Dado Blades for table saw

  • January 08, 2017 7:05 PM
    Message # 4516611

    I need a new dado blade, and want to buy one that will be compatible with a sawstop since I'm thinking of making that plunge as well.  Sawstop recommends 5 dado blades; I'm considering two of them.... the DeWalt 7670  ($114 on amazon, about $150 at rockler) and the Forrest Dado King ($299).  Both seem to get good reviews, but the price difference is huge..... anybody have an experience, or helpful comments?

  • January 09, 2017 11:51 AM
    Reply # 4518011 on 4516611

    I've had the Forrest for years, and it's great.  But for dado work, a less expensive blade will work just as well.  You're not looking for perfectly smooth cuts with dados.

    One problem I have with Forrest's dados is their plastic shims.  They are U-shaped, and it I find they fall off while trying to adjust them.  I switched to a set of metal shims with an arbor hole.

  • January 10, 2017 4:55 AM
    Reply # 4524574 on 4516611

    I have the cmt and like it.  The smoother the bottom the better the blade. 

    Because of thr life span and how often the get used, i considerr Dado blades a buy once type item. So buy as good a blade as you can afford, it's going to be years before you even need to get it sharpened 

  • January 10, 2017 8:11 AM
    Reply # 4529963 on 4516611
    Deleted user

    Andy, I can't speak to the SawStop, so don't know why one set of dados will work and another is incompatible. In general when thinking about stacked dados, they are all pretty much the same on the outside; i.e., two beveled toothed blades with the bevels on the waste side. The chippers and shims vary from brand to brand. 

    I bought the 8" Freud set largely because the chippers are each 4-toothed, not 2 as are many (most?) of the rest. The increased number of teeth and the increased mass of the unit combine to reduce vibration and give a smoother cut on both the bottom and sides of the dado. (For the same reason, this set might not be suitable for lighter, contractor saws whose arbor bearings might not like the extra load). 

    I agree with Dana that the smoother the cut, the better; less fighting with "schmutz" in the dado during assembly, or less cleanup with a router plane. The Freud set comes with a good set of metal shims; my only complaint is that the shims aren't etched with their thicknesses, but reaching for the calipers isn't vary strenuous.

  • January 10, 2017 10:14 AM
    Reply # 4533280 on 4516611
    Tim Holiner (Administrator)

    I have the Freud Dial-a-width dado and have been very pleased with it. Cutting dados for plywood is a revelation. I measure the thickness with a digital caliper, get the settings from the included chart, and cut perfectly fitting dados first time. It is a revelation! Also a bit pricey ($250) but the convenience is worth some extra dough.

  • January 10, 2017 6:26 PM
    Reply # 4534393 on 4516611

    Tim,

    how flat is the dial a width dados? is it truly flat or do you need to router plane it smooth? 

  • January 11, 2017 12:22 PM
    Reply # 4542375 on 4516611
    Tim Holiner (Administrator)

    My experience has been pretty good. The bottoms are not perfect, but good enough for gluing.

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