Try it, you'll like it.

[LelandCrooks]

I'm about 2/3 done with the basic consrtruction of a heavily modified table tuba. This was my first try at using the 1/4 bracing and dadoes. It rocks. That's how all my tubas will be done from now on.

I cut out all the panels, then changed to a dado blade and set the fence for the middle. Cut them all at once. Be sure to mark your boards which side needs the dado. For boards with dadoes on each side, I just did one. I nailed a cleat on to hold the brace on the butt joint side. I just did not want to thin the board that much in the center. Next time I'll probably go 1/16 deep instead of 1/8.

The time saved in sizing and installing the braces is enormous. Driving brads into them is a little problematic, but with some creative clamping, no brads required.

[Tim A]

Driving brads into them is a little problematic, but with some creative clamping, no brads required.

Pneumatic brad gun, Pneumatic brad gun, Pneumatic brad gun, Pneumatic brad gun, Pneumatic brad gun.

Then, you'll say:

"but with a brad gun, no clamps (or cure time) required.

[LelandCrooks]

Driving brads into them is a little problematic, but with some creative clamping, no brads required.

Pneumatic brad gun, Pneumatic brad gun, Pneumatic brad gun, Pneumatic brad gun, Pneumatic brad gun.

Along the length of the brace I seemed to inevitably miss one. I used 1" brads, and my handy dandy senco nailer. I did nail all the internals.

As this is a furniture grade finish piece, I used no brads on the external plates.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I cut out all the panels, then changed to a dado blade and set the fence for the middle.

I've got a router w/1/4" bit table mounted in one of my table saw wings, rip fence in place, so when I finish cutting the panel I run it over the router, the additional time it takes to cut the slots for the entire box is maybe three minutes. The time saved on fitting the braces is at least a half-hour, not counting the time saved drilling holes through 1/4" versus 1/2" plywood. Dadoing the panel to side joints is a waste of time, but it's the only way to go with braces.