How to get index pin holes drilled in slider saw blades? (especially dado blades)

[Dan Friedrichs]

For those of you who have euro sliders with the index pins on the arbor, how do you go about getting holes bored in blades (if you didn't purchase a blade that was manufactured as such)? I assume you can't do it yourself on a drill press (it would have to be pretty precise to avoid unbalancing?).

I was trying to buy a 6" dado set for my Hammer C3-31, and wanted the Infinity Dadonator (which can be ordered with a 30mm arbor for $250), but Infinity can't drill the index pin holes. The Forrest Dado King comes with the holes, but is much more expensive (~$400). The Felder adjustable slot cutter looks nice, but is even more expensive, still (~$500).

Second question: are the holes drilled through each chipper blade, as well?

[Andy Giddings]

Dan, any good saw specialist should be able to do this for a regular blade and/or dado set - try someone like Ridge Carbide, Amana, Carbide Processors or Dynamic Saw Inc to name a few. I've also purchased a regular FS sawblade that required pin holes drilling by them and it took about a week extra to deliver. Upcharge was $12 for a $160 blade. Distributor was Ballewsaw

[Erik Loza]

Does Forrest not offer the blade drilling service any longer?

Erik

[John P Clark]

Dan - take them to vexor in north Denver on Washington, just north of us 36- they can put a 30 mm bore in the blades and bore the two pin holes. I have used them for some blades for my hammer and they have done a great job

John

[Dan Friedrichs]

I apparently need to update my location, John - your answer would have been perfect a few months ago (when I lived in Denver), but am now in Minneapolis.


Ok, so it sounds like I buy the Dadonator and ship it somewhere to have it drilled. Thanks, guys! I don't see that service listed on Forrest's menu, but I'll call and ask...

[Andy Giddings]

Dan, you might want to check with some of the suppliers I listed as they also make their own Dado sets and it could be cheaper/less of a pain than shipping an Infinity around

[Jim Andrew]

Anyone checked with Carbide Processors lately? Last time I called, they did not offer a dado drilled for the Hammer saws.

[Dan Friedrichs]

Thanks, Andy - I'll give that a try, too. That Felder slot adjustable slot cutter is looking very nice, though :)

[Andy Giddings]

I have the Felder slot cutter set (smaller diameter) and it does produce an excellent finish, Dan. Easy to dial in the right width of slot as well

[Rod Sheridan]

Yes Dan, a tooling manufacturer can drill the holes, I have an FS Tools dado set for mine.

Yes the chippers are drilled, in a pattern that staggers them around the assembly..............regards, Rod.

[Sam Puhalovich]

Awww c'mon, guys! Dan ... if you already have a blade with that hole pattern ... you've got a 'template'.
Pin-the center hole ... 2x side tape the blades together ... drill.

[Dan Friedrichs]

Awww c'mon, guys! Dan ... if you already have a blade with that hole pattern ... you've got a 'template'.
Pin-the center hole ... 2x side tape the blades together ... drill.

....will that work? Is the steel too hard for "regular" bits or anything?

Otherwise, seems doable...

[Paul K. Johnson]

I've drilled hardened steel with regular high speed steel drill bits. It takes a long time and like any metal you need to turn the speed down on your drill press so you don't cook your bits. Also too... LOTS of oil to help with cutting and cooling.

I would just do it myself for the pin holes. If the center hole needed to be changed I'd go to my machinist friend who is retired, bored, always looking for something to do and never charges me unless I make him because he shouldn't be working for free on real jobs - even for friends.

[Dan Friedrichs]

Update:

The Hammer adjustable slot cutter only goes down to ~0.3", which obviously won't work for 1/4" groves, so I think it won't work (for me) (plus it's >$700).

Forrest sells a 6" Dado King with the correct bore and pin holes, but it's $390 and their site presently notes that there may be a shipping delay due to high order volume.

Infinity sells a 6" Dadonator Jr with the correct bore, but no pin holes (and they can't drill the pin holes).

Ridge Carbide sells a Dado Master with the correct bore, but no pin holes. They said they'd be getting some with pin holes later this fall.

So the only options are the Dado King or having a blade modified.


In terms of modification:
Forrest says they no longer drill holes in other manufacturers' blades
Dynamic Saw said they could re-bore and drill pin holes
Vexar said they could re-bore and drill pin holes

Both Dynamic Saw and Vexar were quoting ~$20 per blade (or $160 for a full dado stack). With shipping, seems like it'll be about the same price to buy a Dado King or get one of the others drilled.

Anyhow - hope this is useful to anyone else looking for a euro-compatible dado stack.

[Rod Sheridan]

Dan, try FS Tools, that's the set I have............Regards, Rod.

[Andy Giddings]

Dan, did Dynamic offer up their own Dado set? I believe they have a 6 inch around $250

[Dan Friedrichs]

Dan, did Dynamic offer up their own Dado set? I believe they have a 6 inch around $250

Hmm...they suggested "getting a set made", but didn't indicate they had any stock.

[Tom Bain]

Dan -- Thanks for the research. I bit the bullet and bought the Dado king stack for my Felder. I love my saw but the one drawback is the limited dado height with a 6" stack.

[Sam Puhalovich]

Dan ... send me a PM ... I'll make a sketch for you ... how to do it on a drill press.
Your hardest part will be to make-up a locator pin for the bore.

[Ole Anderson]

What purpose do the pins serve? Most table saws function fine without them.

[Rod Sheridan]

What purpose do the pins serve? Most table saws function fine without them.

Hi Ole, the saw has electric blade braking, the pins stop the blade from spinning on the arbour. When you put the Felder dado cutter on, it's like a shaper groover, lots of mass............Regards, Rod.

[Rod Sheridan]

Dan -- Thanks for the research. I bit the bullet and bought the Dado king stack for my Felder. I love my saw but the one drawback is the limited dado height with a 6" stack.

Tom, your saw will take a larger dado stack, I believe the capacity is 180mm..............Regards, Rod.

[Brian Lamb]

Speaking as a Felder owner and as a machinist, don't try to do blades yourself on a drill press, it isn't going to work. Most blades have a hard body, you will need carbide drills and extremely rigid clamping and a lot more solid spindle than you will get with a drill press. I made the mistake of boring out dado sets and some blade when I first got my Felder, the dado set chippers were no issue, soft body on those, but all the "blades" were harder than you would ever get through with a HSS or Cobalt drill, in fact I ruined multiple carbide bits before the job was done.

Better to let a company that sells blades and has made jigs to drill and bore the holes than to try to do it yourself. Sell your existing stuff to some one who can use them and purchase new, you'll be further ahead.

[Dan Friedrichs]

Thanks, Brian. Vexor mentioned they'd need to use EDM to do it...

[Brian Lamb]

That would be the safest way, no stress to the blade body. Only problem is it's extremely slow and expensive.

[Jerrimy Snook]

Amana sells the 658060-30 dado set with a 30 mm arbor and full body 4T chippersbut no pin holes. As long as the blades are indexed so there is no interference between the teeth, stacking the set and drilling the pin holes should be fairly straight forward for a machine shop.

[Tom Bain]

Rod - Yes, you are correct ... BUT most stacks are either 6" or 8" (other than the special Felder one), and the 8" stacks exceed the rated capacity.