Jtblckmaro Posted August 31, 2010 Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 Been trying my hand at some half laps but not quite hitting the mark. They're always a little bit off, hi or low. Using a pos ryobi tablesaw and a borrowed dado stack of unknown origin. Everything else is coming out great taking into consideration my limited resources, so I'm able to do well enough with this tablesaw, so not sure I'm setting up for the half laps correctly. So what I'm getting at is: how do you set up for half laps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac Posted August 31, 2010 Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 So what I'm getting at is: how do you set up for half laps? For me, it is easier to show you than it is to explain it. If you would like, I could show you how I set them up. I have a cam in my shop and if you would like I can do a little demo for you. Also, I just dont like typing that much. It is hard for me to put in words what I am thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jtblckmaro Posted August 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 That would be awesome. Not sure how that works though, so hope you don't mind guiding me through that too? Thanks for the quick reply Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac Posted August 31, 2010 Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 That would be awesome. Not sure how that works though, so hope you don't mind guiding me through that too? Thanks for the quick reply If you go to the live page, on the main site, there is a chat room in there. There are also some boxes that you can load live streams in. Mine is called "Sac's Woodshop". I am available most of the time. Just let me know when you are available and we can see if we can work something out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jtblckmaro Posted August 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 I work nights, and mon/tue are my days off this week so any time Tuesday would be great. How's 3pm EST for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac Posted August 31, 2010 Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 I work nights, and mon/tue are my days off this week so any time Tuesday would be great. How's 3pm EST for you? That is tomorow... ummmm.. today. That should be OK. I will get up tomorrow... today, and get some stuff ready. I will meet you in the chatroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jtblckmaro Posted August 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 Thanks a lot! See you then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted September 1, 2010 Report Share Posted September 1, 2010 How about getting close, may be slightly oversize with your table saw and then fitting the joint with a hand plane? Depending on the size you could use a 10-1/2 Lie-Nielsen Bench Rabbet plane, or a block rabbet plane, or a shoulder plane and this way you will be able to control the perfect fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trace Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 Been trying my hand at some half laps but not quite hitting the mark. They're always a little bit off, hi or low. Using a pos ryobi tablesaw and a borrowed dado stack of unknown origin. Everything else is coming out great taking into consideration my limited resources, so I'm able to do well enough with this tablesaw, so not sure I'm setting up for the half laps correctly. So what I'm getting at is: how do you set up for half laps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trace Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 I tried a couple of different ways, dado heads, band saw, none worked for me. I built a holding jig similar to the one shown in a book by Bill Hylton, titled "Power-Tool Joinery". It is shown on pages 104 and 105. I modified it to ride in the miter guage slot to the right of the blade. I also made it so that the adjustment for verical cut width was adjusted by a threaded rod. I cut the horizontal cut was made on a table saw sled. This, in conjunction with making certain the blade was perpendicular to the saw table, made very nice faces to be glued. It did take some careful setup using scrap pieces, but it was worth the effort. I made 75 frames for storm windows and screens, 3 panels each for 25 large windows, for our house. That is 1200 cuts all total, 16 per frame. I still have to make the frames for the smaller windows. The joints are all half laps which I think work well. A tenon joint can be made on the same fixture. I'm not much good adding attachments, but I'll try to add some pictures to clarify the text as soon as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sac Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 I'm not much good adding attachments, but I'll try to add some pictures to clarify the text as soon as I can. Check out this thread on adding pics.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 I use a 2 step process for lap joints. First I cut the notches slightly shallow using the table saw. If I have a lot to do, I'll load up the dado blades, otherwise I'll just use the regular blade and make lots of cuts. I then switch over to the router table. I use a 'clean out' bit that cuts up to 3/16" deep and has a guide bearing below the cutting edge. The bearing runs against the sides of the lap and the height of the bit determines the fit of the lap. I can sneak up on a very good fit and have nice smooth glue surfaces without groves from the saw blade. This works down to about 5/8 thick stock. Thinner than that and the bearing misses the edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jtblckmaro Posted September 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 3, 2010 Sac, your tips were awesome and I made good progress the other day, but my saw doesn't have a blade height lock so I'm shopping for a saw. Thanks again for the demo. Never thought to go to the router table, thought it was entirely a table saw thing. Sweet, more experimenting to do! Thanks for all the tips guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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