This CLEVER ROUTER TRICK Might Be THE END of Jigs In My Shop / How to Route a Dado / Woodworking

Up until now, I've always made jigs to route perfect dados. This may have all changed with this ingenious little trick I discovered that makes perfect dados, without the jigs.
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[@InspireWoodcraft]

To all who mentioned that I went too fast, I apologize! This video was a tough one to make for some reason!

[@ILoveTheOarsman]

A thicker router base like 3/8 mdf etc (w/ longer bit if necessary) allows for easily adhering the offcut to the router base edge with double sided tape and eliminates the masking tape shim, and allows for easy long dados/rabbets without needing that little nub edge to keep the router base tight to the straight edge.

[@RobRobertson1000]

Only a bit fast. As soon as I replayed 'the penny dropped :) :) Really cool idea.

[@mightyporky]

well I watched three times and FINALLY I got it, nice Jodie

[@northernlightsrenovations1710]

Great tip, thanks for sharing!

[@nevillewebb2856]

Yes I had to replay and pause the clip - simple idea but ingenious!

[@cantstopthefunk22]

My friend, you have rocketed to the top of my list of favorite woodworking channels. It's unbelievably refreshing to not have to sift through a 10-20 minute video to absorb 2-3 minutes of real information. You respect our time (and attention span) and I respect that

[@jellen7332]

Where is your video

[@beniciomoldenado2315]

First off. You did not go too fast. For those who don't get it, watch it again! I agree 100% with James Popp. KZbin has devolved to a very low level and I am tired of watching long videos with loud introductions and awful music that end up being 2 or 3 times longer than necessary. Keep up the excellent work sir. I am not even a woodworker and I will watch more of your stuff. Thank you.

[@dgrstl]

My thoughts exactly. first off super clever technique, I just created a new playlist for this type of video but I find I keep coming back to your stuff. Second, could not agree more with how much I appreciate the practical succinct approach; you have a gift.

[@raytry69]

@@beniciomoldenado2315 I just wanted to say the exact same thing. :)

[@emrehanli]

Exactly my thoughts! Such a refreshing video.

[@Wyman642]

For us college guys learning woodworking as a hobby, your videos are invaluable. Woodworking uses its own logic that is difficult to grasp at first for people not used to working with physical things, but makes perfect sense in hindsight. Thanks and keep the tips coming. I’m learning so much and finally getting a feel for how things work.

[@vtlynch92]

This is exactly my experience as well. True talent for teaching.

[@Richard-wk9le]

Ya and your hands may get dirty......

[@Wyman642]

@@Richard-wk9le Never! My butler actually does all the work for me. But I supervise while reading poetry.

[@coreygrua3271]

An astute observation. I’d bet that more than a few of us exist and learning the logic can be challenging (but very worthwhile and good for the brain).

[@groverearp2600]

For us non-college guys learning woodworking as a hobby, its common sense and aptitude . He explains it in a way that even college guys can understand.

[@spellingmistake1]

We all know that the purpose of woodworking is to buy more tools

[@Bigteddy552]

Over priced at that.

[@narclem]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 no lies being told here!

[@PerukanTimpuri]

Festools...

[@manusalinas3994]

I convince my wife that was the purpose. Woo hoo

[@mylesmoore4255]

The purpose of woodworking is to fix your mistakes.

[@Phazaar]

This is cool, but it's infinitely easier (and uses similar setup in half the time) to just clamp your two blocks of wood on either side of the piece that's going to be fitted into the groove, remove that bit of wood, then grab a router bit with a top bearing and run straight down one side and back up the other. No faffing about with offcuts, waste, or wondering which little shim was the correct little shim either.

[@danielgallegos1528]

It took me FOUR-EVERRRR to understand this. Like embarrassingly long. I stalled on my shelves for a week. Even bought a smaller router because I didn’t think I could maneuver the beast I have. I’m a totally newbie. First time I do anything other than shape an edge with the router, but I really wanted some clean dados for my shelves and I really want to make plywood stuffs to solve organization and furniture needs around the house. So I persisted. On the day I purchased the smaller compact router, but never opened, I finally was able to wrap my head around this simple but WAY effective hack. My dados are tight and the only one that had a little play was the first one. I wonder if the process of passing the off cut against the fence sanded it just enough to narrow the piece and leave the dado fit a little more snug. Much respect to the big brain on Bob that figured this one out. I’m feeling PRO with these dado slots. And my big boy router made clean cut and worked like a charm. Thanks again.

[@meangreen7389]

I too didn’t see the nuance in making the off-cut and making the prefect dado. But once it’s actually done, it comes together figuratively and literally.

[@davidyoung353]

Hands Down! the best woodworking tips online that I've found. Wisdom is the ability to make things simple. Any fool can convolute things.

[@gordroberts53]

Brilliant, definitely one of the best how to channels on KZbin. Practical solutions to everyday problems and you respect our time. Thanks always for sharing!

[@PPHalpert]

I get freakin pumped up when I watch this one! Man how many hours I’ve spent thinking I was about to solve something the simplest and smartest ways, saving off cuts and other bs 😂 you knocked this one out of the park when the little hook piece was ALSO part of the solution. Simple and smart… my brain don’t do it…. That’s why I’ve watched this like 5 times 🦅🦅 You da man!

[@pemtax557]

You have become my goto woodworking channel to learn some of the coolest things ever. The beauty of it all is how common sense with a touch of clever is what makes your tips & tricks so darned good. Cheers!!

[@seattledanr5363]

I had to watch this twice and use my fingers and imagination to figure out how that offcut works, but I got it! Neat trick. You went through it quickly, but like others have mentioned, I appreciated not having to watch a 15 minute video to learn a 3 minute trick. Thanks for posting this. I subbed!

[@caploader111]

Same here I watched it twice and still don't understand how he gets the off cut. A different camera angle might help.

[@20thCenturyPox]

@@caploader111 I have lost count of how many times I've watched this and I still don't know what's going on

[@wadesam6232]

Jodi, for the life of me, I don't know why you don't have more subscribers. Your vids are always on point and are not filled with "filler" so to speak. Thank you and for the tips and education. Keep 'em coming.🤑

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

Totally agree.

[@alans1816]

The difference between your approach and other related ones is that you show how to make the precise shims needed. That helps. A couple of comments: when you run your router against a straightedge, it's easiest to do accurately if the cutting forces push the router into the fence rather than pull it away. While cutting, routers tend to move to their left. Leaving on that tab to prevent slipping off the shim is brilliant. In most cases it's better than the usual approach of clamping something behind and in contact with the square, then using the shim between the two as you reposition the square.

[@robertpenoyer9998]

You have provided some of the cleverest, most useful tricks and techniques that I've found on KZbin. Thanks!

[@constantinosschinas4503]

a lot of the pleasure in woodworking is figuring out simple solutions like this.

[@skigglystars9525]

Always learning something new on this channel. It's like I'm getting a brain/knowledge fix drug.. without all the bad side affects. Once again rock on with all the new content. I've been a subscriber for quite sometime now and so grateful for all you share.

[@SJmystic]

Love the cleverness! And the encouragement to solve problems using cleverness rather than buying more things. Better for the world!!

[@guitfiddle]

That was a great tip. Not too fast at all. After all, we can pause and replay it as much as we want. Thanks for keeping it under 30 min. :D

[@bruce-le-smith]

yeah utoob has a little cog with a feature that let's you play the video slower... people are so funny

[@tommythompson6278]

Thanks for the tips! Your channel is one of the very few where I watch everything you post.

[@johnbarbuto5387]

Fabulous! What I particularly like is your desire to add the new "tool" to your brain - that is, to discover how to do something without making yet-another jig. Excellent! Let's hear it for brains over brawn. And, yes, you did go through it fast, but then that is good technique: tell 'em quickly to get the big picture (so they can decide if it is relevant to them), then let them go through it again if they want to remember the details! Ummm, let's see: twice through! Hmmm, KZbin are you paying attention? You can track this as a measure of "influence"! And, yes, I'm influenced! Now I'm going through it again and then I'm off to your channel! Cheers!

[@johntailing5283]

I’m now CONVINCED this is sorcery, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ! Another 2 minute master class - Great vid 👍

[@JP-rr5zg]

I subscribe many woodworking channels, but as others have already mentioned, you are my favorite too. Concise, easy to learn, yet super helpful, brilliant, and original. You deserve 10x more subscribers. Great work and thank you.

[@sootys4024]

That's amazing and proof the best methods are the simplest! From starting your clear, padding free video to doing this in my own shop (and adding to my mental toolkit), ten minutes!

[@flowleopard893]

One of the most useful videos for my tiny workshop EVER. Only 20 square meters, each jig I do not need to make truly matters. Great video

[@akthumbpicker]

Brother, you have an awesome way of approaching problem solving in the shop. Thank you for all these videos.

[@gonzaleznadia2]

I just finished building the handrail on my deck kzbin.infoUgkxfQ5_mgwq6PcudJvAH25t-I4D-3cTPz4z and used this great little router to clean up the top rail before the final sanding and stain. It was light weight but packed lots of power. Either size battery didn't seem to make it top heavy and I'm a 64 yr old women so I really appreciated how easy it was to use...................... CORDLESS only way to go !!

[@katingaman]

you just gave me an idea about this, as an HVAC tech i thought about an even easier way to do this, if it fits you thats great. there are spacers which we use to measure the gaps of the pistons of the compressors, its a set that has a bunch of them which have different measurements, you dont have to cut them every time you make dados, mechanics use them too. they're called spark plug feeler gauge or just feeler gauge, they come in inches and metric and super cheap. thanks for the tip!

[@MatterLabz]

Another winner! I'll say it again, these no measure tricks are fantastic. Thanks.

[@stupot3588]

This is one of the best woodworking tricks I've seen on KZbin. Excellent.

[@egbluesuede1220]

you really think about woodworking so differently than most people do. I learn so much from these quick tips. It makes the traditional ways seem silly!

[@attilah]

Nice trick, as a 3D print enthusiast, my fist reaction was to print a kit of those offcuts with the small radial block at the end, quick to design and print.

[@als1023]

Agreed, my 1st thought too. Thanks for posting ! A series of shims, in different colours. There are some clever base plate designs at this channel " Polkio "

[@Markevans36301]

I know this is an older video but the algorithm just now gifted it to me. I love stupid simple solutions and this one takes the cake. I've seen jigs for this that are all day builds and this is probably 10 minutes the first time and a lot less after that. thanx!

[@waylandforge8704]

I really enjoyed your presentation. Pure and simple and straight to the point without the usual hullabaloo I get on youtube, and you talked to me and not at me and you explained everything very well. I'm impressed.

[@roystidomsthe2nd336]

That's one of the reasons I really enjoy woodworking, I can exercise my old brain coming up with solutions to different problems. I'll never be on your level but your videos inspire me to stay vigilant. Thanks mane.

[@ehudgavron9086]

Brother, you just got me back some more hours of life in the next year. The amount of time I won't spend making jigs and perfecting guides is TIME and TIME is all we have, SELL, SPEND, and LIVE. So, to put it simply: THANK YOU!

[@MAgaSUXX]

I am a retired Boeing 747 captain, who now enjoys woodworking, I make mostly children’s chairs, which I entirely learned to do on KZbin. (Adapting design from adult chairs to little chairs because I have grandkids) Now I am venturing into making a collapsible carryable little chair that I found in Colorado where I’m from and I need exactly the little cut that you just made there… While I really don’t think I can do it yet, your video gave me the inspiration to keep trying thank you. It’s amazing how complicated woodworking can be but man is it ever enjoyable👀🙏

[@ericprobinson]

You have an inspirational commonsense approach to woodworking. All the stuff you explain just makes sense but it’s hard to think of on your own! Thank you for the insight.

[@stevesilva6478]

Your practical solutions to challenges is very helpful in both the tip itself, as well as your thinking out of the box approach. Love it! I have gotten more useful information from you channel in the last two years than I have all the other popular woodworking channels combined. Thanks for posting and may this help you prosper.

[@emrehanli]

Great video! Content, staging, editing, and the duration of the video is just perfect. Thank you.

[@barry10ish]

Thank you I am so new I bought a router 6 months ago and you have given me knowledge and confidence to use it what a star no 5 *****

[@coreygrua3271]

“The beauty of woodworking is to think outside the box.” Spot on!

[@bansheeindahouz7594]

Dude, you are like the MacGyver of woodworking!!! Many thanks!

[@Zambonick]

Only seen a few of your videos so far but I love your emphasis on practical alternatives to established techniques -- without dissing on the established techniques, since they have their place, too. I'll take a big "mental toolbox" over a big physical one.

[@burntsider8457]

I like your videos. Informative, tightly edited, and no gratuitous BS. Keep 'em coming.

[@Genpattonmd]

This is absolutely ingenious, I've binged watched like 5 videos already. Awesome stuff and thank you for being that guy on youtube that isn't asking me mash a like button. Super appreciated

[@ashokmoghe8035]

Jodi you always demonstrate some Out of the box thinking. Great concept. This time though I felt you went a bit too fast on where that shim is made or maybe I am a bit slower (and definitely older than yesterday 😏). Keep inspiring.

[@mmedrano21]

Nice tip! I just use the board (that I’m slipping into the rabbit cut) to draw my cut, use a smaller router bit and a speed square and stay inside the lines. Pretty reliable but your technique definitely is guaranteed precision.

[@kevinthomson6324]

The tip about the dado is great but I’m just blown away by how you put the two sided tape on. What a time saver! Can’t believe I’ve never thought of doing it that way.

[@hackedi.t3065]

That little ramp looking part.... You are a genius my friend.

[@mitchmiller9658]

I just tried this and it worked perfectly! I dread using a dado stack especially on a longer workpiece. I didn’t brace the router like you did on the two black boards. I used my smaller router and just favored one side. Worked amazingly well! Thanks!

[@JimFleming1953]

Great job, Jamie! The less measurements taken, the less measurements that are messed up...

[@Mr86tango]

Video was complete enough. Great job and good idea as usual. Thanks.

[@mojoman7141]

Excellnet way to make a quick on-site dado, with no special table saws, just a scrap of wood, top tip.

[@wetchickennugget]

I like my method better. I have two very straight 3/4” think boards - they are actually coated MDF shelves. I secure one to the board I want the dado in at the exact line I want the edge of the dado using double sided tape. I then place the board that is going to fit in the dado up against the first board and tape the second straight board / coated MDF up against it, sandwiching the board in between. Then using straight cut router bits with bearings on the shaft side, you can run the router down one straight board / shelf, then the other. This makes perfect, tight dados. I’ve done this many times and even blind dados.

[@MakeSomething]

whoa! this just blew my mind. Brilliant!

[@20pump]

Another great, no measure solution Jody, Thanks man.

[@stevecolbeck6364]

This video just earnt my subscription, was literally just having to do this, came in for lunch and you popped up on my KZbin feed, thanks algorithm and thank you for making my afternoon easier, no jig for me!ha

[@gregmize01]

You are a born teacher!

[@andrebedard1816]

Great solution. You are really a woodworker scientist.

[@curtisweller4138]

Dude, I learned something new today! That doesn’t happen often in woodworking because I’ve watched countless hours of the New Yankee Workshop and have been an amateur woodworker for 25 years. I watched your video twice to make sure that I understood the process. Now I have it down and will use this trick for years to come. Thanks man!

[@seany3127]

I haven't even got round to buying a router yet but I will try to never forget this, such a useful trick!

[@boutellejb]

Your speed is perfect for me! I vote for you not slowing down. I love your approach (in this and many of your videos) of not measuring, but using the actual materials for sizing instead. Brilliant!

[@Franky2A3]

Had to watch it twice - that's clever!

[@Esuper1]

LOVE it. And yes, trouble shooting and making the jigs onthefly as opposed to carrying yet more crap is always a plus. Trying to apply what I just learned to other applications is the mental candy.

[@woodturnermark8529]

Great tip ! I had to watch the video 3 times but I got it , and will use this technic on my next dado cut. Thank You for sharing .

[@ianparkes2538]

Brilliant , been a joiner for 35 years and still learning

[@jburns4304]

Thank you for the tip. I love the fact you got right the point. So many drag out the video way to long.

[@murraytrimmer228]

Love it. I'm about to go and make one. "Woodwork is about problem solving". It sure is. I run into a problem and go straight to your channel. Thanks ever so much.

[@ErHelper-ez1id]

Best top 10 shop tip I ever saw

[@rastapete100]

I like that a lot! A little creativity can save money in tools and it is an old school process. In the old days there were far less tool options and craftsman had to figure out a way. I wish I would let that sink in a bit though since I am a tool buying addict.

[@russellnentwich8745]

Man that is a brilliant solution and like you said it cuts back in jigs and bushings. Makes it very easy all you need is a router and a square. 👍🏼

[@lauramarshall6376]

This is brilliant! Had to watch 3 times to get it, but that's not a problem for me. Thank you.

[@dufreebell]

Super cool video, because you stated the problem and then provided a solution to it, and that too in a short 3 minute video. Thanks for sharing.

[@tslim250]

Career metal worker here and hell, i thought this was pretty slick. Great to the point video too. Nice job.

[@hayfahvytsen]

This channel is simply awesome. 👍🏻

[@codymoore3101]

I also got lost on where the shim came from. Also…you’re my favorite channel; very helpful and great ideas. Keep up the good work.

[@Ghust2]

The tricky part is, when he removes the piece he says "he doesn't know this router well enough so does another pass". It's at this other pass that he effectively goes through the wood, creating that small offcut.

[@carlbrothers]

Had to watch it a couple times to see what you did here. Pretty awesome.

[@harry-t-b2776]

Genius, absolutely genius. Just cut 4 x 18mm slots in a plywood base using a 12mm cutter for the nameplate on my son's dumbbell rack I'm making. Each slot perfect width. You are a genius.....

[@playamytrumpet]

Another fantastic tip for the “tip box”. Thanks

[@chrisengland5523]

A really clever solution to a common problem!

[@danielgallegos1528]

It took me TOO MANY times to watch before my brain figured it out, but it’s like riding a bike: I’ll never forget. Genius!

[@rudispruell883]

Pretty much brilliant. Very much like a chop-saw trick we use in millshops, using a speed-square and a block. Saving for future use. Thanks!

[@lintelle2382]

Nice trick. Recommendation: use the flat on your router base to reference against your square. Round router bases are notoriously imperfect when it comes to concentricity with the spindle. That's why the flat edge is there - to always provide a consistent reference position to the center.

[@InspireWoodcraft]

My response, in my own words: kzbin.info/www/bejne/poaVgp-CZ7Odp6M

[@jansolo7963]

I'm actually impressed.. genius jet so simple

[@DHSNewsTeam]

You have great videos that you are able to understand. I find myself always coming back here for your content

[@batchrocketproject4720]

very good and well demonstrated 👍

[@tmhogge]

I love your little tips like this.

[@TheBlakerunner]

What a great idea! Thank you for sharing! You jam packed this video with only what I needed to know, and for that I thank you. The way you present ideas is first rate. You are a talented teacher!

[@mp180170]

Very cool trick BIG thanks 👌🏼 from 🇬🇧

[@mrb4408]

Nice. Simplicity is the key.

[@mikegage3369]

Thanks! Thinking outside the box solves lots of challenges.

[@Benbenshow3141]

i was fully ready to think it would be stupid, but that's definitely one of those "if its stupid but works, its not stupid" things. The concept behind what you've done is really interesting and definitely has so many possible applications. i wish i thought of it XD

[@terryt2910]

I like the way you think. Problem solving and making do with what's at hand saves a lot of trips the the hardware store and yields much satisfaction. I grasp the basic idea,, here, but will have listen to the video a couple more times to clarify your process. Thanks.

[@J.K.Builds]

Genius trick! No more trying to sneak up on the right width. Thanks mate!

[@TheDakotawolf11]

It took me a moment to get it. But then I seen the brilliance thanks for sharing.

[@robincooney1263]

This is a great piece of analytical thinking - and like all the best solutions, it is simple and it works repeatably

[@timpenner7858]

Clever is the word. Well done!

[@jameslynchsangster946]

Took me a while to understand it. Now it makes complete sense and is very useful! Thanks a lot!

[@dubsbarry9963]

I like the way you think man. I think we do way too much measuring when in fact, there's usually a piece laying in front of us that's an exact match to what we need.

[@_BAD_MERC_]

I understood fully. You managed to collectively save your audience potentially millions of dollars in tools that may only be used once or twice. Awesome!