Comments on: Setting Up a Dado Blade

By: Gabriel Sainz

Gabriel Sainz — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:51:44 +0000

What a time saver Marc. Thanks!

By: Ted Miller

Ted Miller — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:27:52 +0000

Mark very simple yet very effective tip.

We all know plywood is not even close to accurate thickness anymore. So thickness can vary from 1/32 to 1/64.

What I do since I use my dado set quite a bit, is that I try to have a cut off piece from every set up I do with the stack dado. Then I just write down on that small cut off what chippers and shims I used to make that width of cut. So the next time I need that size dado, grab that cut off that matches that thikness of wood I am using, then set the dado up accordingly.

Then make a test cut, see if the cut off is a snug fit and away I go…

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:40:55 +0000

The teeth sitting proud is exactly what makes the measurement accurate. We are looking for a true tooth to tooth measurement. So being able to reference the carbide teeth off the same surface as the wood works out quite nicely.

By: Ray Witmer

Ray Witmer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:31:35 +0000

The question I have is: The carbide teeth don’t touch each other but the bottom one in the stack sits on the table with all the teeth touching the surface. Don’t the teeth setting “proud” of the blade cause the measure to be off?

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:32:12 +0000

They just came with my blade. You should still be able to dial in with the Freud shims, even if they aren’t that precise. I hear some folks used playing cards as shims! lol

By: Bob Shepard

Bob Shepard — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:18:33 +0000

Great tip Marc! Only question is where to get the shims like that? My freud 8″ set didn’t come with such precision shims. Thank for the tip.

By: Blair Glenn

Blair Glenn — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:57:37 +0000

Only comment I have is I try not to lay my sawblades down on a metal surface. Too easy to damage the sharp points. Other than that, good tip.

Blair

By: Matt V

Matt V — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:12:20 +0000

Great tip Marc. I agree, “why didn’t any of us think of that”. This tip will save me a ton of time the next time around.

By: BarryO

BarryO — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:33:07 +0000

Another thing you can try is that, when you get close, use a feeler gauge (with your fingertip) to determine how far you’re off. Then use that to pick the correct shim thickness. ‘might be a little faster.

By: Bruce Somers

Bruce Somers — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:56:08 +0000

“Thus Spake Zarathustra” is so fitting for that video clip. This isn’t Monkey Business. Nice tip too.