Best dado blade (5/8" bore)

[Eric Arnsdorff]

I'd like a new dado blade for my Unisaw table saw.
Which is the best dado blade to get a square cut regardless of cost?

[Kritt Moore]

I have two dado stacks, one 6” and one 8”. The 6” is from Forrest and the 8” from ridge carbide. In my opinion both of those companies are top of the line.

[Michael Schuch]

My 20 year old Freud dado set has never left a perfectly flat bottom. My 12" Ammana dado set leaves a very flat bottom.

[Lisa Starr]

Mine is a Forrest Dado King. It is easy to set up and makes nice cuts, however the bottom will have "bat wings" on the outside edges.

[Tom M King]

The Dewalt is better than most probably expect, and leaves square inside corners. It comes with a chart that tells what combination of parts leaves what width groove.

Even with the chart, I still mark on the different pieces leave what size groove with a Sharpie, for common sizes.

I've had the Forrest set for much longer, but when square corners are nice, the Dewalt does a really clean job.

[Jim Becker]

When I owned a dado set, it was the Forrest Dado King. Not inexpensive, but excellent product. Like many premium dado sets that use high-angle grinds on the outside for clean edges, the bottoms of grooves, dados and rebates cut have the "batwing" incisions so if the primary use for the dado set is for absolute clean bottoms that are visible, a "less premium" set that doesn't have the sharper outside edges. might be a better choice.

BTW, unless you are needing to do extraordinarily deep cutting with the set, opting for a 6" stack can save you a few shekels. Most work with these sets doesn't get very deep.

[Robert Engel]

I have a Dado King and a Dadonator (Amana sold by Infinity Tools). I can't tell any difference between the two at all.

I used a Freud 2 wing set for many years, finally teeth started coming off but its irrelevant b/c I'm certain the newer 4 wing Freud sets have to be better.

I think the Freud will work, but if you do a alot of dados I would spend $70 more and get a Dadonator, or add another $70 to that and get a Forrest.

Bottom line IMO this is a case where the most expensive probably doesn't make that much difference.

[Don Coffman]

The saw blade sharpening service I use informed he also sharpens dado sets when I confirmed cutting my blades for flat box joints or angled for dovetail cuts. So those batwings can be "adjusted".

[Edward Weber]

https://www.freudtools.com/products/SD508

Never had an issue with my freud Super Dado

[Kritt Moore]

Woodpeckers has a great deal on the ridge carbide right now.

https://www.woodpeck.com/8-ridge-carbide-stack-dado.html?trk_msg=5C6J27HVNRGK9AG7FKJ5NGHVOO&trk_contact=2DRLN81FOO0OU8JCASTQ4P5KI0&trk_sid=QKSN8H13J0O2B3LS6SIUEH14O8&trk_link=M6HMGU3VTEO4LB5OQLNQ0A1HFG&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Ridge+Carbide&utm_campaign=11.15.21+Xtra+ReBlast (https://www.woodpeck.com/8-ridge-carbide-stack-dado.html?trk_msg=5C6J27HVNRGK9AG7FKJ5NGHVOO&trk_contact=2DRLN81FOO0OU8JCASTQ4P5KI0&trk_sid=QKSN8H13J0O2B3LS6SIUEH14O8&trk_link=M6HMGU3VTEO4LB5OQLNQ0A1HFG&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Ridge+Carbide&utm_campaign=11.15.21+Xtra+ReBlast)

[Dave Cav]

Another vote for Amana.

[Doug Colombo]

Another vote for Forrest

[Bob Betker]

I've got a Dadonator and like it very much. I didn't realize that it was manufactured by Amana, nothing on the blades mentions Amana.

[Erik Loza]

Can't say "best" but have known many happy Forrest owners over the years.

Erik

[Roger Feeley]

My Freud SD508 stack cuts fine but leaves a slightly irregular surface that’s easily cleaned up with a chisel. If you are wanting a dado that will show, this isn’t it.

My only complaint is that it’s about 3/32” over 8”. My regular blades come from Amana and are about 3/32” undersized. That means that I have to make adjustments on my Sawstop. It’s not a big deal but is a little irritating. I did get in a hurry once and didn’t adjust the brake clearance. The brake fire happened on startup. Didn’t hurt the blade but blew a brake.

[Tom Bain]

Don’t have a 5/8 arbor saw anymore, but when I did … the Infinity Dadonator was really nice.

[Mike Kees]

I own a Dimar 8'' set as well as a Freud 8'' they both work well.

[jim mills]

Anyone use an insert type groover?

[Mark e Kessler]

I have the Ridge Carbide and very happy with it, for what it's worth it has the lowest "Bat ears" compared to the Forrest and others. Not really a big deal unless you plan to do solid wood joinery like a bridal joint for example where the end of the cut would be exposed, with the Ridge once it's glued it practically disappears. I don't know with Forrest but with Freud you can definitely see the bat ears once glued, Freud had the tallest then Forrest then Ridge....

[jeff oldham]

all of the above is great dado blades,,,but i purchased a oshlun dado from amazon and it was months after i bought it that i used it,,well when i crossed cut on plywood it was really bad like you were using dull blades,,,,and the return period at amazon had ran out,,so i call oshlun and told them the problem and they send me a new set right away and a return label for my old set,,,,like i said all of the blades above are great blades,,but when i buy anything customer service is my top priorty,,,and oshlun is great,,,

[Curt Putnam]

De[ending on what you want to do, you nay want to consider a box joint set. Only two settings: 1/3" and 3/8" - easy peasy. So with one fence move you cut any groove size from 1/8" to 3/4" by eighths. No fooling around with shims.

[Rod Sheridan]

I have an FS Tools dado set, square, flat bottom groove, works great….Rod

[Thomas Wilson]

Hi Eric,

I am relatively close to you and have an 8” Infinity Dadonator set that is practically new that I cannot use with my SawStop. The problem is the anti-kickback shoulders and solid disk chippers. You may try it out if you like. The price would be really good. I don’t remember the price but it was expensive.

Thomas

Just remembered that my Unisaw said not to use a dado set larger than 6” diameter. This may be true of your saw too.

[Brian Gumpper]

I've got a Dadonator and like it very much. I didn't realize that it was manufactured by Amana, nothing on the blades mentions Amana.

Didn't know that either especially when Amana doesn't manufacturer them for themselves.

[jack duren]

I have freud but prefer the Amana sets.

[Mike Henderson]

I prefer to do dados with a router. The reason is that when you're putting a dado into a panel, if that panel is not perfectly flat, the depth of the dado can change. With a router (and a jig), the router follows the panel and creates a dado of the same depth all along the dado.

With a dado blade cut dado, when you put your shelf (or whatever) into the dado, you lock in the curve of the side panel. You pull the side into the shelf, but since the dado is not flat, the side stays "curved".

Mike