DIY Breadboard Ends
- 1). Insert a 1/2-inch flat router bit into a router. Adjust the depth to make a 3/8-inch deep cut. One-inch boards are actually 3/4 of an inch thick. The half lap joint will have a 3/8-by-3/8-inch rabbet, or cut out, of the edge so that they fit together flush to match up with the 3/4-inch thickness.
- 2). Place the tabletop on a workbench with the bottom side facing up. Clamp a straight edge to each one end of the 32-inch side so that it is 3/8 of an inch in from the edge. The bearing on the router bit will ride along this to make the 3/8-by-3/8-inch rabbet on the ends. Rout the 3/8-by-3/8-inch rabbet on the end. Remove the clamps and set up the straight edge guide on the opposite end to make the second rabbet. Set the tabletop aside.
- 3). Place a 1-by-3-by-32-inch board on a workbench, with the 3-inch side lying flat. Clamp a straight edge along the 32-inch side so that it is 3/8 of an inch in from the edge. Rout a 3/8-by-3/8-inch rabbet along the edge. The rabbet should be on the top 3-inch side of the board. Rout a rabbet on the second 1-by-3-by-32-inch board. These are the breadboards.
- 4). Lay the tabletop on a workbench with the bottom side facing up. Align the breadboards on the ends so that the rabbets fit together and form a flush half lap joint.
- 5). Tighten the doweling jig in the center of the half lap joint along one end of the table. Drill four evenly spaced holes that are 5/8 of an inch deep. Move the jig along the edge to make a straight hole at each space along the half lap joint. Follow the same procedure on the opposite end. The holes are to secure the breadboard ends onto the tabletop.
- 6). Remove the breadboard ends. Apply glue to the center 3 inches of the rabbeted edges on the tabletop. Reposition the breadboard ends onto the tabletop. Make sure the boards are flush with the tabletop.
- 7). Apply glue to the two center holes on each joint and the dowel. Tap the dowel into each of the center holes. Dab a bit of glue onto the top half of the remaining dowels before tapping them into the two outside holes on each joint. Wipe off excess glue with a damp rag.
- 8). Sand the dowels so that they are flush with the surface of the tabletop and breadboard ends using an orbital sander.
- 9). Apply a wood finish to the tabletop bottom, edges and top. Allow the finish to dry before continuing with your table project.
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