I'm in need of a good dado cutter to make 1/2" box joints in a drawer unit I'm building. I currently have a carbide tipped wobble dado blade but its setups are not accurately repeatable and the results look like the piece has been worked over by a dull toothed beaver. I've been looking at reviews of the Freud SD208 because it has carbide tips and it's less than half the price of the Forrest Dado King.
I've seen comments, however, that the unit produces some chipping and/or tearout, even in materials that would be considered easily machined. Is this true? If so, how bad is the problem? Or are the complainers just being too picky? I plan to use 1/2" Baltic birch ply for the drawer boxes.
Obviously, I'd like my project to be as eye appealing as possible but for the extra $150, I can live with some minor blemishes.