Shopsmith Forums

Me again, glad this is a place for answers!! what size dado can be used on the SS?

6 inch or 8 inch. I think the shopsmith branded stuff is 6 inch nut many here use 8 inch without incident.

You can use the wobble type or the chipper type, although i like the chipper type better.

Max width about 7/8" IIRC.

JPG wrote:Max width about 7/8" IIRC.

I can't imagine wanting to do a wider dado than that on the Shopsmith but is the capacity of the arbor the primary limiting factor?

Tim, I use an 8" without a problem. However, I wish I had bought the 6". For my uses, the 8" offers no advantages.

Thank you guys, very helpful!

I am trying to decide as to how important the stand and operation of the Pro Planer is compared to the SS mounted planer. I am in the market for a SS planer, and am having a hard time deciding which way to go.

If anyone would please give some justifications for either or both types it would be appreciated. I assume the SS mounted one is pretty heavy? Heavier than the jointer? Or do I just go with a lunch box planer?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I have read a lot of information on these units here on the forum, and still can't decide which way to go.....

In my active looking I have found both types. Most are reasonable in price.

Oh, and can I get a Pro Planer into a regular sedan? (Ford Fusion Hybrid)

Thanks!

Dick

The ss mount: has an aluminum table(lighter), is limited by the 1 1/8 hp motor but has variable speed.

The stand mount will have a larger motor which allows running at a faster rpm and has a cast iron table. IIRC the original motor was 1.5 hp and the 'upgrade' moved up to a 1 3/4 hp motor and faster rpm.

Some were manual feed.

Dado blades, I have both the wobble and the stacked. Both are 8", the wobble I had from way back when I had a rockwell table saw.

Wobble blades can produce a slightly rounded bottom on cuts and this can be undesirable when the joint is exposed. There are different models that minimize this effect and of course doing a stopped dado can hind the issue. I've resorted to using a router to do the clean up or do use as the main tool for the job.

The stacked set I have is nice but you do have little bat ears from the outside blades, again this varies from blade to blade. The new sets have added chippers that make cutting for undersized plywood a lot easier, my set requires spacers to get a better fit which works but if I were to get a new set I would spend the extra money for that feature.

I personally like the 8" versions because it gives me a deeper cut when I need it. If you ever use a sliding table on your saw you will see how much less of a depth you have with 6" versions.... Yes the 6" will work and yes it is cheaper but I have done enough jobs that needed the 8" to make me want to pay that extra.

All of this comes down to just one thing, what do you want to do with the dado blade?

I would say I will never buy a cheap version, I hate cheap blades of any kind. If you have the money I'd look at top of the line blades. Save up if necessary it will be worth it.

Make sure you get the proper arbor from shopsmith for your saw and for a dado blade. I keep my dado mounted on an arbor at all times.

Ed