Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Mar 30, 2007 01:46pm | #1

   I have a contractor's saw, which most recommend using a 6" dado set and not going up to the 8" due to the  lower HP of the contractor's saw. As I typically do, I ignored this advice and got the 8" and have never had a problem with it. I've cut some pretty deep dados and slots with it, a few times to the blade's full depth. (A fast way to make doors w/o fussing with true mortise/tennons.) I also use the outside blades with spacers between them to cut tennon cheeks. I've often been glad of the extra inch for that purpose alone. YMMV.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

2. 
   Knotscott | Mar 30, 2007 01:47pm | #2

   The 6" is easier to spin, but you give up 1" of cutting height...which you'll rarely need with a dado. So either works, buy the better deal.

3. 
   terrylee86 | Mar 31, 2007 04:33am | #3

   Bill,

   If your saw has the power, go with the 8" because it is more about mass than cutting depth.  The mass of the blades and cutters have less chance to distort than with the smaller diameter.  I would use a 10" set if they made one.

   Terry

1. 
   dukeone | Mar 31, 2007 05:40am | #4

   Terry: Forrest has 10, 12 inch dado sets. Kinda expensive but none of their products has ever disapointed.

   http://www.forrestsawblades.com/dado.htm

   DukeSupport the Troops, Support your Country

   Support Western Civilization:

   Fight Islamofascism

1. 
   terrylee86 | Mar 31, 2007 02:50pm | #5

   Duke,

   I know, I talked to the service guy at Forrest and he told me about the mass of the blades.  The problem is I  bought a 8" Forrest Dado King about 6 months before I bought my Laguna TS, which can handle a 12" blade.  I have 2 10" WWII and a 8" dado king from my old PM66, but I didn't think I would gain that much for the money.  Forrest said they can make a 12" WWII with a 5/8" arbor for my saw, but I don't think it is worth it.  If I need to rip something thicker I will use my 18" Laguna bandsaw with that resawking blade. It is great.

   Terry

   P.S.

   I like you signout.  I wish everybody in this country felt the same way.

   Edited 3/31/2007 7:54 am ET by terrylee86

1. 
   dukeone | Mar 31, 2007 04:41pm | #7

   Terry: Thanks, I have put my feelings on my sleeve so to speak and appreciate the occasional thumbs up. I live in Berkeley California so such sentiments are not well tolerated here in the so called home of "free speech".  I have the same band saw & blade, recently tried to rip a bunch of maple for a cutting board and had to do a lot of hand planing to get ready for glue up. Probably my technique and I needed the hand plane practice anyway.

   DukeSupport the Troops, Support your Country

   Support Western Civilization:

   Fight Islamofascism

1. 
   terrylee86 | Mar 31, 2007 06:55pm | #8

   Duke,

   I live outside of Ann Arbor, MI.  I know exactly how you feel.  The two hotbed of the 60's.

2. 
   charlesm | Mar 31, 2007 04:07pm | #6

   Terry,Mass is really not a factor. Stacked dado sets have chippers that are sized to increment the cut. A 1/8" chipper has a plate that is 1/8" thick, a 1/16" chipper has a plate that is 1/16" thick. So a 50" dado would have the same thickness chippers as a 6" and the larger the diameter relative to the thickness of the blades the more flexible they are. Therefore the 6" is less likely to distort than the 8" or 10".In terms of power requirements, as the diameter increases, the torque required also increases. An 8" dado requires 1/3 more torque than a 6" and a 10" requires 2/3 more torque.
   Charles M

   Freud America, Inc.

1. 
   terrylee86 | Mar 31, 2007 07:00pm | #9

   That is what the guy from Forrest told me at a show.  Doesn't matter 6'' is too small and 10" is too big.  Maybe the three bears said that.

   Edited 3/31/2007 4:22 pm ET by terrylee86

1. 
   charlesm | Apr 01, 2007 01:17am | #12

   That's a gutsy thing for him to say. It is up to the saw manufacturer to determine the maximum dado size that can be mounted.
   Charles M

   Freud America, Inc.

1. 
   BillA | Apr 01, 2007 04:23am | #13

   Well, I went out and bought a Freud 8" dado set. It was only $20 more than the 6" set.

2. 
   BruceS | Mar 31, 2007 08:55pm | #10

   While going through the Jet catalog I noticed that it says that an 8" dado up to 13/16 can be used on the 1 1/2 HP contractor.  Can you explain their reasoning ?Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   charlesm | Apr 01, 2007 01:16am | #11

   Jet will determine the maximum that can be used on their saws. If they say that an 8" is okay that is up to them. Unless they say that you can't use a 6" I would still recommend it unless you just absolutely need the extra depth.
   Charles M

   Freud America, Inc.

1. 
   BruceS | Apr 01, 2007 04:25am | #14

   Thanks for the info.  I rarely dado over 3/4" anyway.  

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

   Edited 3/31/2007 9:27 pm ET by BruceS

   Edited 3/31/2007 9:28 pm ET by BruceS