Cutting slots into plywood

[scbk]

Hi folks,

I have been kind of roped in to making pieces of a wooden puzzle, consisting of strips of 9mm plywood with slots cut in. The slots are approx. 10mmx35mm, see pic

Looking for suggestions (hand or power tools) for cutting the slots out? Needs to be a fairly neat cut. And ideally quite fast as there would be nearly 100 slots to cut

 

[Burnerman]

How about using a table saw (circular saw)?
It would take a couple of passes but would result in a square end for the slot - albeit slightly radiused uless you turned the ply over.
John

 

[Notch7]

A hand router.

Make a template and use a guide bush.

If you have a router with stepped depth stop you can do it in a few hits.

 

[EddieM]

router and mortiser?

 

[Burnerman]

I guess it depends on how critical the squared end is.....!
John

 

[EddieM]

I guess it depends on how critical the squared end is.....!
John

True, if not critical just a router would suffice.

 

[scbk]

I guess it depends on how critical the squared end is.....!
John

It's not strictly critical but to me it looks neater with a squared end!

I do have a router and a table saw, don't have a mortiser

 

[big-all]

i would use a router make the jig mark the center off the radius then you only need a single line on the work rather than 2
make sure the cutter is the same size or a fraction smaller possibly needing a pass down one side then back up the other if too small
have a baton to locate both edges on the jig
remember to allow enough area to clamp and not get in the routers way

make sure the template is at least 2mm thicker than the protruding fitted guide bush
assuming the slots are for half lap to each other if you make the slots about 0.5-1mm to short
the 4 tiny triangles at the meeting point off the 2 arches will crush enough to give a good fit without any curve showing as they cover each other up

 

[SammyInnit]

On the table saw, cut each side of your 'mortise' at the required depth, ideally using a mitre fence or cross cut sled.
Take out the bulk with a jigsaw or coping saw.
Clean up with a chisel if need be.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

router and mortiser?

I guess it depends on how critical the squared end is.....!
John

Don't people use chisels any longer?

 

[scbk]

Thanks for the replies everyone

Think I've got it sussed now, mitre/chop saw with a very fine blade making multiple cuts, with a piece of wood clamped behind.

Leaves a fairly good finish (still to tidy up with file/sander)

 

[big-all]

as i mentioned above you dont need a square base to the slot
so much quicker would be a drill hole and then a pass each side using a guide/jig or rod for uniformity
there is always a simpler quicker safer way with the correct idea and the correct attitude and indeed the correct tool