How to Install a Dado Blade

Installing dado blades is not a particularly difficult task.

Dado blades are a set of table saw blades used to make a series of wider cut grooves into a piece of wood. This type of blade set is often used to cut the grooves that hold shelving in place on bookcases, cabinets, and entertainment centers. Dado blades can be purchased in different sizes and number of blades per set. The size of blade set that you purchase is based on the capability of your table saw.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdrivers
• Wrenches

Instructions

1. Unplug the table saw before you do anything. This will prevent any possible injuries from accidentally hitting the power button.

2. Remove the blade guard on top of the table saw; two screws hold the blade guard. Remove the screws with a screwdriver and set the guard aside.

3. Lift off the cover plate that covers the access to the arbor and arbor nut. The cover plate has a slit in the center that slides down over the saw blade. Stick your finger or screwdriver into the hole on the cover plate and lift up to remove it.

4. Turn the blade shaft to raise the table saw blade to its maximum height. Place an appropriate size wrench on the arbor nut; on the opposite side of the blade place an appropriate size wrench on the arbor pin, and hold the wrench to keep the pin from moving while you loosen and remove the arbor nut. The arbor nut holds the blade in place on a metal bar called an arbor.

5. Slide the metal flange off of the arbor. The metal flange is a round plate that fits up against the blade to keep it from wobbling. Slide the table saw blade off of the arbor.

6. Place the right blade of the dado stack onto the arbor first. The teeth should be facing you when you are standing on the side of the saw that you cut from. The outside blades of a dado stack are marked so that you do not accidentally install them with the wrong side facing out.

7. Slide the chipper blades on to the arbor and then install the left blade. The teeth of the left blade are to be facing the same way as the teeth of the right blade. Turn each chipper blade one at a time until the blades are lined up with the gullets (wide areas without teeth) on the right and left blade. Make sure that the teeth of the chipper blades do not line up with each other.

8. Place the flange onto the arbor and slide it against the blades. Replace the arbor nut and securely tighten it with the wrench.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove chipper blades if you cannot completely tighten the arbor nut over all of the threads. There are no exceptions to this. An improperly tightened arbor nut can result in the nut coming loose, and blades flying out of the table.

References

• Grizzly Industrial, Inc.: 8" Stack Dado Set Instruction Sheet
• NewWoodworker.com: Setting Up Your Stacked Dado Set

Resources

• Forrest Manufacturing Company, Inc.: Instructions for Mounting Forrest Dado Sets