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Debbie Does Dadoes

Project by MsDebbieP posted 757 days ago 2077 views 1 time favorited 52 comments Add to Favorites Watch

The Learning Curve
After several difficulties with several routers I decided that there is more than one way to do what I want to do and I don’t have to use motorized equipment!

A trip to Lee Valley resulted in the purchase of a Router Plane (against the advice of the salesman who thought I should stick to an electric router).

So the plane came home and after a brief practice with the tool I thought I’d better make something with it to show that it was a good investment.

My woodworking skills and experience are limited but I (fortunately) don’t have the perfectionist gene when it comes to my hobby and so there was no pressure to create a piece of treasured art.

The Process
I did a quick search of wood pieces lying around and tried to find something for the lid that would fit the 1/4” or 1/2” width of the plane blade without having to do too much problem-solving.

I found a piece of Aromatic Cedar (perfect thickness for the dado I would be making) and some walnut which would be great to make the rest of the box.

I cut the pieces of wood to make a medium-sized box. I wasn’t too particular about the size. I just wanted to practice making a dado. (In hindsight a little more thought would have been good as the box is quite shallow and I’m not quite sure what I’m going to store in it!) For the lid, I cut my cedar to keep a raw edge and a little twig for the handle.

Next, I set the mitre saw to cut the depth/edges of the dado. I then used a little dollar-store chisel to knock out most of the wood in the dado and then brought out the plane. Since the wood pieces were so small I couldn’t use clamps, so I just made a wood stop for the pieces to rest up against and off I went. It didn’t take long to get the feel of it and I swooshed off the excess wood and I think the results are pretty darned good.

Next, I had to put the box together and out came the DowelMax. Again, with a few “hmmm’s” and a few “doh’s” I figured out the how and where’s and I was soon putting the pieces together.

Since the lid just slides in and out, I decided to add a rare earth magnet to the box / lid to make sure it stayed closed and the treasured contents (whatever they might be) would be safe inside if the box should fall.

A wipe down with some wipe-on poly and that was it – a box with a sliding lid.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)


52 comments so far

View jockmike2's profile (online now)

jockmike2

7352 posts in 1145 days


posted 757 days ago

Not bad me lady, not bad at all. keep on keepin on. Actually I wish I had one in my kit. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View Bill's profile

Bill

2561 posts in 1059 days


posted 757 days ago

Well done Debbie! It looks like the dado came out really smooth and the right size.

I bet there will be more boxes now.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View miles125's profile

miles125

1441 posts in 904 days


posted 757 days ago

I like it! Great use of materials at hand.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

951 posts in 780 days


posted 757 days ago

Good for you. I like the handle.

You didn’t do dis dado in Dallas, did you Debbie?

Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

997 posts in 992 days


posted 757 days ago

Way to go Debbie! I’d say it was a triumph. I agree, the dado looks quite smooth and square.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7672 posts in 1116 days


posted 757 days ago

That’s a nice looking dado! And the box looks like it is the right size to keep your passport in. You need a good place since you are such a world traveller these days.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View jpw1995's profile

jpw1995

348 posts in 1196 days


posted 757 days ago

Way to think outside the box while cutting a dado inside the box. I’m not sure that makes any sense, but very nice job! I have to admit that this is the first router plane I’ve seen. It looks like it works great. Did you enjoy using it?

-- JP, Shelbyville, KY

View Max's profile

Max

14516 posts in 1171 days


posted 757 days ago

Great job. I really like the use of the limb for the handle. That is pretty inventive!!!!! And that Dado is really great.

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

View Bill's profile

Bill

2561 posts in 1059 days


posted 757 days ago

I think you should add pictures of your router plane as well. Give us more tools to admire.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 757 days ago

thanks everyone.

(haha Debbie Does Dadoes in Dallas..)
The plane was fun to use – a lot less stressful than the routers from you-know-where!
here’s a pix of the plane.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

1723 posts in 888 days


posted 757 days ago

Nice box Debbie! I really like the handle too. But you should realize that by adding a rare earth magnet you might find that some of your gold chains are not gold at all! “And then she took an axe, he was sleeping so peacefully…”

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

View Calgirl's profile

Calgirl

188 posts in 794 days


posted 757 days ago

Well Miss Debbie,
Cute, aeromatic boxes with unique handles have a way of multiplying. Seems to me that your box is a great place to store old coins and stamps from grandma’s old love letters in the attic!

Nice job on the dado’s proving your new tool was a good investment.

-- Forget the health food, I need all the preservatives I can get !

View Russel's profile (online now)

Russel

2063 posts in 837 days


posted 757 days ago

Very cool. I’ve looked at these router planes and thought they might be fun and now after reading and seeing what you’ve done, I think I might just take the plunge.

-- Working at Woodworking http://www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3791 posts in 1212 days


posted 757 days ago

“Just a box. Any box” Quote from some newbie, somewhere in the far distant pass. That is not just any box! I’m going to steal that live handle design and call it a dennis original.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 757 days ago

I was going to title it “just a box” but changed my mind.
I thought you might comment on it :)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3791 posts in 1212 days


posted 757 days ago

I just might at that!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

View Bwillie's profile

Bwillie

103 posts in 1004 days


posted 757 days ago

Love this box!

-- ICN, Bill, (http://www.beavercreekfitness.com)

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4013 posts in 860 days


posted 757 days ago

Atta boy, girl!!! Huh? that’s handy dandy handle on a little bitty boxey.

-- Thos. Angle

View WayneC's profile (online now)

WayneC

6044 posts in 995 days


posted 757 days ago

Very nice. I would say the Veritas small plow plane should be next on your list.

Small Plow Plane

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3427 posts in 962 days


posted 757 days ago

But not just a box with legs. Go Girl! Your a boxhound fer shure.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5968 posts in 964 days


posted 757 days ago

Very nice box MsDebbie – I like it. I like the dado that you cut – Thanks for teasing me with YET ANOTHER plane that I want to buy. I see that Wayne has already selected on for me :-)).

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View scottb's profile

scottb

3402 posts in 1225 days


posted 757 days ago

Great box!

What kind of salesman tried to talk someone out of a handtool purchase? – one that might lead to more and more planes being sold? was he thinking of the commission on all the router bits you’d be picking up? Inevitably you finished those dadoes faster (or just as fast) as you could have with setting up the electric router. – oh and you didn’t wake the neighbors or spend a penny on electricity!

Way to kick it old school!

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 757 days ago

thanks everyone:)

and what will that plow plane enable me to do?

Scott, the gentleman, after I couldn’t answer most of his questions about what I would be doing, assumed (correctly) that my woodworking abilities were quite limited and that I’d be better off waiting for Rick to come home and use the router for me, than for me to waste a chunk of cash on a tool that I’d rarely use.

Letting Rick do the dadoes for me is of course an option but then I couldn’t say that I made the box myself… so .. not a good option for me. Thus, the investment.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Roger Strautman's profile

Roger Strautman

534 posts in 1032 days


posted 757 days ago

What kind of $ do you have on this type of artwork? Very nice Debbie!

-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"

View Dekker's profile

Dekker

145 posts in 779 days


posted 757 days ago

Nice design for the box, with a great lid! Nicely implemented, with very clean dado – Goes to show hand-tools don’t sacrifice quality, they only require an investment in sweat equity.

-- Dekker - http://www.WoodworkDetails.com/Blog/MNagy/

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 757 days ago

$$$ / art
you make me smile, Rog!

Dekker, and the hand tools relieves the stress level for me… I’m beginning to hate power tools. lol
(well, except my mitre saw and my drill).

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View herbr's profile

herbr

138 posts in 967 days


posted 757 days ago

nice box-great dado smooth and clean. A nice way to cut dado`s I wasn`t aware of

-- Spread love with our work

View shaun's profile

shaun

360 posts in 804 days


posted 757 days ago

Now that’s pretty sweet there Ms. Deb.

-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!

View mski's profile

mski

360 posts in 878 days


posted 757 days ago

Great Job!!! Love the handle lid, I love those Planes, never used one I like just looking at them.

-- MARK IN BOB, So. CAL

View RobS's profile

RobS

1243 posts in 1204 days


posted 756 days ago

Very creative and unique, two of my favorite qualities…Great job Ms. Debbie!

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

View WayneC's profile (online now)

WayneC

6044 posts in 995 days


posted 756 days ago

The plow plane is another way to make grooves in wood quickly. It has a set of blades that make grooves of various widths.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

View Chip's profile

Chip

1058 posts in 991 days


posted 756 days ago

Great piece Deb. As others have mentioned, I think the handle idea is especially nice. Terrific photos too.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

View Karson's profile

Karson

25806 posts in 1299 days


posted 756 days ago

Debbie. A great box and a great way to create it. You are advancing in leaps and bounds. Do you also wear tights, while leaping and bounding?

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Don's profile

Don

2590 posts in 1075 days


posted 756 days ago

Hey, Deb, I just have to give this box my blessing – like the natural handle, but just love the small wooden box from an overall perspective.

Is this the first time you’ve used the DowelMax? I purchased mine at the same time you did, but have only used it three times. Great tool, though.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

View Andy's profile

Andy

571 posts in 806 days


posted 756 days ago

Very nice box Debbie!

There is something very satisfying about using hand tools.The peace and quiet and the connection we have with the wood.Also,its nice to have a backup plan when the power is out.Thanks for encouraging us to view things from an old perspective.

-- " If I can make it,so can you" Andy in Oregon

View mot's profile

mot

4904 posts in 935 days


posted 756 days ago

I agree with Wayne. I think you’d make good use of the plow plane for cutting rabbets and grooves.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 756 days ago

thanks everyone :)

DowelMax: I’ve used it many times. Love it!

The Cape: I had to put it away while working in the shop – safety hazard, you know.

Plow Plane: I might have to save up for one and then go check it out.

Chip: and the box is made with Walnut !!!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Bill's profile

Bill

2561 posts in 1059 days


posted 756 days ago

Nice to see you bought the larger router plane. I foresee many more boxes with dadoos in the future.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

784 posts in 799 days


posted 755 days ago

Debbie, you said: ”so there was no pressure to create a piece of treasured art.” But I think that’s exactly what you’ve done. Well, I suppose the treasuring is up to you but I’d certainly do that. I love it to bits. And it doesn’t need to hold anything. You can just put it on your desk and enjoy it.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View Tony's profile

Tony

813 posts in 928 days


posted 755 days ago

Nice to see people using hand tools and traditional methods for making things – much more satisfying than a machine, but sometimes it takes longer. Have fun

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 754 days ago

thanks :)

It is currently sitting on the bottom shelf of my daughter’s table that I made her.

as for time spent: I would probably STILL be trying to get the dadoes made using the router. ... so the hand tool is much faster!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1767 posts in 895 days


posted 754 days ago

Debbie – I like it! What are the overall dimensions – approximately?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 754 days ago

you are asking me a measurement question?? :)

um… about 6” wide, 4” deep and 3” high…
or there abouts. give or take a couple of inches here and there.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1767 posts in 895 days


posted 753 days ago

What a perfect size!~

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 753 days ago

coulda been a little higher…
but.. it’s holding some rings right now ..and they fit nicely

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3710 posts in 878 days


posted 752 days ago

Hi Debbie,

Once again, great job. Piece by piece, step by step, viola, your a cabinetmaker. At least that’s what happened to me.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

View Blake's profile

Blake

2763 posts in 772 days


posted 744 days ago

This is a very cool box! I just came across it on the home page. I love the natural top. And great use of hand tools, not many people have the guts to use a router plane.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 744 days ago

oh. that must be why the salesman tried to talk me out of buying it. :)

thanks Blake for the kind words about the box.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View bigb's profile

bigb

5 posts in 655 days


posted 655 days ago

Ain’t handtools grand?? Quiet and no dust control needed…thanks for sharing..tho in picture, it first looked like a hot dog for a handle!!!! First looks, sometimes great fun!!!

-- Turn & turn somemore

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 655 days ago

Yes I do have to say that I’m preferring hand tools over the electric ones.

haha you have to be careful with thumbnails. = sometimes you miss the grandest of things because you can’t see what is really there.
And the, there are times that you wish you had just stuck with the thumbnail and your imagination :) haha

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View jm82435's profile

jm82435

508 posts in 640 days


posted 494 days ago

I just have to say that is knotty.

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14171 posts in 1059 days


posted 493 days ago

hahaha funny :)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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