[JoeMemphis]

Hello Everyone,
For some reason I'm having issues with finding the right rabbet bit. My father gave me a set of router bits with a 1/2 inch shanks and one of the bits is a rabbet bit that cuts 1/4 inch (radius of the bit), but I can only use 1/4 shank bits on my router so I started looking for 1/4 inch rabbet bits in the 1/4 shank variety online and got nowhere(do they not exist?). Maybe I'm having a brain fart and someone can clear this up for me. I'm building a flag case and need to drop in the glass in a rabbet that is 1/4 inches wide. Hopefully I'm explaining this correctly. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[woodnthings]

rabbet or dado?

A dado is a groove, any width, any length, any depth.
a rabbet is a groove with one side missing, so it forms an "L"

If you want a 1/4" groove just use a 1/4" diameter bit.
If you want a 1/4" rabbet you must use a fence or a bearing to register off the edge. The fence can be an edge guide, or a fence on the router table.

Does this make more sense? :blink:

 

[JoeMemphis]

Ok, ok, ok...you mentioning a fence shook me out of my funk. I've been looking for bits with 1/4 inch diameters to use with my router. When I could just put the 3/8 inch rabbet bit I do have in my router table and move the fence to reduce the size of the rabbet (left to right measurement on the "L") Whew! It's been a long week, sorry for the lapse in brain function on my part.

Thank you!
Joe

 

[johnnie52]

If you indeed want 1/4" shank rabbet bits they are available.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001864/3419/WoodRiver-Rabbet-Router-Bit-Set-14-SH.aspx

http://www.sears.com/freud-32-100-c...186090430?prdNo=36&blockNo=136&blockType=G136

http://www.infinitytools.com/Rabbet...ter-Height-Router-Bit-Set/productinfo/00-155/

I agree with the advise given to you by woodnthings provided you have a router table or some other means to securing the work piece and keeping the router controlled through the cut. I'll even add that if you are wanting a rabbet and you have a router table with a good fence you can make that "L" shaped cut with any straight bit without a bearing. I do it all the time using a 3/4" bit and make rabbets as small as 1/8". If you don't then the links I gave you should get you headed in the right direction for a 1/4" shank bit. I have the ones from Sears and they (I have two different sizes 3/8 and 1/2 both in 1/4" shanks) have served me well for my occasional use.

 

[cabinetman]

If you indeed want 1/4" shank rabbet bits they are available.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001864/3419/WoodRiver-Rabbet-Router-Bit-Set-14-SH.aspx

http://www.sears.com/freud-32-100-c...186090430?prdNo=36&blockNo=136&blockType=G136

http://www.infinitytools.com/Rabbet...ter-Height-Router-Bit-Set/productinfo/00-155/

I agree with the advise given to you by woodnthings provided you have a router table or some other means to securing the work piece and keeping the router controlled through the cut. I'll even add that if you are wanting a rabbet and you have a router table with a good fence you can make that "L" shaped cut with any straight bit without a bearing. I do it all the time using a 3/4" bit and make rabbets as small as 1/8". If you don't then the links I gave you should get you headed in the right direction for a 1/4" shank bit. I have the ones from Sears and they (I have two different sizes 3/8 and 1/2 both in 1/4" shanks) have served me well for my occasional use.

+1. :yes: Rabbet bits with bearings can rout a variety of depths just by changing the diameter of the bearings. Or, as just described, by using a straight bit and a fence on a router table. If you want to use the router handheld, use an adjustable edge guide mounted to the router base and you can rout any depth, with a straight bit without a bearing.

.

 

[mako1]

I have an Amana rabbet cutter with 1/4" shank that came with several different sized bearings that has held up well for years with heavy use.