How to Make Grooves, Rabbets and Dados with Hand Planes

This episode originally aired on February 3, 2011.

The case dovetails are done, but that doesn't mean the cases are ready for assembly yet. While dovetails typically take center stage in the Miss Joinery Pageant, there are plenty of other types of case joinery that must be completed in order to build a solid case piece. Specifically for these cases, I still need to make the grooves and rabbets for the backs in the center and side cases, respectively. I also need to make some dadoes in the top and bottom of the center case for a vertical divider. To make these joints quickly and precisely, I call on specialized planes designed just for the purpose. They may be one trick ponies, but they are masters of their respective tasks. For a small number of joints in a one off piece, not even a router or table saw can compete with their efficiency.