Wood Joints - Blind Dado Joint

Most types of dados reveal their joinery in the finished piece. A blind dado is unique because the joinery is completely hidden from view.

For example, bookcase plans that call for basic dado joinery might call for some extra trim to conceal the joint, especially with inexpensive lumber or plywood. A blind dado can help dress up the underlying construction without having to add the extra trimwork. The trick is being able to cut out an accurately sized notch.

Some woodworkers prefer to do this by hand, using a dovetail joint saw and a sharp chisel. You can also achieve the same results with mortising machines and router tables.