Groove (joinery) facts for kids
In joinery, which is the art of connecting pieces of wood, a groove is a long, narrow cut or channel made in a piece of wood. This cut always runs in the same direction as the wood's grain (the lines you see in the wood). It's important to know that a groove is different from a dado, which is a similar cut but runs across the wood grain.
Grooves are super useful in many areas of woodworking, especially in cabinet making. They are often used to hold panels, like the flat parts in a frame and panel door, or the bottoms of drawers.
What is a Woodworking Groove?
A groove is like a small ditch or slot carved into a piece of wood. Imagine you're building a wooden box. You might cut grooves along the inside edges of the box's sides. Then, a thin piece of wood, like the bottom of the box, can slide right into these grooves and fit snugly. This helps make the structure strong and neat.
Types of Grooves
Grooves can be made in a couple of different ways, depending on how you want them to look and function:
- Through Groove: This type of groove goes all the way through the wood piece. It means you can see the groove's opening on both ends of the wood. Think of it like a tunnel that goes straight through a mountain.
- Stopped Groove: With a stopped groove, one or both ends of the cut finish before reaching the edge of the wood. It's like a tunnel that stops inside the mountain, so you can only see one opening, or no openings if both ends are stopped. This is often used when you want the groove to be hidden from view.
How Are Grooves Made?
Woodworkers use different tools to create grooves, from powerful machines to simple hand tools. Here are some common methods:
- Electric Router: This is a popular tool that spins a sharp bit very fast to cut into the wood. You can use a straight bit or a rebate bit to make grooves.
- Circular Saw: A circular saw can also cut grooves. For wider or deeper grooves, you might need to make several passes with the saw, cutting a little more each time.
- Dado Set: This is a special set of blades used with a table saw. It can cut a wide groove in just one pass, making the job quick and easy.
- Spindle Moulder (Wood Shaper): This is a larger, more powerful machine often used in workshops for making various cuts, including grooves.
- Hand Saw and Chisel: For those who prefer traditional methods, a hand saw can be used to make the initial cuts, and then a chisel is used to clean out the wood between the cuts to form the groove.
- Router Plane: This is a special hand tool designed specifically for cleaning out the bottom of grooves and other recesses, ensuring they are flat and even.
