How To Use A Dado Blade Set

Updated seven/29/2021

If you accept whatever experience in woodworking, chances are you've heard of a "dado" cut. These specialized trench cuts are used for a variety of purposes, including building cabinets and bookshelves.

But dado cuts cannot be made with only any old saw blade. In fact, you really need a specialized "dado blade" in order to get these important cuts simply correct.

Unlike most saw blades, not all tabular array saws are designed to accept a dado blade set. As a result, woodworkers who intend to build wooden cabinets or shelves must plan alee and purchase a table saw that tin utilise dado blade sets safely.

If you're planning to build either of these kinds of furniture or are just looking to upgrade your wood shop's capabilities, then you've come to the right identify.

This article will take you through all of the bones information you demand to know about dado blades and the table saws with which they are compatible.

Along the way, y'all'll acquire how to make a dado cut with a table saw, and besides learning proper condom etiquette when using a dado bract on a table.

This article will even provide you with insights into the best tabular array saws that take dado blades on the market place today.

And then without farther ado, let's swoop right in and make some grit!

No Fourth dimension to Read? Here are Our Superlative Picks at a Glance!

What is a Dado Blade?

Offset, allow's offset with the basics. A dado blade is a blazon of round table saw bract used to cut dadoes.

These blades are sometimes arranged and installed in sets, depending on the blazon of dado that is beingness cut.

Dado blades typically come in two types, known as stacked blades and wobble blades, respectively.

Stacked Dado Blade

A stacked dado blade set tin take on several dissimilar forms, depending on the user's desired dado width.

However, they are typically composed of two circular saw blades affixed to either side of a removable chipper piece.

This composition makes information technology easier for the user to control the width of the dado cut while too smoothing down its base of operations.

One notable downside of the stacked dado blade, however, is that information technology requires disassembly and the addition of spacers any fourth dimension a wider dado cut is needed.

Wobble Dado Bract

Meanwhile, a wobble dado blade (also called an "adjustable dado blade") is a specialized round bract mounted on a multi-slice hub.

This hub tin can be adjusted while in use to create a greater bending for the attached bract to cut at.

This, in turn, allows the user to increase the width of their dado cut based upon the bract's angle. However, some users exercise not favor wobble blades due to their inherent vibration while in use.

What is a Dado Cut?

A dado cut is considered ane of the most basic woodworking joints available to amateurs and professionals alike.

Their basic composition consists of the squared, three-sided channel cutting against the grain of a slice of wood.

This channel is typically made wide enough such that another piece of forest (such as a shelve) will fit snuggly into it.

Dado cuts come with a variety of practical benefits when implemented into a woodworking projection.

For example, they offer a great deal of vertical sheer resistance due to the 3-sided manner in which an inserted workpiece is captured by the cut.

Dado cuts are also less likely to wear downwardly over time, given that they are primarily designed to concord an inserted workpiece entirely stable.

Dado cuts see a whole host of applications in the woodworking field. Most oftentimes, they are used in cabinets in order to create reliable shelving supports.

However, dado cuts also see employ as drawer dividers and general-use partitions.

How to Make Dado Cuts with a Table Saw

Making a proper dado cut takes some practice, as well as the proper tools. But most woodworkers tin learn how to do and so efficiently, thus opening the door to more complex cutting maneuvers.

Kickoff, before starting the procedure of making a dado cut, a woodworker must equip themselves with the proper safety equipment (meet below for more details).

Then, they must acquire a dado set of their own. These usually consist of a stacked fix of regular blades and chipper blades.

Prospective dado makers must besides obtain and attach a pharynx plate to a compatible tabular array saw.

Next, you'll need to determine your desired dado width. This will vary from project to project, depending on the cut'due south intended purpose.

You tin and should decide your dado's width before cutting whatever forest, though. To do this, lay your workpiece apartment on your work surface.

Then, stack your dado set-pieces apartment on the surface beside it. Continue doing this until y'all have a desired set width.

Once you accept your dado ready properly arranged, you tin can mount it onto a compatible table saw and enhance information technology to the desired cut depth.

So, y'all should make a exam cut or two to encounter if your ready arrangement or depth needs to be adjusted. To keep your cut straight and fifty-fifty, utilize your table saw's miter gauge attachment.

Table Saws That Tin can Apply Dado Blades

While dado cuts may be adequately mutual in the woodworking field, non every table saw is able to utilize a dado set.

That'south why it is disquisitional to purchase a table saw with dado capability when equipping your professional or personal woodworking space.

Dado-compatible table saws come in various sizes and with differing price tags, and so y'all are certain to find a model that fits your upkeep and needs.

1) DEWALT DWE7491RS Table Saw

DEWALT (DWE7491RS) ten-Inch Tabular array Saw, 32-1/2-Inch Rip Capacity

Your purchase includes One Dewalt Table Saw, ten 24-Tooth Carbide Bract, Rolling Stand, Push button Stick, Miter Gauge, Rip Fence, 2x Blade Wrenches, Bract Guard Associates manual
Other Specs: Max Rip to Left of Blade – 22" | Max Rip to Correct of Blade – 32-1/2" | Max Width of Dado – 13/xvi" | Arbor Size – 5/viii" | Amps – xv | Depth of cut at 45° – two-one/4" | Depth of cut at 90° – iii-1/8" | No Load Speed: 4800 RPM
Rolling stand up designed for like shooting fish in a barrel ready upwardly and breakup with first-class stability
Rack & Pinion Telescoping Contend System Make fence adjustments fast, smooth and accurate
Features a 15.0A high torque Motor with the Power to cut pressure Treated lumber and hardwoods

The DEWALT DWE7491RS table saw is just one of many readily available table saws that tin can accept dado blades and dado sets.

In fact, this model can make quick work of dado cuts and other kinds of cuts using its 4,800 RPM motor.

You'll as well have plenty of room to make cuts on your larger workpieces using this model. That's because it features a 21-seven/8″ X 26 – iii/8″ table with a 5/8 inch arbor door.

The DEWALT DWE7491RS was likewise congenital with durability in listen, based upon its all-steel frame and carbide table. It comes with a lightweight stand up that is fully stable in its own correct.

Because of the design of the stand up, you can be certain that this table saw will remain stationary.

Simply should you lot demand to, this 110-pound saw tin can be easily transported to the worksite of your choice using the wheels attached to the stand up.

All in all, the DEWALT DWE7491RS is a solid dado-compatible table saw. Its undecayed, quality blueprint (not to mention the included iii-twelvemonth warranty) means that you'll be able to count on this unit for the long haul.

Cheque out our full DEWALT DWE7491RS review here!

2) BOSCH 4100XC-10 Worksite Table Saw

BOSCH ten In. Worksite Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Wheeled Stand up 4100XC-10

Powerful table saw has xv-Amp saw with iv.0 max HP and 3,650 rpm, for rip-cutting and cross cut of fine and rough materials
Dimensions: 32.5 D x 27 L x 13 H, Product weight: 94 lb
Soft-outset circuitry – manages intensity of motor start-up and minimizes the likelihood possibility of tripping a circuit billow
Constant Response circuitry: Helps maintain speed under load
Restart protection: Helps to avoid accidental startup
Portability: Works seamlessly with the included lighter GTA47W Gravity-Rising Wheeled Stand for easy jobsite mobility, with unmarried-action setup and take down
Smart Guard System: Riving knife and anti-kickback pawls provide protection, while the guard assembly provides a barrier to help forbid blade contact while allowing an unobstructed view of the cut

The BOSCH 4100XC-10 Worksite Tabular array Saw is definitely one of the more expensive options when it comes to table saws with dado capability.

Merely nonetheless, you'll get what you lot pay for with this model. Specifically, you'll go a powerful fifteen AMP motor that tin brand quick piece of work of any type of wood yous demand to make a cut in.

This model tin can also accept 13 to 16-inch dado blades, using the Bosch TS1007 Dado Insert zipper.

This makes it ideal for woodworkers who regularly brand dado cuts near to an inch in size.

Y'all won't run out of working space using the BOSCH 4100XC-ten, either. That's because information technology's broad 30 in. x 22-1/2 in. tabular array was built for plus-sized woodworking jobs.

You tin can as well be certain that your cuts will always come out perfectly straight on this table saw. To brand this happen, you can always utilize this model's iii/8 x 3/4-inch T-slot miter estimate.

Given how durable and functioning-oriented BOSCH 4100XC-10 is, I don't expect you'll demand another tool to aid brand your dado cuts for the foreseeable time to come after adding the BOSCH 4100XC-ten Worksite Table Saw to your shop repertoire!

Check out our total Bosch 4100XC-10 Table Saw Review Here!

How to Safely Use Dado Blades

As with all types of woodworking, safety is the key to fully enjoying your experience, both in the short and long terms.

At a basic level, this means that you should always footstep upward to your dado-compatible tabular array saw wearing the right personal safety equipment.

In particular, you should always clothing center protection, ear protection, and properly fitted vesture whenever you decide to piece of work with these rapidly-spinning power tools.

As for the dado blade ready itself, there are a few tips to consider when information technology comes to safe use.

For example, the two circular blades in your set should always be positioned such that their teeth bespeak outward.

In many cases, this can be washed at a glance by ensuring that the marked side of the circular bract is facing outward.

Also, when arranging your dado ready, be sure that each chipper blades' teeth are slightly outset.

Not only does this cut down on unnecessary friction, but it tin also ensure that the base of your dado'due south channels is far cleaner and far smoother.

Best Dado Blade Ready

Whether you are an amateur or a professional woodworker, compromising your workpiece'south surface end is probably non on your to-do list. Good production pick should exist your number i priority.

Be it a large cabinet or a wooden floor, all you need is the best dado blade set to get the job done!

one) Freud SD508 Dado Blade Set

Freud 8″ x 24T Super Dado Sets (SD508)

viii Dado Set, v/viii Arbor
Set includes 2 blades, half dozen chippers, shim gear up and conveying example.
Features Premium TiCo HI-Density Carbide Crosscutting Blend for Maximum Operation
Silverish I.C.E. Blanket prevents build upwardly on the blade surface and keeps the blade running cooler and cleaner
All blades and chippers come with Freud'southward anti-kickback pattern

If you want a spotless finished surface that reflects no oddity in your work, and so the Freud SD508 is the all-time dado blade set for flawless dado cuts. It'southward one of the best dado stacks with a rating of iv.7 out of 5 on Amazon.

Its 8-inch dado cutter has half-dozen chippers and two outer blades; likewise available with a shim set and a dado storage case.

Freud SD508 comes with the all-time-stacked sets of blades suitable for cutting various wood-work pieces such every bit softwoods, hardwoods, plywood, and creaking chipboards that won't come easy otherwise.

Its stack is suited to divide widths of either quarter or 29/32 inch with a ripping clipper of 3/32 inch – a perfect friction match for undersized and oversized woods materials.

Freud SD508 Dado Blade Set Features

A rubber operation blueprint that does non kickback.
8-inch loftier stacks for deeper cuts.
Flawless and durable terminate with loftier-density titanium and carbide blades.
Flat dado grooves with 24 teeth for make clean cutting.
Initial-stage accuracy to avoid repetition.
Suitable with table saws and radial arms.
Piece of cake grooving on plywood, chipboard, and near wooden work materials.

2) DEWALT DW7670 Stacked Dado Blade Set

DEWALT Dado Blade Fix, viii-Inch, 24-Molar (DW7670)

Heavy gauge, laser cutting plates provide truthful, accurate cuts
Micro-grain carbide teeth evangelize clean cuts and reduce splintering
4-tooth chippers give smooth, flat bottom cuts
Stainless steel shims allow for ultra-fine width adjustments
Heavy duty storage case protects blades against chipped teeth and damage

The DEWALT DW7670 stacked dado blade prepare is perfect for profitable your woodworking for cleaner and smooth cut. With an outstanding blade-set, this 24-tooth 8-inch beast can spin at 7000 revolutions per minute – plenty to strip the brash wooden boards to bits.

It comes with iv teeth on each of its 4 chippers and has a star rating of 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon.

The DEWALT DW7670 dado set has heavy gauge laser plates that give accurate cuts and super stop for specific dado joints without whatsoever settlements.

Its blades leave no cracks after shearing through the grains of woods to shape it as per your needs and foreclose splinters.

For ultra-fine width adjustments, this dado bract ready has shims that are stainless and rust-free.

The DEWALT DW7670 is too available with a storage case to go along the dado blades impairment-costless!

DEWALT DW7670 Stacked Dado Blade Set Features

Micro-grain carbide teeth for precise cuts and decrease splinter effect.
Chippers with 4-molar for smoothen bottom cuts.
Width adjustable super-fine stainless shims.
Gauge light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation plates for deeper cuts.
Suitable for all types of boards and wood-pieces.

Dado cutters are all about perfect fittings and neat finishes. If that is your ultimate goal, then this review on the best dado blade gear up is your sidekick. The aforementioned products have loftier-star ratings and quality reviews.

Therefore, yous take everything you need to brand the all-time dado cuts with your table saw!

Check out all our table saw reviews here!

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