Chris
"todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > "jo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> >> One question though, if you cut a 1/4" slot on a 1/4" thick piece
of
> >> >> wood, it's not really a slot anymore, is it?
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> > Why not? Is a slot defined in some way that would make this
> >> > inappropriate?
> >>
> >> Yes.
> >>
> >
> > Hmmmmm. New to me then. Here's what one definition for slot is...
> >
> > A narrow opening; a groove or slit: a slot for coins in a vending
machine;
> > a mail slot.
> >
> > I was not aware of any specific definition for it in woodworking. I
would
> > have used the same term as the OP. So - enlighten me... what is the
> > woodworking definition of slot and what would have been a more
appropriate
> > term?
>
> My reading of the original post is that he has 1/4" ply and wants to cut a
> 1/4" deep "slot". I suspect that you have interpreted it differently.
>
> todd
>
>
Perhaps. Here's a crude depiction of how I understood it...
---------
| -------- |
| -------- |
| -------- |
| -------- |
| -------- |
| -------- |
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I could not think of a better word than slot but thanks for the dado
> blade idea. Would be much easier than a router.
> Thanks again
>
No it wouldn't. Less accurate, too. Use your dado to make one of these.
http://us.oak-park.com/catalogue.html?list=boxj-- Click as requested for
demonstration photos.
[email protected] wrote:
> Hello
> I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply is
> 1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long. I have around a dozen to do. I would
> like 1/4"slots 2" across the width every 8".
Are you cutting 2" in from the edge, or 2" centered in the middle?
If you're cutting in from the edge, you could put your workpiece up on
edge in front of a backer board, then use a 1/4" dado set raised 2" high.
If you're cutting in the middle of the board, then the router is likely
your best bet and you could use something like this as a guide:
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/dado.html
Chris
"jo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] wrote:
> > Hello
> > I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply is
> > 1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long.>
> > Thanks
>
> Table saw with a dado blade, and a quality fence with an accurate rule
> would make this easy. If it was me, I'd cut the grooves first and then
> rip the smaller pieces from it.
The piece is only 4" wide and the desired slots are 2" across this 4" width.
The dado blade would probably be one of the more cumbersome methods for this
need. It would leave lots of hand work finishing both ends of each slot and
would really only clean out a very small amount of each slot. A simple jig
for the router table would work much better and would accomplish the task of
cutting a slot in one pass with a 1/4" straight cutter.
>
> One question though, if you cut a 1/4" slot on a 1/4" thick piece of
> wood, it's not really a slot anymore, is it?
>
Why not? Is a slot defined in some way that would make this inappropriate?
To me a slot can be clear through as well as only partially through.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
"Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > "jo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> >> One question though, if you cut a 1/4" slot on a 1/4" thick piece of
>> >> wood, it's not really a slot anymore, is it?
>> >>
>> >
>> > Why not? Is a slot defined in some way that would make this
>> > inappropriate?
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>
> Hmmmmm. New to me then. Here's what one definition for slot is...
>
> A narrow opening; a groove or slit: a slot for coins in a vending machine;
> a mail slot.
>
> I was not aware of any specific definition for it in woodworking. I would
> have used the same term as the OP. So - enlighten me... what is the
> woodworking definition of slot and what would have been a more appropriate
> term?
My reading of the original post is that he has 1/4" ply and wants to cut a
1/4" deep "slot". I suspect that you have interpreted it differently.
todd
"Oleg Lego" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> From the description you gave, the slots might be through the work or
> not, starting at one side or centred across the width. Assumptions
> abound when you don't describe fully.
After reading all the responses, its clear that its unclear and frustrating.
Bob
"Max" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Hello
>> I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply is
>> 1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long. I have around a dozen to do. I would
>> like 1/4"slots 2" across the width every 8".
>> The best way I can think of doing it is to very carefully mark out one
>> piece of ply & cut the slots with a router and use that piece as a
>> template for the rest.
>> Perhaps some one has a better idea. Is there a giant dovetail jig maybe
>>
>> Thanks
>
> I used my RAS to make the dentil detail on this table.
> http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/detail?.dir=45b2&.dnm=f4d2.jpg&.src=ph
>
> The cuts are one inch apart, 1/8" deep. I made a mark on the RAS table
> and moved each "slot" to the mark to cut the next "slot.
> You could do the same using a miter saw. Or do it on a table saw.
>
> Max
Oh, Oh. I just read some of the other posts. The slots are *through* the
plywood. I would go with a router and a set up like Chris posted.
Max
"todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > "jo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> One question though, if you cut a 1/4" slot on a 1/4" thick piece of
> >> wood, it's not really a slot anymore, is it?
> >>
> >
> > Why not? Is a slot defined in some way that would make this
> > inappropriate?
>
> Yes.
>
Hmmmmm. New to me then. Here's what one definition for slot is...
A narrow opening; a groove or slit: a slot for coins in a vending machine;
a mail slot.
I was not aware of any specific definition for it in woodworking. I would
have used the same term as the OP. So - enlighten me... what is the
woodworking definition of slot and what would have been a more appropriate
term?
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello
> I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply
> is
> 1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long. I have around a dozen to do. I
> would
> like 1/4"slots 2" across the width every 8".
> The best way I can think of doing it is to very carefully mark out
> one
> piece of ply & cut the slots with a router and use that piece as a
> template for the rest.
> Perhaps some one has a better idea. Is there a giant dovetail jig
> maybe
>
> Thanks
>
If there's not a big hook attached to this post, then here's one
solution to the question. No mention as to the quality of the
results was asked for. Cut all of the pieces to size, stack all
twelve pieces, the work piece is now 4 inches wide, 4 feet long and 3
inches thick, mark the top one for your slots, drill both ends of the
marks with a 1/4 inch drill bit and cut out the center with a jig
saw.
The [email protected] entity posted thusly:
>I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply is
>1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long. I have around a dozen to do. I would
>like 1/4"slots 2" across the width every 8".
>The best way I can think of doing it is to very carefully mark out one
>piece of ply & cut the slots with a router and use that piece as a
>template for the rest.
>Perhaps some one has a better idea. Is there a giant dovetail jig maybe
As you can see from the various replies to your post, it pays to
describe the problem in specifics, rather than generalities.
From the description you gave, the slots might be through the work or
not, starting at one side or centred across the width. Assumptions
abound when you don't describe fully.
What are the pieces for? (just curious)
On 24 Mar 2006 02:11:01 -0800, "jo" <[email protected]> wrote:
>[email protected] wrote:
>> Hello
>> I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply is
>> 1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long.>
>> Thanks
>
>Table saw with a dado blade, and a quality fence with an accurate rule
>would make this easy. If it was me, I'd cut the grooves first and then
>rip the smaller pieces from it.
>
>One question though, if you cut a 1/4" slot on a 1/4" thick piece of
>wood, it's not really a slot anymore, is it?
Maybe he means holes 1/4" wide, 2" in length and spaced every 8"...??
On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 09:58:11 GMT, "BillyBob"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Oleg Lego" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>> From the description you gave, the slots might be through the work or
>> not, starting at one side or centred across the width. Assumptions
>> abound when you don't describe fully.
>
>After reading all the responses, its clear that its unclear and frustrating.
Use the same technique as for cutting squared box-joints. That is,
cut the first then use a "pin" [width of the first cut] for a guide
for the rest.
"Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "jo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> One question though, if you cut a 1/4" slot on a 1/4" thick piece of
>> wood, it's not really a slot anymore, is it?
>>
>
> Why not? Is a slot defined in some way that would make this
> inappropriate?
Yes.
todd
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello
> I would appreciate some advice on cutting slots in plywood. The ply is
> 1/4" thick, 4" wide & 4 feet long. I have around a dozen to do. I would
> like 1/4"slots 2" across the width every 8".
> The best way I can think of doing it is to very carefully mark out one
> piece of ply & cut the slots with a router and use that piece as a
> template for the rest.
> Perhaps some one has a better idea. Is there a giant dovetail jig maybe
>
> Thanks
I used my RAS to make the dentil detail on this table.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/[email protected]/detail?.dir=45b2&.dnm=f4d2.jpg&.src=ph
The cuts are one inch apart, 1/8" deep. I made a mark on the RAS table and
moved each "slot" to the mark to cut the next "slot.
You could do the same using a miter saw. Or do it on a table saw.
Max