How to Make a Dado Cut With a Table Saw

Dado cuts generally require the use of a special throat plate and dado blade. Dado blades come in two varieties: the "stacked" blade and the "wobble" blade. Although the wobble blade is less expensive, the stacked version tends to be more predictable and therefore a better choice. Getting a dado cut precisely the right width can be tricky, so be prepared for some trial-and-error at first.

Things You'll Need

  • Table saw
  • Wood
  • Dado blade
  • Dado throat plate
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unplug your saw and remove the throat plate and the blade guard assembly. Take out the saw blade as well.

    • 2

      Install the dado blade and the dado throat plate. Add or remove chippers on the blade as necessary for the width of cut you will be making.

    • 3

      Plug the saw back in.

    • 4

      Practice making your cut on a trial piece of wood. Since getting the right width of cut can be difficult with a dado blade, you will almost certainly need to make adjustments to get the width correct. It's better to find this out with a test piece of wood than with the real thing.

    • 5

      Turn on the saw. Place your workpiece onto the blade at the point where you need the cut.

    • 6

      Move your workpiece back and forth along the blade until the cut is the width you need. Use a featherboard, pushblock or pushstick as needed to ensure your safety as you complete the cut.

    • 7

      Switch off the saw, unplug it and reassemble the standard blade and throat plate.

Tips & Warnings

  • Expect to spend some time trying to find the precise combination of blade, chippers and fence alignment to produce the width of cut you want.

  • Record the stack composition for the width of cut you made once you find the right combination. This will save you from having to find the correct combination each time.

  • Do not get in the habit of being careless with a dado blade due to the fact that it is sunken. A dado blade can still cause serious injury, so take all the precautions with it that you would with a standard blade.

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