Dado stacks

[Jason.p]

At the risk of opening a Hornet's nest, I get the distinct impression that the use of Dado stacks is frowned upon over here. The Americans seem to use them quite a lot (according to YouTube). I assume it's a safety issue, (or several safety issues).

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

Yes.

I am generally a non-combatant in these threads, so I'll do my best to present things without upsetting either side.

You can't use a riving knife with a dado stack.
You can't therefore use the safest type of crown guard.
The stack can exert a significant force on the workpiece, so the consequences of kickback are severe.

The UK way is to cut housings with a router. It is safer, generally just as quick, more precise, and doesn't cause arguments on the inferwebz.

 

[robgul]

I understand from a US friend with a BIG table saw - that the use of a dado stack in the UK/Europe (back then) isn't illegal - but, that table saws in the region are required to stop the blade spinning within a certain time and have a some sort of brake . . . the forces with a dado stack set of blades would require a much more powerful mechanism and the manufacturers didn't see the volume of sales warranting the development.

I have to agree that a router is a rather safer way to cut dados/housings/rebates or whatever you want to call them.

 

[johnnyb]

I'm a fan of dado stacks tbh. but only for certain cuts.hogging off tenons accurate through grooves. housings. not excessively wide stacks ( 1/2 INCH)
not rebates as they are poor for that(spindle and rebate block much better) for cutting joints I find dados very controllable.( on the right saw)they are not free cutting hogging joinery rebates are have poor accuracy tending to push the wood away.

 

[Eric Roy]

There is a 9-minute video on YouTube by Steve Maskery which explains why dado sets are not illegal in the U.K./Europe but why they are not common. See if you want his explanation.

 

[Jason.p]

There is a 9-minute video on YouTube by Steve Maskery which explains why dado sets are not illegal in the U.K./Europe but why they are not common. See if you want his explanation.

Thanks Eric. Excellent video, answers all my questions. I have got a Dado stack set that came with a used RA saw I bought, but I don't think I'll ever use it

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

Personally I find table saws terrifying enough without giving them even bigger teeth.

 

[johnnyb]

it's like so many things....it depends. for say hogging tenon cheeks it's safer than a spindle and rebate as unless the timber is well anchored(like a tenoner) it tends to be pulled in. routers are spinning in the wrong direction for grooves tending to chew there own waste. its physics really. Americans tend to do stuff like dado/house cabinet sides so often have to press down hard to cut an even depth joint as the timbers bowed. also they use dados inappropriately.

 

[hlvd]

It’s not illegal for hobbyists to use as they don’t have to comply to Health and Safety laws.

It is if you’re a business/establishment in the UK, but not something I’ve ever used or seen except on Youtube and The New Yankee Workshop many years ago.

 

[recipio]

I imagine very few saws in the UK can now take a dado stack. I have an American saw that can and I have to say it is a useful tool. The great advantage over a router table is the distance available between the blade and the fence. In practice however I only use it for cutting clean rebates and trenches. The days of milling multiple dadoes for a cabinet ( like Norm Abraham ) have been replaced by more efficient K/D fittings. If you can buy a cheap saw with the U.S. 5/8" arbour it would be worth a punt as there are other speciality blades available from the US like Andy Klein's miter fold dado set.