Can you make finger joints w/o a dado blade?

navycop · Post by **navycop** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:21 pm

Thanks reible (and everyone else). I am new to using the SS. I have had it for a couple yrs. But was always going in and out to sea w/the Navy. I recently retired and wanted to start making xmas gifts. I enjoyed the video on box joints. I really thought that was something I could do. I just didn't want to have to invest a lot of $ into it. Maybe if I sell the gifts at flea markets the blade will pay for it self. It is just, like I mentioned, I found a 6'' dado blade that I used on a Delta saw. I will put it on ss and see how it works. I got a bunch of scrap (or as some say "waste") to practice with. I will let you know. I will probally have to get or make a table insert? I think the opening on the ss is big enough. Has long as I don't make the dado to wide?

reible · Post by **reible** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:45 am

Hi,

It is very likely that the one from the delta saw will work if it fits the arbor. I still use parts from the rockwell table saw I had before my shopsmith days started in 1976. If not the cost of a 6" dado is not all that great if you shop around for a decent blade at a great price.

If you do a search here there are several post relating to making your own table insert. Even the shopsmith one is not that expensive when they are on sale. And yes you can use the standard insert as long as you keep the width of the dado to less then the width of the cut out in the insert and make sure you have the alignment correct and everything locked down. You will know if you mess up.

I personally like the looks of box joints better then I do dovetails. It will be a good learning experience and who wouldn't want personal Christmas gifts hand made by the giver??

Ed

navycop wrote:Thanks reible (and everyone else). I am new to using the SS. I have had it for a couple yrs. But was always going in and out to sea w/the Navy. I recently retired and wanted to start making xmas gifts. I enjoyed the video on box joints. I really thought that was something I could do. I just didn't want to have to invest a lot of $ into it. Maybe if I sell the gifts at flea markets the blade will pay for it self. It is just, like I mentioned, I found a 6'' dado blade that I used on a Delta saw. I will put it on ss and see how it works. I got a bunch of scrap (or as some say "waste") to practice with. I will let you know. I will probally have to get or make a table insert? I think the opening on the ss is big enough. Has long as I don't make the dado to wide?

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 1:20 am

navycop wrote: Have you ever heard of putting to "standard" blades together to make a stacked dado blade? If possible, what size would you recommend these blades being?:

I wouldn't want to try this especially with carbide tipped cutters. You would have to devise a way to keep the blades from twisting on the arbor and knocking the teeth together.

Reible is absolutely correct! We really shouldn't have mixed up the names finger joint and box joint. However we do speak of the fingers of the box joint.

Finger joints are most often used on the end grain of two shorter boards to make one longer board. There are a lot of studs made this way. I remember when mills got the machinery and flow system in order to do this. Finger jointed studs saved a lot of wood that would have been burned up or turned into chips for pulp. Also increased profits.

navycop · Post by **navycop** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:13 am

charlese wrote:The 6" adjustable dado is what I use making 1/4" fingers. It is used on my 5/8" dado arbor, from Shopsmith. http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... oarbor.htm

Is the 5/8" arbor available at other places or only SS?

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:16 pm

navycop wrote:Is the 5/8" arbor available at other places or only SS?

I would suggest getting a SS arbor. Make sure you get the proper one 500/505,510,520. http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... arbors.htm Scroll down for 5/8" arbors.

If you are intending to get an arbor for a DADO blade, you need this http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... oarbor.htm

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:29 pm

navycop wrote:Is the 5/8" arbor available at other places or only SS?

Yes, it is available at other places, HOWEVER, the Shopsmith dado arbor is not only a 5/8" arbor, but it is made to the correct length to set the dado blade firmly beneath the dado table insert, that is also available from Shopsmith. You will be safer and more satisfied with the Shopsmith dado arbor.

It is a safety issue! I fully agree with JPG!

When looking at the two 5/8" arbors that Shopsmith sells, you can see the difference between the saw arbor and the dado arbor. (added length, added heavy washers and a different tightening nut)