Dado Blades

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Dado Blades

• TED 126
• Spring 2007

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dado

• Using a dado is a very functional and strong
  method for connecting two pieces of stock.
• It is especially useful when building cabinets or
  bookshelves.
• The dado head is a most useful accessory for
  cutting grooves, dadoes, rabbets, tenons and lap
  joints.

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dado

• Methods for Cutting Dadoes There are a few
  different methods for cutting a dado.
• Probably the most common method is to use a
  stacked dado head cutter on a table saw.
• Usually consists of two 8" diameter, 1/8"-kerf
  saw blades with a number of 1/8" 1/16" chippers
  in between.
• By adding or removing chippers, you can obtain
  any width groove between 1/4" and 3/4".
• Wider dadoes can be cut by making more than one
  pass through the saw.
• A stacked dado head cutter set should only be
  used on a table saw or on some radial arm saws
  (check the tool's documentation to see if your
  table saw or radial arm saw will accommodate a
  stacked dado head cutting set).

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Dado blade set

• This 46 tooth Dado Set is finely crafted to
  produce the finest cut in hardwood and veneered
  plywood.
• Each outside blade has 46 teeth ground with
  negative relief for the smoothest cut possible.
• Four two-wing style chippers allow dados of up
  to 13/16" in width.
• Set includes one 1/4", one 1/16" and two 1/8"
  chippers, shim set and carrying case.

chippers
shims
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Dado blade set
6
Dado blade set
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dado

• Points to Remember
• When two or more chippers are used, distribute
  them equally around the saw.
• Place the two cutting edges of the inside
  chippers in line with the bottom of the gullets.
• This is necessary because the inside chippers are
  swaged.
• This swaged part must be allowed to enter the
  gullet. I f this is not done then an oversized
  grooves/dadoes will be cut.
• It is important that you use the appropriate
  throat plate for the dado set.
• When cutting a dado, try to avoid cutting any
  deeper than 1/3 of the way through the stock
  receiving the dado, to keep from weakening the
  stock.
• For instance, when cutting a dado in a 3/4" shelf
  standard, make your dado cut 1/4" into the
  standard.
• Also, there may be times when a dado shouldn't be
  cut the entire length of the stock. In this
  event, it may be best to cut the dado on a router
  table.

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Dado wobble set

• Another option is a "wobble" dado set for the
  circular saw.
• This is a single saw blade set on an adjustable
  spindle.
• Adjusting the blade angle on the spindle will
  change the width of the dado.
• While these are much cheaper than a stacked dado
  head cutter set, the results are far less
  predictable, and in my experience, rarely
  acceptable.
• I'd resist the urge to buy a wobble dado and save
  my pennies for a quality stacked dado set.

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Dado wobble set

• I'd resist the urge to buy a wobble dado and save
  my pennies for a quality stacked dado set.
• the end