Use Your Bench Hook for Sawing Dadoes

Synopsis: A bench hook is commonly used for joinery cuts and general crosscutting, with the workpiece registered against the back cleat. If the long sides of the hook are square to the front cleat, you can use the bench hook to guide dado cuts as well.

You are probably familiar with the typical use of a bench hook for joinery cuts and general crosscutting, with the workpiece registered against the back cleat. If the long sides of your hook are square to the front cleat, you can use the bench hook to guide dado cuts as well. Align the side of the jig with one of your dado sides, and secure it with a holdfast. To keep the saw plumb and square as you saw, use your off-hand to press it against the side of the jig. Saw the two sides of your dado, clean out the middle with a chisel and/or router plane, and you are good to go. By the way, I use the bench hook the same way for crosscutting boards that are too wide to fit on top of it. —MATT CIANCI, Warwick, R.I. 

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