Dado Set Selection

[Gary Muto]

I'm considering upgrading my capability by getting a new Dado set. Rockler has 25% off until Friday and I've narrowed down the choices to:
- Freud Super Dado (Value $150)
- Freud Dial a Dado (Convenience $203)
- Forrest Dado King (Performance? $225)

I have a Freud P410 Premiere Fusion blade and am very happy with it so I wonder if the Forrest is really worth the extra cash. I'm looking for informed advice so I came to the Creek.

[John Harden]

I had an 8" Dado King for about 6-8 years for my cabinet saw. When I recently switched to a different saw with different arbor size, I bought another Dado King without hesitation.

Every review I've ever read puts the Forrest on top. The extra $75 you quote is not much over the 10 year life span of the blade.

Regards,

John

[Steve Rowe]

I had the Freud SD608 set a number of years ago but sold it when I went with a slider. The only reason I sold it was that it could not be bored to fit my new saw. I really liked this dado set. Each click adjusted the width by about 0.004" and it is real handy to fine tune the width without having to remove the nut and outer blade to install a shim. Be sure you check with Freud to see if it will fit your saw. If the arbor flange is too big, it won't fit. I used it on a Delta Unisaw.

[Wayne Jolly]

You didn't mention what saw you have so regarding the Freud Dial-A-Dado, the arbor isn't long enough on many saws. I found an article somewhere that described the procedure to use to determine if your arbor is long enough, but I can't find it now. Do some digging (or googling). Also, some have had problems wit some screws on the inside that had to be replaced because they interfered with the arbor flange.

xeddog

P.S. I just purchased a Forrest Dado King. Sweet.

[Jason Hanko]

I voted for the Dial-a-Dado b/c thats what Id buy if I had the $$ (for the convenience).

I have the Oshlun 8'' set (http://www.holbren.com/oshlun-8-42t-dado-set-5-8-arbor.html) tho, and its worked great for me.

[scott spencer]

The Infinity Dadonator should really be on your short list. It has ranked at the top of several mag comparisons, is made with similar world class precision as other premium sets, but uses 6T chippers vs 4T chippers of most other top sets, and the outside cutters have a unique ATB/R design that reduces the effects of "bat ears" yet still gives tearout free exits. It's hard to do head to head comparisons because of the cost of these things, but I did compare it to my $300 Systimatic S42Fine 42T/6T set, the $100 DW7670 set, and the $85 Freud SD208...the Dadonator is clearly the better performer of these sets. Astonishing pretty well sums it up.

I'd go with the Dadonator for best performance, or the Dial-a-Width set for the convenience. I've used my fair share of top notch Forrest blades too, but I doubt very much that paying the premium for the Forrest dado set buys any more for your money.

[Gary Muto]

I have a Delta 3 HP Industrial Cabinet Saw. I have an additional arbor shaft that will accept a 1" dado. The flange is the same size as the Unisaw.
I thought the Dial-A-Dado would be handy for the ever changing plywood thicknesses.

[Michael Drew]

I had to pull my dado off and re-adjust it six times today. I just logged on to do a search to see if anyone had much experience with the dial-dado from Frued because I sure was wishing I had one today.

I have been using a Delta stacked dado for many years and it does a fine job, but it's a real pain shimming it over and over again.

What are the arbor limitations on the Frued that folks have mentioned in this thread?

[jack duren]

I had to pull my dado off and re-adjust it six times today. I just logged on to do a search to see if anyone had much experience with the dial-dado from Frued because I sure was wishing I had one today.

I have been using a Delta stacked dado for many years and it does a fine job, but it's a real pain shimming it over and over again.

What are the arbor limitations on the Frued that folks have mentioned in this thread?

What do you mean shimming over and over? I have several sets of dados and any like the Delta set that might require a shim get numbered for future use. This allows me to get the same setup as in the past....

[Gary Muto]

Mike,
Here's a link to Freud's compatibility chart. It specifies maximum flange OD (2-1/2") and arbor length (1-3/16" for full 29/32" dado)
http://www.freudtools.com/t-608-compatible.aspx

[Jacob Mac]

I have the Ridge Carbide Dado Master, and it is sweet. It is the best dado set I have used.

It is a little pricey at $189. But if you buy it from Holbrens you can get 10% off and free shipping.

[Dean Karavite]

Just bought a Freud super dado two months ago for $175 at Woodcraft (they are not the cheapest place are they?). It works very well. I have no complaints and am getting very flat dados, rabbets and grooves. I have also made some face frames with a slot and tenons and they fit together perfectly. The undersize plywood set up is also spot on - at least for the plywood I am buying... this month. I was really on the fence, but the Forrest would have cost me $300. At $225 for the Forrest, I say go for it. I sure would have!

[Robert foster]

I bought the Mibro set last year at Lowes for $49.00 and it does a very good job for me. I watch lots of woodworking programs and I notice most of theirs leave "bat wings". My dadoes are nice and flat.

Bob

[Chuck Isaacson]

+1 for the SD608!!! I have it and love it. I have everything set with only one adjustment. I just used it tonight and was again reminded of how nice it really is. I have a General 650 and I use it with a 3/4" stack on it. I get the nut about half way on, but it is good and tight. Some might say that you have to have thread protrusion, but I know that when I put it on it is tight.

Chuck

[Rick Fisher]

I have a Freud 208 .. its been okay..

If I where buying one today.. I would either get the Forrest or the Tenryu .. They are about the same $$ ..

The Freud Dial unit is interesting .. no need for shims... Not sure but I would look at it too.

[Gary Muto]

Intersting results. So far the poll is telling me that my dillema is consistent with the community. FWIW, last night I voteed for the dial-a-dado based on the favorable comments and at this point it's tied with the Super dado.

I limited my choice to these three since they are what is available with the discount. I would probably buy the Dado king for $225 before the infinity or Ridge Carbide if I was looking for ultimate performance. Right now I'm barely leaning toward the Dial-a Dado over the Super Dado

[Gene Howe]

I have a Freud 208 .. its been okay..

If I where buying one today.. I would either get the Forrest or the Tenryu .. They are about the same $$ ..

The Freud Dial unit is interesting .. no need for shims... Not sure but I would look at it too.

Rick,
Have used both, and many others mentioned here, including the Feud Dial unit. Have owned a few, too. My last set is the Tenryu. I'll never buy another brand. In fact, all my blades are Tenryu, now.

[scott spencer]

Rick,
Have used both, and many others mentioned here, including the Feud Dial unit. Have owned a few, too. My last set is the Tenryu. I'll never buy another brand. In fact, all my blades are Tenryu, now.

Gene - Does Tenryu make a dado stack with more than 2-tooth chippers or is that their only set?

[Michael Peet]

The Forrest was on my list, and at 25% off that sounds like a good deal. How do you get the discount? On Rockler's website it still shows as $299.

Mike

[Rob Hermann]

I love my Forrest Dado King set. I think it was well worth the money.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Forrest WWII 40t was my first blade, and I've just gone ahead from there - 6 blades plus dado. I have been delighted with the dado set, and with Forrest sharpening service. Have no experience with other makes and don't think I ever will.

[Rod Sheridan]

One of the FS Tools dado sets, pick the one for your application.........Rod.

[Michael Drew]

What do you mean shimming over and over? I have several sets of dados and any like the Delta set that might require a shim get numbered for future use. This allows me to get the same setup as in the past....

You're much more foward thinking than I. :D I use Lee Valley shims and tend to destroy them. I did try to make a chart telling me what shims and cutters to use for various thicknesses, but even with that, I still end up tweaking with shims.


Mike,
Here's a link to Freud's compatibility chart. It specifies maximum flange OD (2-1/2") and arbor length (1-3/16" for full 29/32" dado)
http://www.freudtools.com/t-608-compatible.aspx


Thank you Gary!

[Ed Hazel]

Is there a discount code?

[Gary Muto]

There is no discount code. The latest flier has a coupon that is good for in store use only. If you don't get the flier they usually have plenty in the stores.

BTW, the results are close so you guys aren't helping me... other than amybe all 3 are good.

[Dean Egnater]

One more vote for the super dado. Nice clean cuts... Works great for me even on my less than super charged Ridgid 3650.

[Austin Lange]

I use a craftsman dado set with chippers and metal shims. I've never seen a Frued Dial-A-Dado, but it sounds like a wobbler. I've used several brands of wobblers over the years, and in my opinion, those things are really scary. I wouldn't recommend one to anybody.


(Edit: After researching the Dial-A-Dado, I would like say it is not what I thought it was. It seems like a very good tool that would save lots of time over a traditional stacked dado set. Sorry for my misunderstanding.)

[Dan Mitchell]

You didn't mention what saw you have so regarding the Freud Dial-A-Dado, the arbor isn't long enough on many saws...

I HATE setting up the dado, but specifically didn't buy a dial-a-dado for my PM2000 for this very reason. I don't remember the figure I calculated for max width on my saw, but it was considerably below the stated max of the DAD when arbor length isn't an issue.

Dan

[Gary Muto]

Well, I bought a dado blade after work today. I had decided on the Dial-A-Width Dado even though the poll favored the Super Dado by 3 votes. The guys at Rockler advised against it citing complaints of wobbling and having the setting move during tightening. I had concerns about durability too.
So I wound up with the Super Dado which was also the winner of the poll. Technically the poll spread was 5 since I voted for the Dial-A-Width but bought the Super Dado. Anyway, Thanks everyone for your participation. I'll be checking it out this weekend. I hope it cuts as good as my Premiere Fusion Blade.

[Chuck Isaacson]

The guys at Rockler advised against it citing complaints of wobbling and having the setting move during tightening.

That is such a crock. I have never had my adjustments move when tightening. And the only wobble I had is when I had a chipper accidentally on top of the left outer blade. Completely my fault and did not wobble after I fixed it. I have had mine on and off probably 100 times and had no problems what so ever. But that is besides the point. Congrats on the new set. I hope it serves you well.

Chuck

[tyler mckenzie]

i have the amana prestige, stunning results. It has built me a bunch of cabinets, i'd buy it again in a heart beat. I just completed a desk were it was a crucial tool(photos (http://tealandgold.blogspot.com/)).

[scott spencer]

Well, I bought a dado blade after work today. I had decided on the Dial-A-Width Dado even though the poll favored the Super Dado by 3 votes. The guys at Rockler advised against it citing complaints of wobbling and having the setting move during tightening. I had concerns about durability too.
So I wound up with the Super Dado which was also the winner of the poll. Technically the poll spread was 5 since I voted for the Dial-A-Width but bought the Super Dado. Anyway, Thanks everyone for your participation. I'll be checking it out this weekend. I hope it cuts as good as my Premiere Fusion Blade.

The DAW (SD608) and Super Dado (SD508) are the same tooth configuration. The DAW is simply more convenient to adjust widths on. If you like the performance of one, you'll like the performance of the other.

[Gene Howe]

Gene - Does Tenryu make a dado stack with more than 2-tooth chippers or is that their only set?

Scott,
Their Gold Line 8" has only 2-tooth chippers. Still, it produces a very smooth and flat bottom.
Gene

[Peter Quinn]

I have the Forrest in my own shop and it works great. At work we have a Forrest set and a couple of Freud sets. The Forrest cuts a clean, nearly perfect bottom. The Freuds cut a slightly less clean but still very flat bottom. Both make clean cuts in plywood. The forrest set cuts almost as clean as a solid shaper cutter. But to my line of thinking, what the heck difference does it make how the bottom of a dado looks exactly as long as its flat and the edges not torn? So from a functionality stand point both the Freud and the Forrest are about the same IME.

The dial thing seems cool. I have a shaper groover that has a dial-a-width and it is very useful. I watched a Freud DVD a while back that came with a new super dado set at work which showed different dado set ups and used the dial a width to do so. But in my work I very rarely need to shim a dado set to match an exact width. More likely I will run the dado and adjust my parts to match it. Did you ever make all your tennons first on a project then chop your mortises to match?

[Gary Muto]

Scott,
The SD and DAW are the same at the business end but the DAW has separate hubs to allow swapping for Left and Right tilt configurations. There are a lot of additional parts; hubs, screws, etc, all of which can contribute to runout. Technically the arbor flange on my saw is too large too, but I didn't see a problem. It lined up the load with the Dial-a-Width threads but all of the clamping load has to go through them anyway. My arbor nut was also too large to fit in the counter bore, but again I could reverse my tapered washer and it would've worked. Those incompatibilities rasied doubt in my mind so it was easy to agree with the comments at Rockler, which also agreed with the opinions here. I felt most comfortable going with the SD for the long term.

Peter,
I agree that I always Mortise (dado) first and Tenon (rabbet) last, but if I could skip a step and use the plywood as is, it would be a time saver. I also realized that the SD only needs to use shims for two of the standard sizes; 9/32 and another I can't recall at the moment so I thought that I would not need shims very often anyway.

[Gary Muto]

As an update and to close out this poll, I'll give the results. I bought the Freud Super Dado. I had voted for the Dial-A-Width since I planned to by it. Technically then, the results are now 29 for the SD, 20 for the Dial-A-Dado and 28 for the Dado King. I tried it out with some hard Maple I'm currently using on a project and some pine. I'm really happy with the results and could not find any problems. I'm sure that the real test will be with veneer plywood though. I'll bet the close running in the poll is due to the comparable performance of the the different blades. It was a tough decision and the poll made it more fun.