Rabbet?

[Rich]

is a Rabbet and how do you make it? With what tool?

[Charlie Self]

Rich asks:

A rabbet is a ledge at the edge of a board. You might call it a dado with only one side.

Tools: router with straight bit; table saw with dado stack; table saw with straight blade (two cuts); saw and chisel (rough, rough); rabbet plane. AKA as a rebate in England.

Charlie Self "One of the common denominators I have found is that expectations rise above that which is expected." George W. Bush

[Phisherman]

It is a step cut into the edge of a board or panel. There are many ways to cut a rabbet. I usually use the table saw. Many use the router to cut rabbets.

[Andy Dingley]

You get a mummy rabbet and a daddy rabbet, then just leave them to it.

A rabbet (or rebate) is a groove that's formed on the edge on a piece of wood, so that it only has one side instead of two. If you look at the back edge of the bottom piece, you can just about see it. It forms a ledge to help locate the back panel.

A "stopped rabbet" is one that doesn't go all the way to the ends.

To make it you can use almost anything, depending on what you have. Some tools will also cut a stopped rabbet, some won't. Easiest way to do this (big sheets, needs stopped rabbets) would be with a hand-held router and a fence.

If you only have a table saw, you could use that instead. Don't make stopped rabbets though, just cut them full length and make the back panel fit between the two side panels.