Dado blades are a popular item in most woodworking shops, and 
give a table saw much more versatility. They are available in the original steel tipped version or carbide tipped. For those who won't be using the dado blade much, or who uses softer woods to make yard furniture, the steel tipped blade is adequate. There are a few types of carbide dado blades. The stacked type is sandwiched together, and then test cuts are made for width adjustments using metal or paper shims. Have plenty of scrap wood available for making test cuts. The wobble dado is a blade mounted on a hub that allows it to be adjusted "tilted" which adjusts the cut. The wobble blade is less expensive, but is not always as flat as the stacking dado, or the new, permanent type. It is also slightly more time consuming to get the adjustments correct.

Carbide tipped dado blades last a very long time. Using a dado blade often requires the use of a micrometer or precision calipers to get an accurate setting. One popular European saw blade manufacturer now makes a Dado blade especially designed for cutting 1/4" and 3/8" channels, which is beneficial for box joints. The reason for this is to eliminate measuring and shimming, and the blade is said to cut flat and clean box joints. 

Some smaller diameter carbide blades (6" diameter) are less expensive, but don't cut as deep as the larger diameter blades. A smaller diameter dado set might be easier on a small table saw with less that 1 hp motor. Also, some very inexpensive table saws do not have a large enough arbor to handle a dado blade.

It is recommended that you make, or purchase a few zero clearance inserts for your various width of dado blades. That is because there is the occasion when you will raise the blade very high and then have more space than required for most other dado cuts. Also, the different widths of cuts require different inserts for the best results. 

Dado blades are great for making shelves, rabbit joints. and box joints. Box joints are a great task to achieve with a table saw. They give you an added confidence and sense accomplishment.  Making box joints on a saw will help in gaining familiarity with gauges, measuring and doing more precision work with machines in general. Box joint making also helps you to become familiar with the different types of wood, the various blades, and the operation of a table saw in general.....work safe!

Why do we need to perfect making box joints or why become more familiar with a table saw? What you learn when making box joints reflects in numerous more artful and crafty ideas with a table saw.  It's a skill upgrade. It broadens ones confidence when having such "Hands on" experience on another level. Of course, this is bias, but you'll see. Box joint making on a table saw is way underestimated, mostly because it use to be harder to do. Not so, because with the Minnie Cut and the way it is gauged and explained in detail, makes it almost automatic. 

FreudŽ Box Joint Cutter Set
High-quality cutters are easy to use and will produce consistently flawless box joints in all wood and wood products. Fast set up for precise 1/4" and 3/8" joints without shims or adjustments! FreudŽ Box Joint Cutter Set

Precision and positive line-ups were 
discovered to be huge time savers.

From the Book...IMM

Variety brings together some great advances.  
When you combine woodworking with  precision 
machinist instruments it is a lesson in manufacturing.  

In the seventies there was a considerable amount of manufacturing activity all across the country.  
Stamping and molding companies, back in the seventies were challenged by gas shortages and a wave of imports. Huge production runs and stocked warehouses, filled with inventories were becoming less common and for some, very expensive.  Outsourcing was not always the answer. Manufacturers had to find a faster way to set up production runs in factories, and produce better quality.  Parts orders were becoming smaller and more often.  They also required higher quality.  Standardized setups reduced much of the lead time and grief at the beginning of production runs.  Quicker, more controlled setups for many production operations were a real necessity because foreign shops used foolproof QDC procedures.  With QDC,  there was little guessing or measuring when placing production dies and fixtures into a machine, as opposed to wondering where each tool was during the last manufacturing run.   Precision and positive mold and die line-ups were discovered to be huge time savers. 

"Take care of the little things...."

Faster, predictable, precision setups were becoming crucial by the 1980's. The first parts could pass 
inspection much faster because the die set-ups were "goof-proofed" having less variations in the set 
ups. The companies who had the quickest production changeovers "QDC" soon had an advantage 
over those who used hand measuring and guesswork. This process improvement reduced variation and standardized the process of changing the tooling. Not all companies could afford these new changes, 
but the ones who could, often benefited through an immense savings in die set-up costs. After seeing 
the way production plants have made major reductions in set up time with molds and dies, I came up 
with woodworking jigs with many of the same traits. Even for the woodworker, standardizing certain 
processes reduced variation, allowing for more and more capabilities and a drastic reduction in 
measurements for every cut. In other words jigs goof-proof the operation, allowing for the growth in 
accuracy and productivity.  Jigs and gauges are what give the small woodshop or cabinet shop an 
option; doing "volume" work...like going from crayons to creative.

Using micrometers  

 Using calipers 

TIMES?
Pastimes...everyone it seems wants to use their tools 
as a Pastime?  Tools, machines, even books and magazines 
have always been intended for hobbies and pastimes...
Here's is some info for " Real World Times."

Here are some questions from readers of our old newsletter...by George

Question:  What's the best wood for making windows.  Answer:   Redwood might be the best hardwood for that. I made windows from redwood and they are light, and have held up fine.  The problem is, redwood is hard to find clear,  without sapwood running throughout.  In that case it needs to be sealed and painted.  Some people use poplar, or Douglass fir because it stays flat and doesn't warp much. 

 
Question:  Where can I get cheap power tools, especially a cheap table saw?  Answer:  Request our e-mail report if you have too much problem.  It was created for the newsletter, but it was a little too raw for everyone to read.  Those who look for bargain woodworking tools usually find them, or they ask for our info.  Our first advice now is, don't just focus on cheap tools, but upgrade to learning more about an operation and making jigs too.  

A guide to using a Dado blade.
Tips to save good hardwood with a table saw.
Great use for a table saw. Use jigs for productivity.
Woodworking tips and Table Saw tips and saw blade care.