How to Cut Slots With a Dado Blade

A very versatile item in any woodshop is a dado set. A dado set is a series of blades that are grouped together on a table saw to cut grooves or "dados." A typical set comes with enough blades to make grooves from 1/8 of an inch all the way up to 1 1/4 inches. They remove a lot of material fast, and save a lot of time in the process. With a little prep work, using a dado set to cut grooves is a fast, efficient, and safe method of woodworking.

Things You'll Need

• Dado set
• Table saw
• Ruler or straight edge
• Pencil
• Miter gauge
• Dust collection

Instructions

Setup

1. Remove the blade from your table saw. Install enough dado blades in the table saw to match the width of the slot you need to cut. Each blade of the dado set is 1/8 of an inch wide, so calculate how many blades you need to match the slot width. Double-check this with a ruler or tape measure. Make sure everything is tight and secure before moving on.

2. Mark the slot on the piece that will be cut. If you're cutting the slot down the length of a board, then lay the board on the table in front of the blade. Line up the marks on the end of the board with the outsides of the dado blades. Slide the table saw fence up to the edge of the board and lock the fence down. If it's a slot going across the grain, then place the board against a miter gauge and align the marks with the blade.

3. Connect any dust collection to the table saw before operating. Also, double-check your settings to make sure everything is aligned properly. Clear the table saw of any debris or dust. When you're ready, turn the power on.

Cutting the Slot

1. Let the blade get up to full speed before doing any cutting. To cut a slot along the length of a board, lay the board down flat on the table saw several inches back from the blade. Hold the board down and against the fence with your left hand, while you slowly push the board through the cut with the right hand. Feed at an even rate and do not stop until the cut is finished. Keep constant downward pressure to maintain an even depth of cut.

2. Cut a slot across the grain. In order to do this properly, make sure the board is tight against the back of the miter gauge. Keep one hand on the miter gauge and the other hand down on the board. The hand on the board needs to keep it down on the table as well as tight against the miter gauge. Make sure that hand is away from the blade too. Slowly feed the piece across the blade at an even rate. Do not stop until the piece is completely past the blade.

3. Double-check the cut to make sure it's at the right depth. If it's still a bit shallow or uneven, run it through again, maintaining downward pressure the whole way through the cut.

Tips & Warnings

• Woodworking can be dangerous. Please read and follow all manufacturer's instructions. Always wear eye and ear protection.

References

• The Wood Whisperer: Setting Up a Dado Blade