Dumb Dado Question

[tillius]

I actually tried this last year when I needed to make large box joints on my crapsman ts and couldn't afford to buy a dado. I found a set of

7 identical B&D 7-1/2" steel blades and stacked them with washers and poster board shims between them to get the right spacing.

I cut 240 3/8" box joints with it. When I first started, the notches came out fairly nice requiring minimal clean up. After about 180 cuts, I had to do moderate clean up of each notch bottom with a chisel.

After I finished I just threw away the blades since they only cost me $4.99 for the set.

Would I do it again? ONLY if I HAD to cut dados and HAD no money. They made such noise I was scared out of my gourd the entire time.

Tillman

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense. Ed

[Swingman]

I would say that you might be right, and just well might do that, IF you only know enough about table saws, table saw blades, their operation and use, to be a danger to yourself.

[Swingman]

You will definitely need to pay more attention than that when you're using a table saw with a dado set.

Anyone who has to ask, on a public forum, how to assemble and use a dado set, and in particular ask a question of that basic a nature, would do well to get some experienced, hands on guidance, in person, before attempting to use one. You're spinning way too much metal to be guessing.

You "think"??! ... sorry, that ain't gonna cut it around that much spinning metal. If you don't know for sure, don't ... until you do.

But yes ... that answer _is_ pretty much the definition of a "no brainer".

[Secret Squirrel]

"Swingman" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Thanks for the lesson and the accompanying self righteous attitude. Perhaps now you can go back and read the original post. The OP questioned that, in so much as they are labeled in what appears to be contradiction to the correct orientation. If you follow the lableling (and they DO NOT come with instructions) you will wind up with the outer blades reversed. By taking the extra moment to look at them you will realize that the labeling is misleading. I thought I made that clear in my post. But what should be equally clear to someone who clearly knows everything is that reversing the position of the outer blades will not make the set any less safe to operate, just somewhat less accurate.

[Swingman]

As I said, it wasn't directed at you ... but the fact remains that whoever displayed the original ignorance should be strongly warned, and be thankful that the "self righteous attitude", as you call it, is not accompanied by flying carbide teeth and/or bits of steel.

[Tom Kohlman]

Swingman

I was the OP. As stated previously, I was doing it correctly but not real pleased with the results which led to the question in the first place.

As for "spinning metal", I probably have a few thousand more miles of it under my belt than you do but if playing Mom makes you feel good, that have at it.

[Swingman]

Then you should be damn thankful if you are still in one piece.

-

Last update: 4/13/04

[Tom Kohlman]

...in one piece with every appendage I was born with still here. I did one stupid mistake that resulted in blood back in 1983 (I think...might have been 1984). Beat that "Mom".

Sorry you had to take the time to nose into what I still think was a legit question to a group of people that are generally very helpful. Forget the fact that I've only witnessed you "sniping" without offering anything of value to anybody posting to this NG.

As I have been such a bad bad boy, if I were you, I would plonk me. FH

[Swingman]

If you have some wood, better go knock on it.

Mom would tell you the same thing: Pay more attention all around and you'll be safer, and better informed.