On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 17:31:42 -0700, "Rich" wrote:

What is a Rabbet and how do you make it?

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.