[djtech2k]

Any experiences or recommendations for dado sets?

 

[djtech2k]

Wow thanks for the info. A ton of information.

Just to give you some more information about my information...

I am a novice woodworker that does projects in my garage. That is why I have the 7491 table saw. I need to be able to fold it up and store it to the side when not using it. I wish I had room for cabinet table saw, but unfortunately I do not. I mentioned the Dewalt and the Diablo because I saw them as available in my local stores. I know nothing about them so I used them as examples.

I have done a lot of searching on this site and did some several mentions of this dado: Oshlun SDS-0842 8-Inch 42 Tooth Stack Dado Set with 5/8-Inch Arbor - Dado Saw Blades - Amazon.com . The reviews are good and the cost is not terrible. I have never used a dado so this is my first. I do not want to spend a ton of $ on it because of that, but I also don't want to buy something that is junk or a pain to use.

You suggested getting a 6" dado instead of 8". So my saw is not powerful enough to run an 8" and its only a 1" net difference in the dado cut depth?

For the throat plate, I have seen them advertised for sale for about $20-$30, which seemed reasonable. I looked into making a zci, but with a low price and the level of detail needed for it to fit correctly, I thought the $20 or whatever it would cost to buy was worth it to purchase. So basically I was just considering the LOE vs the cost on it and I thought it seemed like the cost was low enough to buy. Maybe I am wrong about that.

 

[djtech2k]

Based on your feedback here, I think I am going to order the 6” oshlun. I am not quite 100% sure on the throat plate for dado or zci for my standard blade. It makes sense to make it yourself but it seems like it would take me a lot of time to make that level of detail. I am pretty slow, partially because I am not a pro, partially because I don’t have a “real” workshop, and partially because I try to make things near perfect. I found the dado throat plate from dewalt for about $30 if I recall correctly. Then I saw Leecraft has the standard zci that is about $35. I have never used one but I know I need it to use a dado, so I know I need at least that one. The std zci I would like to have but $35 is getting close to the steep area for a small piece of material. If any of you know of any other or better options, I am all ears.

Thanks.

 

[djtech2k]

That's cool. I am in the same boat with the time vs price for the zci. I had thought I would buy the Dewalt dado throat plate and then buy a separate zci, but now that I see 2-3 packs for ~$40 on etsy, I may go that route instead.

I do not know that I will ever use this dado for super large cuts. Like right now I am thinking of making a wall mount kind of shelf/organizer that needs a groove down the side to mount something like a slat in it. Its like 1/4", so very small. I would eventually like to get into making nice wood joints, like box joints and such, but that's not immediate at all. I am also ok if I did need to make a larger cut then I can take it slow and/or run it through more than once to get it done. Like I said, I try to take it slow with any precision stuff because my setup is not ideal and I am not an woodworking pro. I like to do it in my spare time to make nice things at my house and to learn new things.

 

[djtech2k]

I just had a thought. I ordered the 6” dado today. I would like to have a jig or jigs for cutting dado’s, for things like joints. Let’s assume that a jug base is 1/2”, how deep of a dado will I be able to cut with that 6”?

 

[djtech2k]

This does go way back.

I ended up buying them from a guy on Etsy. Here is the link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1021240484/dewalt-2-pack-for-dw744-dw745-dw746

To be honest, I still do not have them installed. I remember doing a quick dry-fit and it will need some "tuning" to fit perfectly but I don't think it will be a lot of work. I have not used my dado stack yet as I don't use the table saw all the time so I haven't installed it yet. I should have but get busy with other things.

I will note that a long time after I purchased, I sent the seller a message on etsy with a question about the product and he replied right back with a thorough answer. So I give the guy A+ for service after the sale.