Rabetted

Rabetted (also rabbeted) is an adjective used in carpentry and joinery to describe a component that has a rabbet, or to describe a joint formed by a rabbet. A rabbet is a rectangular recess or groove cut along the edge or end of a workpiece, typically to receive the edge of an adjoining piece or to hold a panel. In common use, rabbets are used to assemble frames, cabinets, doors, and windows, providing a flat, flush surface and strength.

A rabbeted joint is created by removing material from the edge of one piece to form a step that accepts the edge of another piece. There are through rabbets, which cut completely through the thickness, and through-blind variations like half-depth or blind rabbets, which do not pass entirely through. A typical cabinet back or door frame may use a through rabbet to accept a panel, while a drawer front may use a smaller rabbet to accept a panel in a frame.

Cutting methods include using a rabbet plane, a router with a rabbeting bit, a table saw with a dado blade, or chisels to clean up the corner. Dimensional considerations include allowing for wood movement due to humidity; rabbets are commonly sized to a third to a half of the workpiece thickness but vary by application.

Historically, rabbets have been used since the rise of framed panel construction and remain common in milled cabinetry, millwork, and picture frames.