I have a Shopsmith dado blade that I want to replace. I have a 10 inch table saw. I would rather not spend hundeds of dollars for the top of the line blade. All suggestions are welcome.
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Replies
Is your tablesaw a ShopSmith? I always thought that ShopSmith had 1/2" arbors making it impossible to buy after market blades since the standard arbor size hole is 5/8".
I have a Shopsmith, but don't use it for cutting anymore. I have a cabinet saw with a 5/8 inch arbor. The Shopsmith dado blade fits it just fine, I just don't like the cut it makes.
Tomster, I would say look at Freud.
The Freud SD608 dial a width blade is an awesome dado head assembly. I (like you) didn't want to spend the long dollar for a dado head, but i listened to a few contemporaries and went for it. I had to reach down deep to spend that kind of money for what i consider to be an ancillary attachment and actually felt guilty while i waited for it to show up in the big brown truck.
Unlike some other things i have bought, this purchase was worth the money. The outer blade has a rotating disc that spreads it from the inner blade when rotated. The rotating disc "clicks" at intervals as it is turned. The spread is .0035 per click, (amazing what ya can determine with a good depth micrometer) anyway...with that kind of control, you can dial in a thickness with confidence and efficiency.
It comes with a fairly explanatory set of instructions, a good chart for different widths and a decent method of packaging it in its case to ward against the carbide teeth chipping. I used to dread switching to a dado head because of the paper shims, or worrying if the wobble would rip the snots out of my shaft bearings. Now i give it no more thought than switching to a decent rip or crosscut blade.
Good luck in the hunt
Jeff
I have a dewalt and am very satisfied it cost me 98 bucks from grizzly if im not mistaken they even threw in a set of magnetic shims!
Chaim
Make your own mistakes not someone elses, this is a good way to be original !
Tom,
I agree with Chaim. I've got the DeWalt set - got it on sale for $100 and it cuts very cleanly due to the negative 5-degree rake angle. I've seen the same set branded with a Delta logo.
Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I think the Freud dados are on sale currently at Amazon. I have the SD306, which is at $142. It's been a good performer. Yearn for the Dial-a-Width though. At $229, it's tempting.
Hey FG - The Freud DAW is currently 25% off the $250 price....here's your window of opportunity! http://www.amazon.com/Freud-SD608-8-Inch-Width-Stacked/dp/B000089H8P/ref=pd_bbs_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1207092800&sr=8-5
Where do you see the 25% off? I just saw the $249 price. Not that it matters, I've spent a fortune this month between the Unisaw* and horses, going to Montana next week. But I cold succumb to temptation.
*Funny, spell check thought I mean Tunisiaforestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
It's right below the introductory description. There's also a link about "special offers available".
"Special Offers and Product Promotions:
Save 25% each on Freud Dado Blades offered by Amazon.com when you purchase 1 or more. Here's how (restrictions apply)"
The price should ring up 25% at checkout as long as the item qualifies and is sold directly by Amazon.
Edited 4/2/2008 9:45 am ET by Knotscott
With a list price of $405.60 from Freud and yet Amazon, as well as many others, sell them for $249.99. That strikes me as a bit odd.
I mean I've seen them all over the place for 249.99 for several months now, including Amazon. Also, I didn't see the 25% off the 249.99 price. Did I miss something?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 4/2/2008 1:14 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Here's what the screen looks like (link):
View Image
Be sure it's offered directly from Amazon. Add it to your cart, go to checkout, choose the Super Saver shipping, and it should show up for ~ $188 shipped.
Items:
$249.99
Shipping & Handling:
$11.39
Super Saver Discount:
-$11.39
Promotion Applied:
-$62.50
Total Before Tax:
$187.49
Estimated Tax:
$0.00
Order Total: $187.49
You got free shipping!
Well I'll be dipped! Now that's better.
Thanks a bundle man,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Thank you for your contribution to the economy! :D
Man, ya caint get away with anythang around here!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Nothing unusual about the big discrepancy between the "List Price" and the usual "Street Price." That's why I don't pay much attention to the "You Save $x.xx!!!!" that shows up on many, if not most, ads.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
forestgirl,
Ya it's a marketing ploy somewhat like the $3.99 not being $4 .............
What's interesting is that if you buy the dado from Freud it's $405.60 and yet Amazon can sell 'em for $187.49 + free shipping, final price to the consumer. Yup, pulled the trigger yesterday.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 4/3/2008 9:34 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Let us know how how you like it, Bob. I'd love to jump on the deal, but now's not a good time..... Oh, well.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Absolutely.
I will start getting ready for its arrival tonight; sacrificial fence, zero clearance inserts, etc..
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
too late now but I am wondering why the Freud over the Infinity (same price~$189)? I would eventually like to replace my current Freud (old "safety" dado set) and am leaning toward the infinity.
thanks
Jeff
link to Infinity blade:
http://www.infinitytools.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SDB%2D800
Infinity makes some great blades for sure, but they don't have a "dial-a-width" dado like the SD608 that I'm aware of, so it's more comparable to a traditional stacked dado like the SD508.
.... thanks for clarifying... that is a good point
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
I looked at the Infinity Dadonator and several others. Came very close to it but in the long run (as there's very little difference in price) I chose the Freud:
- Adjustable width (for plywood) and with minimal blade changes
- Great customer service
- Previous experience with their products, i.e. several blades, Box Joint cutter set and several router bits
- Free shipping from Amazon
All things considered, Customer Service was/is the convincer for me.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Since everyone is giving the prices of their dadoes, I'll chime in too. I have a Craftsman set that I paid sixteen dollars for back in 1962. Still works okay but not as smooth as some you get today. I bought a set of brass shims for it that always get bruised up when I tighten up the nut. The RAS that I used it with is about worn out and either needs to be repaired or thrown out. It is a recall and since it cannot be upgraded Sears would give me $100 if I would take it back.
The only caveat of the Dial-A-Width dado blade is that you need a longer arbor to accomodate the adjustor. I can barely get a standard 13/16" dado blade on my contractor saw but would not be able to with a Dial-A-Width blade. I'm sure you'll be okay with your fancy Unisaw, though.Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Holbren.com has a couple of Oshlun dado sets that have a very similar design to the Systimatic Superfine set....both are reasonably priced with free shipping, and are surprisingly well made for the price.
The DeWalt or Delta 4-tooth chipper set are awfully good too if you can find a nice deal < $100.
Edited 4/1/2008 2:06 pm ET by Knotscott
I have the Freud 508 super dado and have been very pleased with it. You might shop around and pick it up on sale for 150. The part about the more expensive dado sets such as this one is that 3/32" wide chipper blade makes it much easier to fit odd sized plywood.
Good luck
Troy
"3/32" wide chipper blade makes it much easier to fit odd sized plywood."
My wobble blade fits all sizes, too.
Harry
Following the path of least resistance makes rivers and men crooked.
"My wobble blade fits all sizes, too." Yeah, but what kind of finish does it leave? Smooth and nicely square channel (flat bottom)? I'd be surprised.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
You know, everybody thinks a wobble blade leaves a rounded bottom to the dado or groove and if you were cutting one 3 or 4 inches wide you might find a perceptible curvature to the bottom of it, but in a dado or groove no wider than used in furniture you'd probably have to examine it under a microscope to find any curvature. As far as the finish goes...as long as it is sharp it leaves a pretty smooth finish. Of course, as always...YMMV. ;^)
Harry
Following the path of least resistance makes rivers and men crooked.
Forestgirl is right on. What will the cut produce. Are you going to have deep or subtle scoring marks afterwords. If you want a good set, then I would go with freud.
But if you want cheap, then Avenger has two sets you can choose from. They have a fair to good finish, and range from $60 to $80. Its not to bad for the price, and it will give you good performance
Sawdust for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Infinity Dadonator... great blade- a friend recently bought one- far better than my Freud "safety" dado blade
Jeff S
I'ld highly recommend the dial a dado by freud. I've had very good results with mine and the ease of adjusting and almost unlimited width options w/o having to remove entirely from the saw is a big time saver for me.
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