Dado blade

[GetterDone]

I do understand the confusion of the "Through Cut" term used for that, but does anyone know an actual term for this type of cut?

A Stopped Dado.

There is a U tube video of how to do a stopped dado on a table saw.

[RFGuy]

A Stopped Dado.

There is a U tube video of how to do a stopped dado on a table saw.

This might cause controversy here, but I do NOT consider that a safe tablesaw cut. Definitely not something a newbie like the OP should be trying IMHO.

[StoneyD]

If it is determined that the original post is regarding a "stop dado", (aka: blind dado) perhaps he could refer to SS self-study guide. In the current edition from the mother ship, in my copy the stop dado is Lesson 4, assignment 21.

[JPG]

Impossible

[StoneyD]

As an owner of a new to me preparing to learn the MK-5 what is impossible about the stop dado as instructed in the self-study guide?

[RFGuy]

My next idea requires making a 1/4 inch deep dado about 3x1.5 inches square. I want to leave 1/4 inch protruding on each side, like a U shape.

If it is determined that the original post is regarding a "stop dado", (aka: blind dado) perhaps he could refer to SS self-study guide. In the current edition from the mother ship, in my copy the stop dado is Lesson 4, assignment 21.

As an owner of a new to me preparing to learn the MK-5 what is impossible about the stop dado as instructed in the self-study guide?

All we have to go on is the OP described "making a 1/4 inch deep dado about 3x1.5 inches square. I want to leave 1/4 inch protruding on each side, like a U shape." Presumably he wanted to do this in the middle of a board. It was suggested by Dwayne on this thread that perhaps the OP meant making a stopped dado cut, which I don't agree with from the OP's (Karl's) description. I don't like stop dado cuts, particularly in a world where routers exist. Too dangerous a cut on a tablesaw IMHO. By the way, the Shopsmith Self Study Guide talks about doing a stop dado in lesson 4 assignment 21, but they actually show how to do this in assignment 20 and then repeat it in assignment 21. They make a stop dado without a dado blade and use the quill to hog out the width of the dado. Stop dado cuts require doing an incomplete crosscut and then shutting the motor off with the workpiece still in position, i.e. straddling the sawblade. It is NOT safe IMHO because with one hand you hold the workpiece and hope for no kickback, you pray that the workpiece doesn't move while you reach down to shut off the motor. Also should point out that the Shopsmith Self Study Guide shows a very dangerous operation that in woodworking in 2025 is widely understood to be a no-no. They are doing a crosscut using the miter gauge with the fence still in place to use as a reference. To safely do something like this, one would need to use a spacer block of some type attached to the fence before the front edge of the sawblade so that the crosscut position can be set, but then no fence contact to workpiece while the workpiece is engaged with the sawblade. This is near impossible on Shopsmith equipment because the main table depth is so short (compared to a cabinet tablesaw) that a wide crosscut like in the stop dado assignment would be impossible, i.e. the wokrpiece would simultaneously touch the fence spacer block while the cut is being made making a kickback even more likely. Bottomline is there are all kinds of advanced tablesaw operations that one can do if one chooses to do so, but remember the OP is a self described newbie. Also, keep in mind that woodworking tools have advanced in 2025 compared to the 1950's. The OP has a router, so why guide him to a more dangerous tablesaw operation when a router is probably the best choice for what he described? We are just speculating until he chimes back in here on this thread. Remember there are all kinds of nuts on YouTube who do crazy things with a tablesaw just to say/show that they can do it. Someone even cut/shaped a baseball bat with a special jig on a tablesaw to give but one example. Also keep in mind, NOT everything shown by Shopsmith documentation from decades ago is safe, but at that time was perceived safe by those who wrote it. JMO.

I just would prefer that the OP keep all of his fingers and NOT have a dangerous kickback.

JPG was using sarcasm when he said "Impossible" above.

P.S. A statistic everyone should keep in mind is that every 15 minutes, or so, there is a tablesaw injury in the United States. Between 30k and 40k reported ER visits due to tablesaw injuries every year in this country. And these are only the ones reported medically, meaning less severe injuries like a kickback with no blade to body contact are NOT captured in this statistic. I try to choose the safest method of operations in my shop and encourage others to do the same, but this is supposed to be a free country so the choice is yours.

[JPG]

JPG said "impossible" as a response to an earlier post but unfortunately several intervening posts occurred thus it being being interpreted as sarcasm of the intervening posts.(stop dado)

Everything RF said above is spot on(IMO).

IF I understand the original post the task is truly a job for a router including the SS itself.

Stop cuts on a Circular saw are an accident waiting to happen so extreme caution must be exercised. Good advice regardless of inherent risk.



Further review of the 'intervening posts' reveals an additional(to me) terminology question. I never thought of a complete cut(dado or other wise)from end to end as being a through cut. (as opposed to a stop cut). Seems reasonable to think of it that way but through to me means through the thickness of the workpiece.

Ain't the english language wunnerful?

[RFGuy]

JPG,

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Sorry, sarcasm probably wasn't the right word for me to use, but saying good natured jest doesn't really have a one word correspondence. My apologies.

Yeah, I started the confusion when I tried to explain what I thought the OP meant and in my mind "dado through cut" made sense at the time, but I guess I should have said a "non-stopping dado cut"... Let's just hope it doesn't continue to infinity!