Dado heads

[Steve]

I'm probably asking a stupid question (it has been known...), but I understand that we can't use Dado heads here in the UK. Could some kind soul tell me why on earth not?

 

[Anonymous]

there is a thread mentioning this called "safety laws"
https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18

 

[sawdustalley]

Nope there illegal - Shame huh ?!

 

[dennyk]

My new Sheppach 2500CI TS has a DADO set with it , although I haven,t managed to find out how to use it.

Another telephone call to NWA in yorkshire might help.

anyone else got one? and has used the DADO set up?

 

[Anonymous]

Still confused. Always wanted to know more about this. There seems to be much opinion about their safety (or not) but little in the way of law.

I am assuming that as a chap in my workshop with a machine that is designed to take a dado cutter, that I can use a dado head cutter..

Or did I just break the law?

Rutlands sell a Freud dado set. Are they breaking the law by providing me with the materials to break the law?

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis16.pdf

That link is to a government H&S Information Sheet and talks about rebates and groove cutting and that it should not be done on a table saw. But does this mean that it is illegal to do so in the UK?

I have a question out to a friend of mine who specialises in legal health and safety stuff, will have more details soon.

Does anyone else know for sure?

I imagine its a health and safety in the work place, rather than my own personal health and safety in the workshop?

 

[Adam]

I imagine its a health and safety in the work place, rather than my own personal health and safety in the workshop?

Thats my intepretation also. Somethings are illegal in both (i.e. taking Class A drugs). I don't believe its illegal to use a dado head (and its all to do with guards etc), just when HSE recommend you don't do it, it gets difficult with insurance etc. , doubly so if you have an accident, and an order of magnitude more difficult if one of your employees has an accident.

Of course it then all changes depending on guards etc. I thought one of the problems was you couldn't use a crown guard, however some saws have overhead crown guards (e.g. Felder) etc.

I think the very simple easy answer to the whole thing is if you run a professional workshop, you can talk to your local HSE representative who will be able to provide an official view.

Adam

 

[martyn2]

this is a can of worms and has been opened if you look at the past threads this has be discused to death but for whats it worth here gos

I have a saw thats surports a dado blade and have just stated to use them and i must say i think they are surpurb

I have used a router to do the same jobs in the past but i do prefere the dado head/blade.I dont think they are illegal but under H&S they must not be use in a comercal way ?I'm not to sure. But as a safety issue when i use my tools i try to be alert and take nothing for granted and respect them but the H&S belive i am not a responseable person so im not aloud to do anything that endangers my "bits" I'm not going to get on a soap box thats not my way if you want to use a dado blade and your SAW SURPORTS it then go ahead but like with all tools respect it and be care full

Martyn

 

[Anonymous]

[No message]

 

[Freetochat]

I've just taken delivery of a Hammer B3 and this is an option on the machine, although I didn't take it up. The dado range is 8 - 19.5 mm.

 

[Argee]

You may not have seen David Free's opinion on this matter - it's here if you're interested.

Ray.

 

[Steve]

Well well!
Ray's link (above this) is to a well informed and authoritative article which states the position with crystal clarity.
it just shows how many misconceptions there are out in WW land!

Many thanks one 'n all - cheers Ray!

Steve

 

[Scrit]

The HSE regs say that in a commercial environment any task must be undertaken on the most suitable equipment - which most of us take to mean the one with the least risk of injury or accident. Technically it is possible to make a dado head safe, I suppose, but when there are many safer/faster/better/more convenient ways to do this, why bother? In reality the HSE rarely compell - until you have an accident, in which case you find yourself being accused, or worse prosecuted, for "failing in the duty of care"...

If you'd like a personal reason for not using them, its simply that they are almost impossible to guard properly (i.e. very few machines have proper guarding available - my saw does, but that's another matter) and if you've ever used one and hit a knot (with the ensuing kickback, near finger event and bad language ) you'll know why I for one wouldn't have one one a table saw. Funnily enough, I have less qualms about using them on a crosscut saw (by that I mean a radial arm or pull-over type), as any kickback will direct the workpiece away from me and towards the fence and that's where most of the dado or trenching heads I've seen in commercial shops were installed, although there is/was always the hassle of having to locknut the dado head to prevent it coming off under braking! For an apocryphal story about dado heads (from the Land of the Free - and a pro site to boot), look here http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Eyewitness_Injury.html - look for the piece from Contributor K :shock:

Surely it boils down to this: whatever people want to do in the privacy of their own shops is their own business (mostly) - when they start to publicly encourage others to follow suit and take risks, that's a different matter. The comment about measure twice, etc. on my posts refers in part to the fact that, despite being a trained wood machinist I have still damaged both my thumbs in work-related accidents, and in one case required reconstructive surgery - and (in theory) I knew what I was doing.....

Sorry for the long post.

Scrit

 

[Anonymous]

Thats a great article from GBW.

 

[JFC]

I tried to buy a set of dado heads a while ago and was told not for sale anymore . I then went back to the workshop and dug out a set of saw blades i got when i bought my pre war spindle moulder . When the guy sold me the spindle he showed me with pride how to set up the french cutters and this wobble saw set up with ply wood spacers . Ive never been brave enough to try them out although some of the french cutters have very nice profiles and some are the moulds for doors in Hampton court . ( I must get these sent off to be copied !)
My point is , i already have a dado head cutter with plywood spacers but thought it to risky so went out to buy a safer version , only to be told im not allowed to have a safer version .
This leads me to another point #-o At Kempton park i asked the Trend rep for a couple of rebate limiters so i could blank off my block and just use the cutters he told me he couldn't do it ??? Then i asked around a few stalls asking if i could buy a fence and safety gaurd system for my pre war spindle and again a NO ? seems you can be safe if you spend lots of money but if you just want to be safe no one wants to know .
Metabo where the only ones interested in helping me out in selling me a fence but im still waiting for a call back .

 

[Waka]

Ray

Very good article, that should clear up any misconceptions on the dado issue.

By the way my saw is designed to take a dado but I've not used one to date, I feel more comfortable with the router table.

 

[Alf]

The GBW page is mentioned frequently in many of the other, numerous threads on dado blades which litter the archives of this forum. Practically everything that could ever be said about dado blades can be found in the archives, in fact. ](*,) As it happens this three year-old thread :shock: is just about one of the least informed examples available; Murphy's law in operation again. :roll: :lol: But it's all there, kids, if you care to look for it.

Cheers, Alf

 

[Philly]

Yes, as Alf says, all that can be said (and more) has been posted on this forum in the past. It all gets a bit hot under the collar when the "D" word is mentioned ......
Personally I like and use a dado in my saw. But I'm not saying anything else on the subject. Honest :roll:
Philly