A dado is a three-sided channel machined into a workpiece perpendicular to the wood grain. It is used to house the end or edge of another board, creating a strong mechanical connection for shelves, partitions, and cabinet boxes. Carpenters cut them using a router or a specialized stacked blade on a table saw.
Heard on the job
Run a half-inch dado across the side panels to support the fixed shelf.
Also heard as
- housing
- trench
Do not mix it up with
- Mortise: A dado runs across the entire face of a board, whereas a mortise is a closed hole that does not reach the edges.
Related terms
Rabbet joint
A simple woodworking joint formed by fitting the edge of one board into a recess cut along the edge of another.
Mortise
A cavity or rectangular hole cut into a piece of wood to receive a matching projection.
Spline
A thin strip of wood inserted into matching grooves on two pieces to align and reinforce a joint.