just found this group and have a question...

[setthegearshift]

I'm building a jewelers bench for my wife. And I'm cutting dadoes for 1/4 walnut ply panels. And was wondering how deep should the dadoes be?

[Meanie]

A general rule I have been told and do is dado 1/3 the thickness of the piece of wood you're dadoing.

[Sonny]

For side and back panels? Are space balls being used?

Sonny

[Dr. Deb]

It all depends on the walnut and its use. If you are using 1/4" walnut to divide pigeon holes, a quarter inch is plenty. If its structural, you will need 3/8", assuming your cutting them in 3/4" inch stock.

[Leon]

1/2" deep is a good safe depth.

[woodchucker]

That depends. Generally 1/2 the thickness is acceptable. but in situations like dividers for drawers 1/3 of the thickness is preferable.

[Gordon Shumway]

Let's see now...

One said: 1/3 of the thickness the dado is in. One said: 1/4" or 1/2 of the thickness the dado is in. One said: 1/2". One asked something personal about your balls.

For me, I'd go with the 1/4" depth unless the dado is going in 1/4" material. If so, 1/8" is adequate.

I wonder what the next four or five answers will bring.

[Dave Balderstone]

Use brad nails, then paint the walnut so the paint drips into the dado and holds it firmly in place.

[Unquestionably Confused]

Toe-nailed, of course, but if it will be load bearing then use screws too

[Roy]

Sound advice. Just a couple other points. For proper adhesion, the paint must be bright yellow in color. Use some 80 grit sandpaper and sand while the paint is still wet to fill the brad nail holes. Any leftover paint can be used as a fine finish on your rifle or shotgun stocks.

[Puckdropper]

Leon wrote in news: [e-mail]:

I'd probably go with about 1/2" myself. You'll get plenty of support, but not be so deep you compromise the piece you're dadoing.

Puckdropper

[Dave Balderstone]

I've used magenta and SBB (what we used to call Shit Brindle Brown) successfully as well.

[justin devico]

These will be semi structural, like ply into sides of a desk(which is essentially what this project is).

I'm not sure the thickeness of the rails but the legs are like 1 5/8 thick . The rails are bigger than 3/4 for sure though. I'm afraid of cutting into my tenon on my rails.

[Unquestionably Confused]

Seems then that the solution would be to go with 3/8" dadoes and just make sure that you're not compromising the tenons. If you can't go 3/8" without hitting the tenon, move the tenon.

[Swingman]

From your descriptions thus far:

A 1/4" dadoe is quite sufficient for a plywood panel that is framed by rails and stiles/legs.

[krw]

I'm with you.

[Dave Balderstone]

I concur, FWIW.