Replies

1. 
   VomSorb | Feb 23, 2005 12:11am | #1

   That's pretty cheap, I doubt you'll beat that price by much.  The sixty four thousand dollar question is does the thing cut worth a damn?

   
   

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   Edited 2/22/2005 4:11 pm ET by cstan

2. 
   DDay | Feb 23, 2005 01:47am | #2

   Check out ebay, some of the freud stack dado's go for around $70 after the shipping.  You can get some good buys from time to time.  Some of the more well known names like freud are bid up but if you look for others, you'll find good prices.

3. 
   HowardAcheson | Feb 23, 2005 02:08am | #3

   For about the same price you can get the Freud SD206 ($75)dado or the SD208 ($95) dado. These dados are frequently rated "Best Buy" in most tests.

   In addition, if you want an inexpensive dado, many report good luck with the Harbor Frieght dado. There is a discussion going on in the WoodNET forum now: http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1434521&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=14

   Howie.........
4. 
   flipstuff | Feb 23, 2005 02:14am | #4

   not to hijack or get into store-bashing, but what's wrong with rockler?

   i'm a newbie and i thought they were respected.

   what are some typical issues / complaints with them?
   and whom would you choose instead?

   thanks in advance.
   philip

1. 
   cidion | Feb 23, 2005 06:05am | #5

   aw... i don't really have anything against RocklerI even have an order in with them right now. I usually call the orders in, so I can talk to people.I'm a new woodworker too, and had orders in from Leevalley.com, woodcraft.com (and woodcraft stores)Woodcraft and Leevalley people were very helpful.. suggesting cheaper alternatives to things. Made me feel like it was more important that I got good things, for not much money.rockler made me feel like It was just another order to fill their quota. Not rude, but not personal.But all three companies delivered the goods that I ordered. So I don't have really any reason to complain. Just a feeling.Back to the Dado blade... i guess I need to bite the bullet and get a good blade that will last.

2. 
   forestgirl | Feb 23, 2005 10:20am | #6

   Rockler tends to be high-priced and their store personnel aren't necessarily knowledgeable about what they sell.  As long as you dn't expect them to be the ultimate source of everything, it's OK.  Our Seattle store stocks a wide selection of cabinet hinges and slides, etc., and the pesonnel seem to know a great deal more about that stuff than they do their tools and accessories.

   Get on some of the other catalog lists and you'll begin to see where Rockler falls short.  Lee Valley, Woodcraft are two examples.  Specialty companies like MLCS (router bit source) and Woodhaven (router everything).  The list goes on.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   flipstuff | Feb 23, 2005 11:23am | #7

   gotcha. i have heard people talk about woodcraft and rockler a lot. i don't think either of these stores is very close to me (san francisco), but i have "been there" online.so are they basically the equivalent of big-box retailers for woodworkers? curious.anyway, thanks for the replies and info, cidion and forestgirl.philip

1. 
   forestgirl | Feb 23, 2005 08:29pm | #9

   Woodcraft, IMHO, is in a different category than Rockler.  Much more extensive and better selection of "stuff."  My prejudice may be related to the staff I've met in the respective store.  The people at our Woodcraft store are hands-on woodworkers who can answer many question intelligently.  They are personable and invested in their customers.  The complete opposite can be said of the most of the staff at the local Rockler store.  They are (for the most part) stockers and merchandise movers.

   Woodcraft's web site is pretty unweildy.  I'd highly recommend getting printed catalogs from most of the sites you visit.  It's much easier that way to get a feel for what the company has.  Just click on "customer service" and request a catalog.

   I certainly hope my post didn't lead you to believe that I put Lee Valley in the Rockler category.  They are in another universe from Rockler.  Especially with the Veritas items and other high-quality name brands.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   cidion | Feb 24, 2005 12:55am | #10

   So, if the bullet explodes, it's because of my bicuspids.I got the Freud LU85 (reccomendation from Forestgirl)
   And the Freud SD308 Dado SetPurchased from McFeeleys.com
   LU85 - $70
   SD308 - $115
   I added an apron full of square head screws and a couple bits, and now I can't eat out lunch for a week.Thanks for the advise everyone.I plan on getting my current blade sharpened. It's a good ripper..i thinkI fugured if I get a low cost blade (Avenger or whatever) I will be replacing it in 12 months, and a freud i'll just be sharpening.. maybe.

2. 
   HowardAcheson | Feb 24, 2005 04:12am | #11

   Hate to say this but the SD308 is not a very good dado. It is a very old design and has a positive hook angle. A positive hook angle will cut faster but it does not cut as cleanly as the more modern dados that have a negative hook. You would be better off with the SD208 at about $95 or the SD508 at about $200. Both of these dados are negative hook and are rated very highly. The SD208 is always a "Best Buy".Howie.........

3. 
   cidion | Feb 24, 2005 06:44am | #13

   Howie...thanks for the info.so you say the 208 would be better? I want something that is clean. I don't care if it's a fast cut. I don't want to burn the wood of course.What about other blades in the same price range? Any reccomendations? I just thought the 308 would be better than the 208... gifigure huh =)
   It would have to be fast, because I need to call McFeeleys asap so I don't have to return it.Or any other blade in that price range?thanks again

4. 
   Lightman | Feb 24, 2005 03:20pm | #14

   One more good web site is Highland Hardware's site, http://www.toolsforwoodworking.com . This a very cool site. Lotta free stuff and they have been around along time. This is the only one I know of that I like the web site better than the catalog. Have a good one.

   Jimmy

   as always I wish you enough

5. 
   cidion | Feb 24, 2005 04:25pm | #15

   So, I called McFeeleys.com to try and remove the blade from the order.They can't change an order once it's been "keyed" in.I'm thinking that McFeeleys is like Rockler in that the bottem line is the money, and not the customer. They were not helpful on the phone.Low prices though. I'll give them that. The dado blade that I thought I wanted, and now I don't, is a good $30 less than on amazon.And I guess another positive is that when I return the item, I'll get shipping credit as well. Still, I would think it would have been easier to walk to the back of the shipping depertment and say, "hey...take that dado blade out of order 4345 please... thanks"so.. should I upgrade the $85 to the 508 blade? I could get it from Amazon, and have free shipping.

6. 
   forestgirl | Feb 24, 2005 07:32pm | #16

   "They can't change an order once it's been "keyed" in."  Bullpucky.  Jerks.

   Cidion, if I remember you saw correctly, I would not recommend the 8" dado blade.  That puppy packs alot of mass for a smaller, much older saw like that.  If you ask around, I think you'll find that the 8" is overkill for most hobbyists.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

7. 
   cidion | Feb 25, 2005 05:26am | #18

   Jaime, you were right.It's a 1 HP motor, so a 6in Dado is for sure what I need to get.I'm very glad you caught that. Thanks =)Bryan

8. 
   HowardAcheson | Feb 24, 2005 07:54pm | #17

   As I have said now a couple of times, the SD20x dado is an excellent dado. It cuts thin veneered hardwood plywood without splintering and cuts very flat bottomed dados unless you have a Craftsman or older Ridgid saw.For $75 for the SD206 (6") or $95 for the SD208 (8"), you are getting an excellent dado.Howie.........

9. 
   flipstuff | Feb 24, 2005 04:23am | #12

   thanks so much for the info and the thoughtful replies.
   i will follow your suggestions and order a catalog.as a graphic/web site designer of nearly ten years, i do get impatient with the varying quality of web sites. funny how much time people think we all have to wade through endless pages!

5. 
   PatricKinOnt | Feb 23, 2005 06:19pm | #8

   I have the Freud SD208 and its great.  Half the pice with 95% of the performance of the Forrest.