Can't Change Back Dado Depth Clearance

[Nat Wheatley]

Is anyone able to on the attached cabinet? I'm trying to make the back 1mm less wide. Thanks.

[Kerry Fullington]

Nat,

I didn't have any problem changing the back dado depth clearance but what do you mean you want to make the back 1mm less wide? the depth clearance won't change the size of the back.

Kerry

[Nat Wheatley]

Kerry,

I must be misunderstanding what the depth clearance does then. I had thought that if I increased the depth clearance that it would keep the dado depth the same size, but make the back smaller by the amount that the depth clearance was increased?

Nat

[Gary Campbell]

Nat...
The depth clearance makes the dado deeper. Doesnt reduce the size of the part. So if you want a 1mm wiggle room for a back against the sides, set the depth clearance for the back at .5mm. This will give you 1mm total.

The fit clearance will make the dado wider by the set amount. Both are very useful if you use slide in backs.

Are you still using metric? Now that the Bruins won, I'd think you would switch to inches.

[Kerry Fullington]

Nat,

If you want the back smaller just use insets

Kerry

[Nat Wheatley]

Thanks, I'll try that. I hadn't thought it would work with dadoes involved. What does the depth clearance do?

[Kerry Fullington]

Nat,

The depth clearance is to allow for adhesive so that your parts don't bottom out and squeeze out all the glue. Some make it deep for ease of assembly.(incase PB chips fall in etc.) As Gary said, it is wiggle room.

[Nat Wheatley]

Got it, thanks for the help. Didn't see Gary's post above until now.

Thanks again,

Nat

[Kerry Fullington]

Nat,

The Depth Clearance is probably more for Blind Dado than the Full Dado. When you add depth clearance to a blind dado the shoulder of the tenon will stop the piece and leave the clearance. In a full dado it could just bottom out and make your measurements off.

[Gary Campbell]

Nat...
Kerry's explanation is exactly the way I use the depth clearance the most. When using 50% +/- tenons I set the depth clearance to .020 to allow for sheet thickness variations. This keeps the "shoulder" tight against its mating part even if the sheet gets thinner.

I only use a depth clearance with full dados when a slide in back is requested. Remember that your clearance doubles when a part, such as a back is inserted into 2 parts. I seldom use full dado as a construction joint.

[Nat Wheatley]

Got it, thanks guys!