Shopsmith Forums

Trying to interpret this sentence in the "Dado Set operating instructions" from SS.

For grooves 1/4" wide , use both outside cutters set face to face.
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Note that the ground portion of the crosscutting teeth on the cutters are placed side by side and that the ground portions face the same way.
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If i look along one of the cutter blades...I can see the teeth are taller on 1 side than the other. I assume this is what is meant by "the ground portion of the crosscutting teeth" ?

I think what is meant is to set them up as in II ...but its not really clear to me. It seems to me that all configurations will end up with an uneven bottom on the cut.

Can anyone help me understand this ?

Thank you !

I'd just try II and if it works, your worries are over. This kind of thing isn't rocket science. If it doesn't cut as clean as you like, you can always try a different setup later.

My dado set outer cutters are clearly labelled with one side stating "This Side Out". The resulting tooth arrangement is number III.

True but every other tooth is set in the opposite direction. If you start your cut with I, the next cut will be III. I don't think it makes that big a difference with a thinner cut using only the two outside blades as long as the blades are installed in the proper direction.

I have to take a closer look at these blades tonite.

Thank you

Mine (Freud) are also labeled "this side out" and, when set up, are more like III, but with flat top rakers.

From the wording you quoted, I think you are referring to the dado blades sold by Shopsmith.

For my set of 6" dado blades (#505548), there is a "set" to the cross-cutting teeth. Simply place the two blades together so that the set of the cross-cutting teeth are facing the same way.

While the tops of the cross-cutting teeth are beveled, the raker teeth are flat, so the bottom of the cut will be flat.

EDIT: Added descriptions to most of the pictures to help explain better

Yes- I am using the SS 505548 set as you have guessed.

So -just to be clear-does that mean my depiction II in my hand drawing is the correct one ?

That figure 2 you have taken a picture of is the one causing me grief-i cant see it well enough to understand the tooth orientation

thank you

Yes, your diagram II.

Besides the angle of the top of the teeth pointing in same direction, the easiest way to tell (at least for me) is the set, or the slight leaning of the teeth in one direction or the other. Put the two blades together so that the "set" is the same for each group of cross-cut teeth. When correct, the two blades will fit tightly together all of the way around.

I added some descriptions to pictures in previous post to help explain what I mean better.

Thank you-

The flat top of the raker teeth also helps me understand how I'm supposed to end up with a flat bottom cut.

I think I heard somewhere-maybe the Dado Sawdust Session, that these blades when used in the quarter inch setup - (two cutters next to each other)..if they are oriented wrong and happen to slip relative to each other, you can knock off teeth. Just trying to avoid that.


Thanks so much !