Setting up the PBB to rout rabbets and dadoes.

The first seven pictures in this collection show how I set up for a rabbet on my PBB.

The process is as follows: lock down the fence, and place the work piece against it. Set the SRK so that the router bit just "kisses" the edge of the work piece. Lock down the SRK. Set and lock down the perpendicular stop closest to the router. Raise the bit, slide the work piece away from the fence, and place a scrap piece of the material between the fence and the work piece. slide the work piece tight against the scrap material, holding the work piece in place (clamp if possible), remove the scrap material, and slide the fence against the work piece and lock it down. Loosen the SRK and slide the bit beyond the edge of the work piece. Lower the bit to the desired depth and make several passes until you have reached the stop that you set.


This video shows how to set up the SRK for an exact fit dado. The process is as follows: Lock down one of the perpendicular SRK stops. Then place a scrap of the shelf stock between it and SRK traveler, and set the other perpendicular stop. Next, move the traveler away from the second stop enough so you can put the bit you are going to be using between the stop and the traveler. You remove the bit and move the second stop up against the traveler and lock it down. If you are using a single cutter straight bit, you will have to substitute something for the bit that is the same width as the cut the bit makes. I would not rely on measurements, I would cut a groove with the bit to make sure that what you are using is a good fit on the groove.

Hope this helps.

Somebody asked in a PM: "Is there a reason why you start by the positioning the scrap stock on the left between a stop and the traveler and then reposition the traveller to the left and set the gap to allow for the cutter? Seems like you could do the same all on the left side of the traveler and save a step."

It can be done either way.

Basically, you just:
- lock one stop
- place the scrap stock between the stop and the traveler
- push the traveler against the scrap stock
- slide the other stop against the traveler and lock it down
- remove the scrap stock
- loosen the traveler
- place the bit between the traveler and either of the stops
- slide the traveler against the bit
- lock down the traveler
- remove the bit
- loosen the stop
- slide it against the traveler
- lock down the stop