I'm planning on a Dado set for my 3HP CS; performance is more important than
price.
At least some of the manufacturers produce the outside blades such that they
score the workpiece to achieve perfect edges and avoid tear-out. While this
is nice, the scoring is bound to also leave a small valley at the bottom
corners of the dado (some have called these batwings).
I am hopeful of using the dado set to also cut box joints and various
shouldered joints (lap, tenons, rabbets, etc) that may require multiple
passes over the blade to achieve full width. Having the blade score the
joint at the edges of each pass would seem less than desirable.
Since some of these joints may be visible in a finished piece, are the
batwings also visible?
Of the sets listed below, which are more or less better in this regard?
Forrest Dado King, ~$270.
Claim: most well known as the best.
Outer blades score workpiece.
(Does this leave visible ridges?)
Freud SD508, ~$200
Claim: contends as the best.
Square Tooth, and Chip-Free.
(No scoring?)
Freud SD608, ~$250
Claim: same as 508, but replaces shims with patented dial.
Ridge Carbide Dado-Master, ~170.
Claim: perfect flat bottom.
Compare against best known set for $100 less.
TIA,
/rick, who owns a Forrest WWII, and is very pleased, and has been leaning
toward the Forrest Dado King but for the potential batwing problem.
As far as I can tell all the dado sets have batwings, the Woodworker
set does as well.
But I have spoken to a guy who uses one frequently enough to have
needed to get the set resharpened and he said that the woodworker
people were happy to take the batwings off for him.
Give them a call, this is a pretty common issue.
The other tip the guy had was that for most people there was no need to
buy anything bigger than a 6" dado and the smaller amount of mass
moving arround can cut the chance of kickback somewhat (no idea if he
is right but it can't hurt).
I have the Freud set, it is pretty good, I plan to use a router and the
Incra jig for box joints. I would not want to be fiddling with shims,
the dial head is a big time saver.
I have found that those batwings (I would personally call them batman ears,
but anyway) tend to disappear once you have you joint glued up.
Joe in Denver
my woodworking website:
http://www.the-wildings.com/shop/
"RickS" <rick --dot-- s --at-- comcast.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm planning on a Dado set for my 3HP CS; performance is more important
> than price.
>
> At least some of the manufacturers produce the outside blades such that
> they score the workpiece to achieve perfect edges and avoid tear-out.
> While this is nice, the scoring is bound to also leave a small valley at
> the bottom corners of the dado (some have called these batwings).
>
> I am hopeful of using the dado set to also cut box joints and various
> shouldered joints (lap, tenons, rabbets, etc) that may require multiple
> passes over the blade to achieve full width. Having the blade score the
> joint at the edges of each pass would seem less than desirable.
>
> Since some of these joints may be visible in a finished piece, are the
> batwings also visible?
>
> Of the sets listed below, which are more or less better in this regard?
>
> Forrest Dado King, ~$270.
> Claim: most well known as the best.
> Outer blades score workpiece.
> (Does this leave visible ridges?)
>
> Freud SD508, ~$200
> Claim: contends as the best.
> Square Tooth, and Chip-Free.
> (No scoring?)
>
> Freud SD608, ~$250
> Claim: same as 508, but replaces shims with patented dial.
>
> Ridge Carbide Dado-Master, ~170.
> Claim: perfect flat bottom.
> Compare against best known set for $100 less.
>
>
> TIA,
>
> /rick, who owns a Forrest WWII, and is very pleased, and has been leaning
> toward the Forrest Dado King but for the potential batwing problem.
>
>
>
>
In the diagrams I have seen, I frankly viewed them as Batman ears too, but
since others had coined a term, I thought it best to stick with the common
nomenclature.
I have not seen a closeup _photo_, let alone a live example, of these dado
cuts, so I am unclear as to how pronounced these batwings really are.
Since most everyone cries the praises on any of the dado sets I mentioned, I
doubted the issue was significant, but still worth some investigation before
dropping the cash these products command.
Your reply is what I was hoping for (and expecting).
But Phillip's reply still leaves me with pause. If not significant or
noticeable, why would anyone want to -- and in the case of Forrest, agree
to -- alter the blade's design to remove the cause of these batwings?
/rick.
"Joe Wilding" replied...
>I have found that those batwings (I would personally call them batman ears,
>but anyway) tend to disappear once you have you joint glued up.
>
> Joe in Denver
> my woodworking website:
> http://www.the-wildings.com/shop/
>
>
> "RickS" wrote...
>> At least some of the manufacturers produce the outside blades such that
>> they score the workpiece to achieve perfect edges and avoid tear-out.
>> While this is nice, the scoring is bound to also leave a small valley at
>> the bottom corners of the dado (some have called these batwings).
"RickS" <rick --dot-- s --at-- comcast.net> wrote in message
>
> Of the sets listed below, which are more or less better in this regard?
>
> Ridge Carbide Dado-Master, ~170.
> Claim: perfect flat bottom.
> Compare against best known set for $100 less.
I have this one and it does a great job. I've never seen any problem with
wings. If it was not so damned cold out there in the shop I'd cut a dado
and send it to you.
Keep in mind, they offer a 90 day 100% satisfaction guarantee.
"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote...
>
> If it was not so damned cold out there in the shop I'd cut a dado and
> send it to you.
Well, it's the thought that counts, Edwin... thanks. Even here, down in S.
Florida, it is so cold my Oak insert has siezed in the shriveling table saw
iron.
/rick, who has read good comments about the Ridge Carbide set, appreciates
your additional endorsement, and might be swaying in that direction.
"RickS" <rick --dot-- s --at-- comcast.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> But Phillip's reply still leaves me with pause. If not significant or
> noticeable, why would anyone want to -- and in the case of Forrest, agree
> to -- alter the blade's design to remove the cause of these batwings?
>
> /rick.
Forrest will grind the blade anyway you like.
They do it because you pay them.
-j
On Mon, 17 Jan 2005 12:48:36 -0500, RickS <rick> wrote:
> I'm planning on a Dado set for my 3HP CS; performance is more important than
> price.
>
> At least some of the manufacturers produce the outside blades such that they
> score the workpiece to achieve perfect edges and avoid tear-out. While this
> is nice, the scoring is bound to also leave a small valley at the bottom
> corners of the dado (some have called these batwings).
>
> I am hopeful of using the dado set to also cut box joints and various
> shouldered joints (lap, tenons, rabbets, etc) that may require multiple
> passes over the blade to achieve full width. Having the blade score the
> joint at the edges of each pass would seem less than desirable.
>
Most of the time, it doesn't matter. What I'd do in your case is do
some test cuts and see whether or not it's noticable in your
application.
If you decide it REALLY matters, then you might want to consider using a
router instead of a dado.
For now, I'm using a router because I don't own a dado, but there've
been Many times where it would have made things easier.
There is approximately .004" of scoring. It's visible when you use
multiple passes to widen a dado when looking into the slot, but if you
are concerned about what shows at the end of the work piece, it's pretty
darn insignificant. I just got a brand new sd-508. I called the mfg.
and they confirmed that the .004 is necessary for chip free edges, which
are IMHO, VERY important. The chip-free claim is true. Melamine will
have ZERO chip out. I was really surprised at how good it can leave the
edges of melamine.
I can't tell you anything about the others.
David
RickS wrote:
> I'm planning on a Dado set for my 3HP CS; performance is more important than
> price.
>
> At least some of the manufacturers produce the outside blades such that they
> score the workpiece to achieve perfect edges and avoid tear-out. While this
> is nice, the scoring is bound to also leave a small valley at the bottom
> corners of the dado (some have called these batwings).
>
> I am hopeful of using the dado set to also cut box joints and various
> shouldered joints (lap, tenons, rabbets, etc) that may require multiple
> passes over the blade to achieve full width. Having the blade score the
> joint at the edges of each pass would seem less than desirable.
>
> Since some of these joints may be visible in a finished piece, are the
> batwings also visible?
>
> Of the sets listed below, which are more or less better in this regard?
>
> Forrest Dado King, ~$270.
> Claim: most well known as the best.
> Outer blades score workpiece.
> (Does this leave visible ridges?)
>
> Freud SD508, ~$200
> Claim: contends as the best.
> Square Tooth, and Chip-Free.
> (No scoring?)
>
> Freud SD608, ~$250
> Claim: same as 508, but replaces shims with patented dial.
>
> Ridge Carbide Dado-Master, ~170.
> Claim: perfect flat bottom.
> Compare against best known set for $100 less.
>
>
> TIA,
>
> /rick, who owns a Forrest WWII, and is very pleased, and has been leaning
> toward the Forrest Dado King but for the potential batwing problem.
>
>
>
>