Rabbets, dados, and grooves are basic forms of joinery that can be made by hand or machine. Essentially, they are types of butt joints, where end grain is joined to face grain. A rabbet (also called a rebate) is a cut made along the edge of a board, either with or across the grain, forming two sides at a 90º angle. A dado is a square or rectangular slot that runs across the grain, while a groove is a similar slot that runs with the grain.
Due to their similarities, dados and grooves are often referred to as “slots.” Both dados and grooves can extend the full width of a board or be stopped at one or both ends, in which case they essentially become mortises. A rabbet is cut on the end or edge (face) of a board, with or across the grain—the protruding piece is called the tongue. Rabbet joints are commonly used in simple box joinery, where joint strength is not critical, as well as for attaching cabinet backs and assembling drawers.
These joints can be cut by hand using tools such as a router plane, hand saw, chisel, and mallet, or with power tools like a table saw, handheld or table-mounted router, or track saw.
For a more detailed description of these joints read “Rabbets, dados and grooves“.
