Everyone who owns a table saw knows how important it is to have high-quality blades. You’ll undoubtedly run into issues with any project if you possess bad saw blades!
To make the whole procedure simpler, we are here to provide you with something that you will undoubtedly adore – dado blades! Dado blades are one of many types of table saw blades that use outstanding innovation to meet all of your needs.
Keep reading to find out more about what a dado blade is, how it differs from a regular saw blade, what types of dado blades there are, and much more!
What is a Dado Blade
A dado blade is one of several varieties of table saw blades that use innovation to fulfill all of your sawing needs. A dado blade is a circular saw blade that works for interlocking applications and creates grooves and cuts that are significantly wider than cuts made by regular saw blades.
Other techniques, such as miter saws or a clamp guide with a handheld router, can also be used to create this wide groove, but dado blades tend to be faster and more precise.
A dado blade is constructed using the same components and materials as a regular blade – a disc, usually made out of steel, with teeth connected to it. However, the teeth on this type of blade are positioned differently and are at a steeper angle than those on a standard blade.
You can easily customize the size required by stacking various blades side by side.
Dado blades are also widely known among woodworkers as “slot blades.” Therefore, whenever you see them referred to as slot blades or dado blades, they are the same thing.
Various Uses of a Dado Blade
A table saw is an extremely useful tool, but when combined with a dado blade, you can complete a variety of jobs that might normally be difficult or time-consuming. This makes it easy to cut a hole or groove in the middle of a piece of wood, which is commonly used to contain or conceal things.
Dado blades are also suitable for rabbet joints, the slot is created around the border of the wood rather than in the center.
All in all, dado blades produce grooves into wood that are noticeably wider than cuts created by standard saw blades and they are particularly useful for interlocking applications.
Types of Dado Blades
Dado blades can be categorized into two different types, so it’s helpful to know the distinction before deciding which one is the right one for your needs.
Let’s examine them in more detail to find out how they differ from one another and which one you will need.
Stacked Dado Blades
This type of blade is made up of several blades lined up together in a staked formation to create a thicker blade – it represents a combination blade.
It is important to note that not all of the blades on this type of blade are identical to one another. In comparison to the outer blades, the shipper blades (also known as the center blades), have significantly fewer teeth.
Blades can be added or removed based on the width of the cut you wish to create.
The majority of dado blade sets come with shims, which are used to make tiny modifications for increased precision. They are small discs that can be positioned between the blades and are available in various sizes, depending on your needs.
Wobble Dado Blades
This type of blade resembles an unusual saw blade.
If you opt to finish a project with a standard saw blade, the alignment needs to be highly precise to achieve the greatest results. When using a wobble dado saw blade, the situation is the opposite.
The term “wobble” refers to a type of table saw dado blade that wobbles or swings while in use because of the offset rotation of its saw blades. You can choose the slot’s width by simply altering the sides of the blade.
A major drawback of this sort of dado blade is the vibration it produces while you’re operating it. So, be sure your table saw is securely fastened!
Do You Need a Modified Table Saw to Use These Blades?
Yes, to get the most out of dado blades, a modified table saw is required. A table saw that can employ dado blades will feature a longer arbor, which is the main distinction between this and a regular table saw.
However, there is a quick and easy technique to determine whether the arbor is adequate for your set of blades:
- Take the widest dado set that you can stack
- Find the length that the hub occupies
- Subtract the total length of the dado blade set and the thickness of the arbor nut
Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading this article all the way through! We sincerely hope that our explanation of what dado blades are, how they work, what different kinds there are, and other information was helpful to you.
Dado blades are multipurpose instruments, and there are two different sorts from which you can select your favorite – wobble or stacked. Depending on your requirements and the jobs you need to finish, you can simply choose between two of them.
We also want to make clear that not all table saws are compatible with these kinds of blades. You can, however, scroll a bit up to discover how to determine whether the blades will work with your table saw.
We wish you luck with your upcoming project!
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