Replies

1. 
   dgreen | Jan 25, 2008 11:24pm | #1

   Here is a link to the manual in case you don't have it.

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   It would indeed be a tragedy if the history of the human race proved to be nothing more than the story of an ape playing with a box of matches on a petrol dump. ~David Ormsby Gore

1. 
   Buzzsaw | Jan 26, 2008 02:50am | #2

   Thanks for that. Now I have an electronic version. Can you recommend a dado blade set. Would it make sense to just buy a Craftsman set?Regards,

   Buzzsaw

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

1. 
   JohnWW | Jan 26, 2008 03:09am | #3

   There is nothing unique about the Craftsman set that would make it work better in your saw than a set from any other manufacturer.

   John W.

1. 
   Buzzsaw | Jan 26, 2008 05:20am | #4

   Thanks John but could you recommend a dado set that you are happy with?

    

    Regards,

   Buzzsaw

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

2. 
   CJohn | Jan 26, 2008 06:32am | #5

   I have the same saw and have been using it since 1975. My father in law had it before me and built a house with it. I have abused it to the max and it just keeps on a running. I started with an Montgomery Ward stacked dado set,  have a couple of craftsmen dado sets, and my favorite is a CMT stacked dado set. Have also used craftsmen molding head cutter set.

3. 
   Dave45 | Jan 26, 2008 05:40pm | #6

   My TS is a mid-80's vintage Craftsman and I use either a stacked dado cutter, or one of my two Craftsman wobble dado cutters.  I seldom use it, but I also have a Craftsman molding cutter.

   About five years ago, I tore the saw down to it's component parts and reassembled it getting everything dialed in as perfectly as possible.  I added the Craftsman XR2424 fence and changed over to a linked drive belt and machined pulleys.  The improvment was amazing!  It runs as smooth as silk.  Every time I think I would like to upgrade to something better, I wonder if I would get enough improvement to justify the cost.

   I make my own zero clearance inserts from 1/4" plywood.  I trace around the stock metal insert and cut several inserts on the bandsaw, sand them to fit the insert opening, and drill a finger hole in each one.   I use 3-4 strips of duct tape on the bottoms to bring the insert up to table height. 

   I have inserts for my 10" blades, an 18mm dado stack, and a 12mm dado stack.  For one job, I made an insert with the slot at 45* so I could get clean miter cuts on 1/2" walnut plywood.  I keep 2-3 "blanks" handy in case I need to make up a special use insert.

   
4. 
   PCM | Jan 26, 2008 05:51pm | #7

   I finally got the $ together to buy the Forrest 8" stacked dado set, and really enjoy it!

   Excellent cutting with flat dado bottoms,  accurately machined blades and chippers.

   Pete

5. 
   HowardAcheson | Jan 26, 2008 07:07pm | #8

   Here is something to check. There is a problem with the arbor on most Craftsman Contractor Saws that affects the quality of the cut when using a stack dado. I don't know if it also appears on their Table or Cabinet saws.

   The arbor on Craftsman contractor saws has a deep groove between the threaded portion and the flat unthreaded portion of the arbor. Any chipper that would end up resting in this area will not cut in a concentric path and the bottom of a dado will not be uniformly flat. There is a DIY fix for this. However, the threaded portion of the arbor is slightly smaller in diameter than the flat portion so any chippers or end blade will again not cut in concentric paths. But, the error is small and most ignore it.

   Howie.........
1. 
   Buzzsaw | Jan 27, 2008 05:33am | #9

   Thanks very much for the info from all of you. I purchased a Vega fence a couple of years ago for my Vintage Craftsman TS. It made a tremendous difference. I am looking forward to purchasing my first stacked dado set.Regards,

   Buzzsaw

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie