Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Jul 17, 2006 01:16am | #1

   There is no harm in leaving off the washer with a thick stack of dado blades, the stack is so stiff that you don't need a washer to spread out the load.

   As to why the arbor is short, it is because a longer arbor would stike the underside of the table when the blade was raised high and the blade was tilted to 45 degrees. All machine design is a compromise and this is a common trade off with table saw design.

   John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine

1. 
   ctsjr | Jul 24, 2006 04:40am | #3

   Thanks, John.  I'm feeling better about everything in life after a week of R&R.  I'm going to try out the dado again tomorrow.  Tom

2. 
   JasonWhite | Jul 17, 2006 04:02am | #2

   Read the instruction manual.  It clearly states to leave the outside washer off when using a full dado stack.  That's what I do with mine and it works just fine.

   TF

   Toolfanatic (a.k.a. The man formerly known as "Toolfreak")
1. 
   ctsjr | Jul 24, 2006 04:41am | #4

   I obivoiusly missed that one when I read the manual.  I'm going to give it a try tomorrow.  Tom

3. 
   John_D | Jul 25, 2006 10:30pm | #5

   On my Unisaw, you also have to leave off the extra washer when mounting a full dado stack.  It says it in the manual, and I can tell ya it's true.  So it's not just your Ridgid.

   Usually I'm not cutting a 3/4" dado, so I put the washer on when there's enough thread left over for the arbor nut to seat FULLY.

   My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.