Rabbet

A rabbet

A rabbet (also known as a rebate in Britain^[1][2]) is a recess or groove cut into the edge of a piece of machinable material, usually wood. When viewed in cross-section, a rabbet is two-sided and open to the edge or end of the surface into which it is cut.

The word rabbet is from Old French rabbat, "a recess into a wall,"^[3] and rabattre "to beat down".^[4]

An example of the use of a rabbet is in a glazing bar where it makes provision for the insertion of the pane of glass and putty. It may also accommodate the edge of the back panel of a cabinet. It is also used in door and casement window jambs, and for shiplap planking. A rabbet can be used to form a joint with another piece of wood (often containing a dado).

Methods

• A rabbet router using a straight or rebate bit
• Rabbetting or rebate plane or a shoulder plane
• Circular saw with multiple passes (depending on width and depth)
• Dado set in a single pass
• Spindle moulder
• Hand saw and chisel
• Jointer equipped with a rabbet ledge

References

1. "Oxford Dictionaries - rebate". Retrieved 2011-12-12.
2. "Oxford Dictionaries - rabbet". Retrieved 2011-12-12.
3. Online Etymology Dictionary
4. "Oxford Dictionaries - rebate". Retrieved 2011-12-12.