How to Cut Dados on Table Legs With a Router to Fit a Shelf

Measure the interior distance between the front legs of the table with a measuring tape. Add 1/2-inch to this measurement to determine the width of the table shelf.

Calculate the height of the table shelf. Measure and mark the height on each table leg. Measure the thickness of the shelf and make a second mark below the first mark on each leg: for example, if the shelf is 1/2-inch thick, make the second mark 1/2-inch below the first mark.

Turn the table over and remove the legs. The removal method depends on the table's construction: You may have to remove bracket bolts with a ratchet or turn a locking ring with a flat head screwdriver. If the table was made by hand, you may have to remove wood screws or nails to separate the legs from the table top.

Mark the top of each leg to indicate which side faces the front of the table.

Place one of the legs on a workbench with the front of the leg facing you. Secure the leg to the workbench with a C-clamp at each end to prevent the leg from moving while you cut the dado.

Adjust a router bit to a depth of 1/2-inch. Turn on the router and pass the bit through the table leg. Use the shelf marks, as guides, to keep the router level. Continue cutting through the table leg until the dado is as wide as the shelf thickness. Repeat this process with the remaining three table legs.