Shopsmith Forums

I need to cut some dados on my Mark V Model 500. I built up my dado stack and did some test cuts and found my outer cutting blades are cutting maybe a 32nd deeper than the chipper blades, resulting in a very slight U-shape to the groove (pic attached).

I've never cut a dado and can only figure the cutter blades are just slightly larger, which may be by design, but I can't imagine that's the case.

Any ideas/tips/tricks for cutting a cleaner dado?

Well, that's weird. Is it a Shopsmith brand dado? Did you buy it new or from some other source? I'm wondering if someone mixed and matched cutters and chippers from different sets?

algale wrote:Well, that's weird. Is it a Shopsmith brand dado? Did you buy it new or from some other source? I'm wondering if someone mixed and matched cutters and chippers from different sets?

Even if they were from different sets, it seems as though they would be the same diameter.

dusty wrote:

algale wrote:Well, that's weird. Is it a Shopsmith brand dado? Did you buy it new or from some other source? I'm wondering if someone mixed and matched cutters and chippers from different sets?

Even if they were from different sets, it seems as though they would be the same diameter.

I agree; but maybe suppliers changed?

algale wrote:

dusty wrote:

algale wrote:Well, that's weird. Is it a Shopsmith brand dado? Did you buy it new or from some other source? I'm wondering if someone mixed and matched cutters and chippers from different sets?

Even if they were from different sets, it seems as though they would be the same diameter.

I agree; but maybe suppliers changed?

Yes, maybe, but would you not expect 6" (or 8") dado sets from two different suppliers to cut the same depth.

Bottom line: I have absolutely no idea without being able to "touch and feel". Anything I might say is pure supposition.

dusty wrote:

algale wrote:

dusty wrote:
Even if they were from different sets, it seems as though they would be the same diameter.

I agree; but maybe suppliers changed?

Yes, maybe, but would you not expect 6" (or 8") dado sets from two different suppliers to cut the same depth.

Bottom line: I have absolutely no idea without being able to "touch and feel". Anything I might say is pure supposition.

Obviously the chippers are a different diameter than the outside blades. That suggests the chippers are from a different manufacturer than the outside blades.

We all assume that 6" , 8" or 10" dado sets are all the same diameter. Has anyone ever done a measurement over different manufactures? I doubt it. It does not matter the actual diameter of the blade as long as all the parts are from the the same manufacturer. At least I hope that is true.

Maybe someone 'sharpened' the chippers.

one thing about it , that isnt going to work.

Hobbyman2 wrote:one thing about it , that isnt going to work.

It will work, it just will not look very nice...

Actually, it should be pretty easy to clean up with a router or a router plane but that isn't a great long term plan if used a lot.

So, does this mean that somewhere out there somebody is using a set that cuts deeper in the middle than at the edges?


.

I inherited my Mark V and all the accessories from my dad, who was a pretty squared away engineer. The arbor and dado sets are Shopsmith original, but probably 30 years old.

i'll look into getting a new dado stack, I guess.