Newbee ;joinery use TS or RT

Bob, I generally cut my dadoes on a table saw largely because I can do it in one pass whereas cutting a dado on a router table will usually involve multiple passes. I also feel it is easier to dial in the correct dado width with a stacked dado set as opposed to using a fixed diameter router bit and adjusting the fence to achieve the correct dado width. And I guess that I am just more comfortable using my table saw as opposed to either of my router tables.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Table saw. You will get a cleaner dado, especially going across grain. Plus, you won’t burn out your router bits.
That Freud set is a nice one, sounds like you got a good deal. Use it.

-- Its not Rocket Surgery!

I usually try to cut dadoes with my table saw nice and clean in one pass, a router when cutting across the grain will usually come out a little hairy nothing some 120 grit on a ROS won’t take care of, but one more step to get to the finished product. There are times when a hand held router and a jig are the only way to go. Since I built a new router table last year I’ve used it a lot more for dadoes (my old router table was scary), but I think the table saw still ends up doing the majority of them around my shop.

-- Mike

depends on the type of joint, and your TS compared to your router setup. sounds like you have a sufficient TS to accpet a dado setup. if you have a reasonable size router table and a stout router (2.5 hp or more) then you could breeze through a drawer joint using a 45 degree lock miter bit, such as below.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2142&filter=miter%20router%20bit

On the TS, the lock miter joint is a relatively simple and fast joint to make, as see below. hope you can see the video withoug being a paying member. maybe you are one. it’s worth the 5 bucks a month.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=30193

two important notes. on a router table, use a scrap piece of wood to back up the workpiece so you don’t get tearout or snipe. it’s also worthwhile to buy or make a coping sled for the router table. buy or make a zero tolerance throat plate for dadoing on the TS.

You probably have the tools to try both methods. either way you’ll learn alot and have more fun than a barrel of your favorite animals.

just my $0.02

-- david roberts, spinning Tales from Topographic Oceans, no, really.

Well I found a new respect for the table saw and the band saw. Just finished watching a DVD called “Mastering WoodWorking Machines” by Taunton Press featuring Mark Duginske make some very impressive dovetail joinery using just those 2 machines and a jig that was composed of just 4 pieces of wood and a miter gauge.
Soo simple I felt ashamed and jumbled at the same time. He also showed me how to use post-it notes as a very effective thickness adjusting measure
Well I am happy I got the video and hope to learn a few tricks. I am also very happy to have found this site and be able to pick your collective brains.