TS DADO blades Do you use em.

[Keith Hankins]

I've got a Forrest Dado King 8" set with shims that to be honest, I've used a very few times. Not because it's not great, but I've found that I prefer to use a router to make my dado's and adjust the piece to fit the predisposed slot size rather than cut a custom slot for a special thickness.

My Question how do you groove :)

1) Stack dado
2) dial-a-dado
3) Wobbler- (my first one)
4) Router

I'm considering getting rid of mine.

[Alan Bienlein]

Stacked dado set for 95% plus of my dado operations. The other 5% is split between just doing two passes with the regular saw blade or a router bit. I just find it easier to set up the dado stack and move the fence to where I need it.

[jack forsberg]

I use stacks from 8" to 16" but by far my favorite is the trenching heads that expands and cuts the cleanest sides and bottoms of all the grovers.

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here is small one on my Delta RAS


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFRP-K3DFNM

[John Hays]

I'm with you, Keith.

I bought the Freud Diablo DD208 set last year and thought it would solve all of my dado problems. It was kind of frightening to use at first (I have a Ridgid R4512 and haven't made a ZCI for it yet because they're a PITA to make), but I got used to it. Then when I finally built a router table into my table saw extension a few months ago, I found doing dados that way was much easier.

They both have their strengths and weaknesses, depending on the size of the board, but I feel safer using the router table rather than seeing a mass of whirling death blades spinning in front of me. LOL

[Mike Cutler]

I have 3 dado sets, well technically two, and a Box Joint set (Which is basically a dado set). I also have routers more than powerful enough to do dado work, and they do on occasion.
Both methods have their pro's and con's, but I can't see cutting dados with a router as being faster than with a table saw if you have a lot of them to do.
I'd keep the dado set personally.

[Paul McGaha]

I use a stack dado set. An 8" Freud Super Dado set.

I prefer to use the table saw to cut slots and only use a router/strait edge clamp if the piece wont fit on my table saw.

PHM

[John Piwaron]

I own a stack dado set (Delta) but I prefer to use a router to cut dados. I like the finished quality of the router cut groove.

But there's nothing wrong with the stack dado. The stack dado does look pretty nasty/aggressive in the saw when it's spinning, but if anything, it's inspiration to be extra careful.

It's really 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other. They both do a good job. I simply tend to think of the router table most often for that task.

[glenn bradley]

I voted for a stack since I have a couple. If the saw that I had at the time of the purchase would have supported the dial-a-width SD-608 I would have gotten that. As it is I just adjust my technique. I put a dado blade that is a bit smaller than the width I am after, make a pass, adjust the fence using my digital readout fence and make another pass to finish the cut. If I had the dial-a-width, it would reduce the fine tuning to the point where I would make single pass cuts. For large shootgoods panels I use a router since the small router base follows the irregularities of the ply better than trying to force the ply down onto the tablesaw. YMMV.

[Mark Blatter]

I mostly use the dado stack, but have the dial a dado and use it every so often. I also have the wobbler that I got from my father, though don't recall ever using it. I will also use a router at times.

[Art Mann]

I typically use a router for dados but there are other applications for a dado stack. For example, I sometimes cut tenons using one.

[Rod Sheridan]

Keith, I have an FS Tools stacked dado head, I also have grooving cutters.

I'll either use them in the saw with the stock feeder, or on the shaper with the stock feeder. (My saw and shaper have 30mm spindles which is great for sharing tooling).

Don't own a router, aside from a wood E.C. Emmerich one, and a PC laminate trimmer that's been used 3 times............Rod.

[Larry Edgerton]

Didn't vote because there is no "both". I have a panel router that gets the nod for most case construction but also use dados when that seems to be the tool of choice.

Larry

[Lee Schierer]

I cut dados on my TS, but always use a zero clearance insert to prevent tear out.

[John Downey]

Most of the time I'm cutting dados I'm using baltic birch plywood, so I prefer the stack with shims to a router. Never liked cutting dados with a router, but that's just my preference.

[George Bokros]

I use the stacked dado set unless the piece is to wide to handle safely on the TS then I use a router.

George

[Shawn Pixley]

I answered the dial a dado. That it what I use if I am using power tools. More often than not, I'll do the Neader with a plow plane. I am not a big fan of routers, though I have one and have used it - mostly for stopped dados.

[Darrin Davis]

Get a set of stacked dado blades with a negative 5 degree hook tooth if you want to cross dado cut plywood that splinters like red oak or ash. I literally get zero splintering with this set. I think the set is called the 8" Pro Dado. Best set I've ever used.

[Michael Peet]

I also have the Dado King set, but I rarely need to cut dados. My brother used the set quite a bit to rebuild cupboards for his pantry.

I have a square ground 10" blade that I often use to nibble out material instead. It doesn't require a brake change for the Saw Stop like the smaller diameter dado set.

Mike

[Rich Enders]

+1 for the stacked dado.

[Lee Reep]

For lengthwise dadoes or rabbets on a board, I'll typically use my router table. For crosscut dadoes (for example, for shelf dadoes on the sides of a bookcase or cabinet), I'll use the dado set in my radial arm saw, since moving a long board for crosscuts on a table saw is tricky. On the RAS the board stays stationary, and you pull the blade to make the dado. And if the cabinet sides are narrow enough, you can do the dadoes on both pieces at one time, assuring excellent alignment of the dadoes for each shelf.

[Don Morris]

i have an Amana stack dado set and an extra set of magnetic shims. And I use the router too. For the most part I use the router for the smoothness of cut, but occasionally it seems that for some procedures the stack dado is the way to go. It's too early in the morning (3:30am) to think straight so I can't give you a reason why I choose one over the other.

[Shyang Huang]

Keith, I have an FS Tools stacked dado head, I also have grooving cutters.

I'll either use them in the saw with the stock feeder, or on the shaper with the stock feeder. (My saw and shaper have 30mm spindles which is great for sharing tooling).

Don't own a router, aside from a wood E.C. Emmerich one, and a PC laminate trimmer that's been used 3 times............Rod.

Rod,

Just wondering, do you have the Hammer dado set? How does that compare with wht you're using? Thanks.

Shyang

[Mark Wooden]

I use a stack set most and take the dial head with me when I have a saw set up on larger jobs. While I didn't check the box, I use a router too, but less than the other two.

[Steven Powell]

I have a Freud 8" dado stack (SD208) and use it pretty exclusively. Last time I made dados with a router it created such a dust collection nightmare that it turned me off to using a router to make dados. This was years ago with a crappy B&D router. I now have a few routers with DC capability but have not attempted any router dados since then.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Shyang, I don't have the Hammer dado set.

It's a nice unit, built like an adjustable grooving shaper cutter.......Rod.

[jeff zambron]

you want to here something nuts I worked for a guy for a little while he wanted me to stack circular saw blades on table saw to make a dado blade

[Ole Anderson]

Freud Dial-a-dado. Very happy with it. So much faster than a router when doing a lot of rabbits for cabinets or dados for drawers. And you have a lot more carbide to work with so you aren't dulling a 3/4" router bit.

[Sam Beatty]

I have a Freud 6" dado stack. I've done both router and stack dados, but I much prefer the stack over using a router. I find that I use mine quite often.

I was really debating between the 6" and 8" stacks. I'm glad that I ended up going with the 6" stack as haven't even come close to needing the 8"