Shopsmith Forums

OK, did the one thing I've wanted to do for a while. Made several passes to make a rabbet. Using the fence and the mitre, made the rabbet to wide from the end of the board. Now, I want to trim the board down so that the rabbet is 3/8 X 3/8. Should I use the hollow ground blade with the mitre or should I make the sacrificial fence to crosscut the board until it is correctly sized? Or should I take another route? Thanks for stopping and for your responses.

the old swampgator in Florida

Hi, Steve! If I am reading correctly, you have sawn a rabbet on the end of a board - a cross grain rabbet that is 3/8" deep, leaving 3/8" of the thickness of your board un-cut, however the rabbet has taken more than 3/8" from the end of the board.

I really don't know what you mean by a hollow ground blade. Why can't you just crosscut off the rabbeted end of the board so the rabbet comes out 3/8 X 3/8? No fence or sacrifical fence would be needed.

So the rabbit extends too far into the board? Without knowing the size of the board and such it is hard to say exactly what to do. If it is a narrow board you could just raise the blade and trim the excess while using the sliding mitre gauge.
Mark
If this is not the case, let us know

Mark and Charlese,

You both read it correctly. I am not that good getting something straight. Of course, new to this and apparently, don't see as well as I should or not attentive enough. Don't know which. But, I will try using a piece of blue tape for the right spot and make a crosscut to bring it back to size. I'm trying to make a bookcase of 1" X 12". Even trimming the bottom of the bookcase sides, I made a couple of bobbles which I'll cover with a piece of trim. I stated this to show that I am not good making a clean straight cut.

While writing about this, I think that I need to make a board to the face of the mitre to assist with keeping the board steady with the mitre. Thank you for your idea. I'll try it tomorrow.

the old swampgator in Florida

Steve - sounds like you need to make an extension for your miter gauge. Simple - A straight board with two holes that will allow screws (bolts) to fit into the notches in the top of your miter gauge. Then you can tighten the extension to the miter. You can then tigntly hold your board to the gauge/extension.

Thanks, Chuck,

That is what I was thinking that maybe, I not holding the board correctly to the mitre. I'll make that board and get the bolts from Lowe's after the rain leaves. I have some 1 X 3 that I think will do nicely. I had toyed with the ideas of making a sacrificial fence straddled to my table fence. Then I toyed with the idea of using the drum sander and making several passes to make it the right length so that the next board will fit. My top is also going to be rabbeted so that the top will overlap the sides, but also sit down inside the rabbets to give lateral strength. What caused all this mess was I did not set my mitre correctly after cleaning it. It was off 1 degree. After I saw that I had made several passes at an angle, I took the time to ensure the table was where it was supposed to be, that the table fence was still true and then checked the mitre to see that it was 1 degree off. Corrected that and the remainder of the boards worked well. Now, have to make the cuts to the matching side so that pair of them will be equal. Since, the two bookcases are going side by side, will have to trim the other one to the same dimensions as this one. Thanks for your support. I think making the support to the mitre will be a great improvement to the stability of the cuts for long boards.

the old swampgator in Florida

Ok, guys,

Finished up my sled bed and squared it up. Got the rabbets marked with painting tape and when I ran it by the blade and it is so close. Today, with the warm sun and southern warm breeze, fitted all the boards together. After ensuring that all fit well in a dry fit, proceded with the glue and clamps. Thanks for your help in getting me to understand. Oh, made two sets for bookcases. Hope to have pictures up next week. It will depend on the rain as I don't have room in the garage to work so I use a pair of sawhorses with an old door outside. Thanks, again. Wife is happy.

the old swampgator:D

swampgator wrote:Ok, guys,

Finished up my sled bed and squared it up. Got the rabbets marked with painting tape and when I ran it by the blade and it is so close. ....Thanks, again. Wife is happy.

the old swampgator:D

Ahh! Life's better with a Happy Wife! Glad you got it!!!

Yea, when mom aint happy, aint nobody happy:)

Just an update on this project. After cutting all the parts and such for the two bookcases, did a dry fit and after a little persuasion, they did work. So, got out the old mallet and chisel to make some adjustments. So, then I had time before the rain came to get one glued. Today, puttied and sanded it and momma is so happy. She doesn't know that I did get my cuts right on the mark. As one of my friends says, "Putty and paint makes it what it ain't!" At our age, it'll out last us. Will get the second one glued on Monday. As it dries, will cut the trim for the front of the cases. Momma thinks that I'm so good the list is beginning to come together. Thank you for your help.

the old swampgator in Florida