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Dado

A rectangular channel cut partway into a board, across the grain. (See: Groove) The distinction originated because they are cut differently from each other when using hand tools. When using power tools both a dado and a groove are cut in a similar way using a dado blade on a table saw or radial arm saw or with a router. Many woodworkers no longer make the distinction and simply call the joint a dado regardless of grain direction.

Dado Blade

A circular saw blade used to cut grooves and dados. Two styles are generally used . The wobble dado leans to one side and the blade moves back and forth as it cuts, forming a groove with a slight radius at the bottom. The stacked dado head cutter consists of two blades forming the outside of the dado, with multiple two- or four-bladed chippers in between to remove the material.

DAMHINT (DAMHIKT)

Don't Ask Me How I kNow This -- Used when confessing to some embarrassing mistake, either in one's shop, at a flea market, or auction.

Danish Oil

A penetrating oil finish made from a mixture of oils, driers, resins and solvents. It is generally easier to use than pure tung oil.

DAT

Directory of American Toolmakers. A reference work from Bob Nelson and others, published by the EAIA

Deciduous

Trees that shed their foliage annually. Commonly referred to as hardwood.

Deck (island)

The flat area on the back half of a Windsor seat which houses mortises for the spindles.

Defect

An abnormality in a piece of lumber that lowers its strength and commercial value such as a check or knot.

Deflection

The amount of sag in a shelf, floor, joist, or counter caused by the weight it's supporting.

Degree Of Opening

This refers to how far or to what angle a door will open. Some hinges will allow the doors to open farther allowing for better access to the contents of the cabinet.

Denatured Alcohol

Ethyl alcohol that has been made undrinkable by the addition of poisonous substances. Also called proprietary solvent. It is used as a solvent for shellac.

Depth-Of-Cut

A universal term used to describe how deep a tool will be set to cut into the surface or edge of a workpiece. This term can be applied to any cutting tool such as saw blades, drill bits, router bits, shaper cutters, molding knives, etc.

Descending grain

Wood fiber that runs downwards into a progressing cut. Causes loss of cutting control and a rough surface.

Dial gauge

A machinists caliper that utilizes a dial readout in hundredths or thousandths of an inch. Common ones can measure inside and outside dimensions, and the depth of holes. Useful for exact measurements of cylindrical tenons and mortises.

Differential shrinkage

The different rates of wood shrinkage parallel with the rays compared with shrinkage tangent to the growth rings.

Diffuse Porous, Diffuse Ring Porous

A hardwood species where pores are approximately the same size and are distributed evenly across each growth ring. Examples are maple, birch, cherry and beech.

Direction Of Rotation

The direction in which a blade, cutter, or disc turns during operation. In most cases, power tools rotate in a counter-clockwise direction when looking head-on at the shaft or arbor of the tool. With very few exceptions, when moving a workpiece into a cutter, blade or disc, it is best to move against the rotation of the cutter or blade for safety and best results.

Distressing

The process of intentionally damaging a finish to give it an antique look.

Double bobbin turning

See "bamboo turning."

Double bow-back Windsor

The English equivalent of an American sack-back Windsor.

Dovetail Joint

A method of joining wood at corners by the use of interlocking pins and tails. See Pins and Tails.

Dovetail Saw

Small back saw with fine teeth used to cut dovetail joints. Generally filed crosscut but more appropriately filed rip.

Dowel

A cylindrical wooden pin that is used to reinforce a wood joint.

Dowel Center

A cylindrical metal pin with a raised point that is inserted into a dowel hole and used to locate the exact center on a mating piece of wood.

Dozuki Noko Giri

A type of Japanese-style saw that is used for fine joinery work such as dovetails and tenons. Its Western equivalent is a back saw. (See: Ryoba)

Drawer Stop

A device installed in a cabinet to limit the drawers travel.

Drawknife

A chairmaker's cutting tool that consists of an essentially straight blade, usually 8 - 12 inches long, with perpendicular handles at each end.

Dress

To improve or smooth the surface of the wood.

Dressed Size

The dimension of lumber after being surfaced by a planer.

Dressing

1. Shaping the cutting edge of a chisel to correct the bevel. 2. A process sometimes used after saw sharpening, in which a fine file or sharpening stone is run along the side of the teeth to ensure that all teeth are evenly set.

Drill

Tool used for creating holes in stock. Traditionally creating holes in metal is called drilling, while creating holes in wood is called boring. Drilling is used for both processes in contemporary vernacular. Non-powered drills are represented by braces, eggbeater drills, gimlets and bow drills. Powered drills break down into hand drills and drill presses.

Drill Press

A bench-top or stationary power tool used to spin a drill at a controlled speed, a controlled location, and to a controlled depth.

Dryers

Chemicals added to finishing products to speed up the drying process.

Dumbhead

A type of Shaving Horse with a single arm running through the center of the horse. The work is held by a large head on the end of the arm.

Dust Nibs

Tiny bumps in a finished surface caused by dust particles landing on the wet finish.

Dwell

The act of pausing during the process of making a cut with a power tool. Depending upon the tool, dwells can cause unsightly workpiece burning and should therefore be avoided, if possible.

RD Glossary by Run Digital