Mastering the Dado Stack: No BS Advice for Woodworkers

[@katzmosestools]

Products and Videos Discussed *Support what we do* at KMTools.com *CMT LOCKED DADO STACK* kmtools.com/products/cmt-orange-tools-locking-precision-dado-blade-set-8-x-t12-ftg-atb *CMT 24 Tooth Dado Stack* kmtools.com/products/cmt-orange-8-precision-dado-blade-set-24-teeth-ftg-atb-grind *CMT 12 Tooth Dado Stack* kmtools.com/products/cmt-orange-8-precision-dado-blade-set-12-teeth-ftg-atb-grind *Adjustable Fence Clamps* kmtools.com/products/adjustable-fence-clamp-2-pack *The Katz-Moses Woodworkers with Disabilities Fund ABOUT* kmtools.com/pages/kmww-charity

[@waltewhitesPhD]

Oh man! You came so close to killing that bug! lol

[@robertbamford8266]

One lesson learned - from a great salesperson: As I was contemplating a 10” dado stack for my 10” saw. - very pricey, salesperson pointed out I would (probably) never need that depth. Went with a 7” stack.

[@AxGryndr]

There are two other tips I would mention. If you cut a lot of dados that only use one chipper, alternate which chipper you use to reduce wear and tear. The other thing is if you get to the point of needing to get your dado set sharpened, you'll want the machinist to do both blades and all of the chippers at the same time. This ensures that all of the teeth continue to cut on the same plane.

[@CraigularjJoeWoodworks]

Good advice. On the cautious side but still true

[@dngriffiths8105]

Great video, as always, Jonathan.One tip from your friend Mike Farrington worth mentioning: he created a sample board with all of the potential dado combinations running side by side, from 1/4" to the largest. This way he can take the actual board that he wants to fit into the dado and check it against the sample cuts to determine the exact fit. He then references a sheet where he has listed the combinations of components that make up the corresponding dado stack. It would be worth doing if you make a lot of dado cuts, and especially if you're using a wide range of board thicknesses. Cheers.

[@deanowright359]

Is there a video from Mike showing how he does this . I was thinking 💭 to do the exact same thing . Set it once then it will be my go to .

[@dngriffiths8105]

@@deanowright359 Sorry to be so long getting back to you -- it took me a few tries to locate it. See Mike Farrington's video "How to build a chest of drawers", around the 8:04 minute mark. (I was wrong to think he needed to reference a separate sheet; all the essentials are right on the plywood reference board.) Of course, any of Mike's videos, rare as they tend to be, are pure gold. Cheers.

[@pittaman]

I'm totally doing that. Thanks for this!

[@JASinIL2006]

Great video! The wonderfulness of magnetic shims cannot be overstated! They make it do much easier ti set up a dado stack and you can buy a set for not much money if your dado set didn’t come with magnetic shims.

[@fritzfitzgerald1763]

Glad you're back to making videos more frequently 👍👍

[@katzmosestools]

More to come! Thanks my friend

[@fritzfitzgerald1763]

@@katzmosestools just a thought that has been rattling around in my head - don't suppose you have Any ideas for a French cleat kmtools apron hanger? I've tried to come up with a few designs but unfortunately it seems that I'm too dumb to come up with anything decent for it

[@katzmosestools]

We have a whole French clear system we’re working on. Great thought

[@markglabinski526]

Great refresher on dados. I really appreciate the no B.S. series. Thank you!

[@katzmosestools]

My pleasure

[@jasonschmidt8194]

Excellent video, clear and concise! I just bought a dado stack and now I am excited to try it out. Thanks.

[@desertdogs2145]

So glad you are back with your videos! You are by far my favorite; knowledgeable, truthful, honest, and no paid sponsors. Love the dado refresher and looking forward to getting a new dado set for my sawstop😊

[@katzmosestools]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it

[@robertanderson2223]

Glad your back making videos Jonathan. I love your insight to wood working.

[@theoldfart6404]

Thank you Jonathan, this was a great tutorial - straight to the point and filmed in a way that made everything crystal clear. Well done and thanks.

[@katzmosestools]

I really appreciate that my friend! After 8 years of filming things we’ve learned a thing or two I guess hahaha

[@hayduke]

At 3:18 "First of all..." ...unlplug your saw! Great refresher on using a dado stack - I needed this!

[@jerryfox3731]

Wow! One of the best and informative videos I have seen in a while. Thanks.

[@norm5785]

Thank you for sharing. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

[@mikeamescreations]

Just got mine. Love the locking blades!

[@neilllester9226]

I love this No BS series!

[@cathyb2204]

Good stuff. Especially about the "little things" like copying the instructions and getting a set with a good box! Those are the things that always catch me up.

[@carasmussen27]

Thank you so much. You explain things so it is easy to understand. Now I am ready to buy a dado stack. No more creeping up on those rabbet and dado's.

[@eddielloyd13]

When you say best practice, i would always as a rule of thumb always do what's best for the longevity of the tool and the safest method so accidents don't occur. Great video.

[@ossieljuarez1936]

I've had a dado stack sitting in a drawer for about a year. But after watching this video it gave me the courage I needed to finally use it. Thank you for all the great videos you make.

[@Mainbusfail]

Don't be scared of your dado set. install a setup 1/4" or 3/8" and run some scrap wood thru. you will be pleased with the result. the fun happens when you have an oddball measurement you try to match up for. don't forget to account the space for glue. add a couple thousands to your measurement

[@billedis5482]

Thank you for explaining all the safety elements when using the dado stack. Bill

[@leongeisberg294]

Just bought the locking set at your site and love it!

[@davidphan70]

Made my first dado cuts using your product today. Woo Hoo!! Nice clean square cuts. way better than using one saw blade and making multiple rips. Nice product CMT. I'm just a Weekend Warrior Woodworker.

[@xoxo2008oxox]

My late father left me his DeWalt Radial Armsaw and dados. He made so many cabinets and shelves that I never realized it was the dado that did most of the work. I'm leaving it dedicated to dados. Thanks for the CMT demo!

[@ranyalbegwein7470]

The No BS idea is fantastic! Thank you very much!

[@1960fusion]

I have used many dado stacks in the past and just received the CMT Locked Dado Pro yesterday, cant wait to try it. My Freud Super Dado has served me well for many years, but, i look forward to this new technology...thanks for the video!

[@JimTFlynn]

I just ordered my first dado stack yesterday. Crazy this would be posted today. Perfect timing!

[@chrisweigand1817]

the more videos I watch of others makes me really appreciate you more. seriously there is no bs with you. you genuinely want to help woodworkers be better and work safer targeting the newer woodworkers like myself. the tools you make are totally legit (well, the pocket chisel....) but all the rest are. you don't have a gimmick. you don't try and push your products or sponsors in a slimy sneaky way. you just bring it with no agenda. your work speaks for itself and like I said your products are innovative and on point. I just wanted you to know I appreciate you homie. for being a normal good dude and very talented in your field

[@williamjames305]

I very much enjoyed the video. I found it educational. I'll continue to view before committing to your channel. Thanks again. /KC

[@garymiller5937]

Thanks for the lesson Jonathan. Very helpful. 😊😊😊

[@katzmosestools]

Glad it was helpful!

[@clemoniii]

Perfect timing! Ordered the Ridge 8" from Tay yesterday. Thanks also for introducing them to me all those years ago!

[@shaynesabala]

I had forgotten how awesome you are. Thanks for a great video.

[@garygibson288]

I just ran that locking CMT dado from your site on my Sawstop for the first time. Nothing better than a new sharp blade! But it seems to be cool system - hope we never need the safety. And now these tips were perfect timing for a little project I’m working on. Great vid great site. Ty.

[@Toddicus2914]

I really missed your instructional videos. I hope you're back to doing them more regularly.

[@SSBailey77845]

Brilliant stuff, Katz Man! I never knew my dad I stack was so versatile….I’m going to be so brave now!

[@kennethholmes9315]

Love the video. Using the marking knife is a great way to set up for the cut. Have a good one.

[@nusibe95]

Awesome content and delivery!!

[@Uswesi1527]

Very important technique. Thanks

[@jimrosson6702]

Another great video Jonathan I’m new to woodworking and I purchased one of the CMT LOCKED DADO STACK from your website just a few weeks back as I get ready to start building stuff for my shop so this was very helpful information. Thanks for sharing and great to see you back making videos again.

[@ravenheart1439]

I'm actually looking to get a good dato stack and tips and you upload this lol...the universe is awesome...thank you ....now I know which stack to get...

[@nava1uni]

Very educational video, helps to make Dados seem less scary

[@Aaron-nj4ou]

Love what you do. I appreciate the no sponsors because a lot of the woodworking channels are unable to offer unbiased reviews because of their relationships with tool companies even though they think they can. The first time I ordered from KM tools was great. Recently between the shipping and the duties (Canada) something was different this time but I am hoping to find a US address to order again to help support the work you do. I have a CMT dado stack and it is great. I use it on a jobsite saw and it works very well.

[@katzmosestools]

Sounds like an isolated incident. We ship tons of packages to Canada via FedEx and Ups. Thanks for your support my friend

[@Dynamic_Custom_Woodworking]

Thanks for the advice I will be looking for a dado stack soon and you answered my questions.

[@KRWoodworks]

Thanks, I picked up some great tips as always. I've had my SawStop for about 19 years and in those 19 years I've used the forbidden fruit of dado stacks for the Saw Stop, the Freud Dial a Dado.

[@Fox_Montana]

Thanks jonathan, that’s a very informative video

[@jenniferp3401]

I’m new to woodworking and your channel and I love this series! Thank you for providing clear, concise, information!

[@techvision3481]

this video came a a great time i was loooking into dado stacks. I wanted to look ata video setting one up and this one was super clear and easy to follow. Great work

[@MCsCreations]

Really fantastic tips, Jonathan! Thanks so much! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@katzmosestools]

Thank you my friend!

[@sr_woodworking7]

Love this series! you are a true inspiration Jonathan!!

[@fbenkautz2662]

Excellent detailed explanations.

[@mg4695]

Great video. One thing I didn't hear you mention, and that you might want to add IF you update this video, is that one will need a throat plate with an opening wide enough for use with the Dado stack. That means either making a custom throat plate or purchasing one. Glad to see you making content again.

[@anthonyr.3799]

Always a learned experience with you.. much appreciated

[@bobgaines2399]

Great video!! This is exactly what I needed! Many thanks

[@user-sb6ec7iy3o]

Love the content and the fast pace.. Thanks. Hope your you tube productions pay off for a long, long time

[@katzmosestools]

I hope so too! Thank you my friend

[@vernsteinbrecker3759]

Very informative, great video

[@claudepoulin8558]

This is a great show thank you 🙏🇨🇦

[@lukemarshall1892]

Love to learn about the crazy shniz they used to do even in more recent times, had no idea about wobble dados

[@russellcasperson6695]

I found one I my dad's old shop they are wild made a very scary noise

[@woodrowsmith3400]

Great show, Jonathan. You hit all the relevant points without talking down to us mere woodworking mortals. Even with my 30+ years in the shop what you present is a good refresher and you even taught this old dawg a new trick! I want to discuss two important points with you all. First...throw those wobble blades as far as you can throw them. They are brutally ineffective if you are doing fine joining, as by design they create a crown in the bottom of your cut. Dadoes will look sloppy, and rabbets won't line up square. They are also (in my opinion) very dangerous to operate relating to kickbacks, as I will soon describe. Second...get you some high quality, super sticky pushblocks. Maybe some came with your jointer, or maybe you find some at the KM store or TayTools. (Neither sponsor my rant, by the way😂). The cost...maybe $40/pair is certainly much less than the $30K I spent years ago getting the fingers of my left hand repaired when the board I was cutting ejected and the fingertips came in contact with the 3/4" wobble dado. I was pretty helpless for eight weeks during the healing process, and the hyper sensitive new flesh kept me out of the shop for six months. Nobody wants that. If I had been using a pushblock, none of that would have happened and after changing my undies, I'd have been back to work. Be safe!!!

[@caplings]

Excellent video with a lot of great tips. Why did it never occur to me that I could stack blades and spacers next the piece of wood I was cutting a dado for ?!?! Thank you so much!

[@jeffccr3620]

I just kept my old craftsman and keep my full stack installed on it and take off what's needed, it's my dedicated dado machine lol slash table top to set tools or unfinished projects. I've probably spent more time waxing off coffee stains from it then actually using it for dado work the shaper is so much quicker

[@EvanDunville]

Great video, on thing I expected, a quality dado stask make a huge difference on the finish on the bottom of the cut. I started with a master craft dado and it left a rough bottom on the cut. When I switched to a Freud it made a huge difference in the cut.

[@AttilatheHuntamer]

Lookin fit, brother!

[@robertkrueger3902]

I ordered the wood pecker SawStop dado nut. I hope it works as advertised . I am intrigued by this locking dado stack. I would love to see if the high speed camera would verify the claim of it being more safe than conventional dado stacks.

[@jeremiahhill2079]

One question I still have: will a Sawstop activate from that lil bug, or did he make it home safely? (11:59)

[@robjohnson2649]

Thanks, good video

[@s.bretts4934]

Brilliant!

[@bradleytuckwell4881]

It’s always great to get a refresher course on the dado stack and of course without the BS. By the way I’m loving all your products and I don’t know it you got a magic wand but shipping to Australia is crazy fast. Cheers mate have a good one

[@katzmosestools]

Thank you my friend!

[@walterrider9600]

thank you

[@shrekvt]

I have a magnetic wand, used in the auto industry, to get my arbor nut if I drop it. :)

[@katzmosestools]

Good tip

[@WoodMachinist]

You have wobble saws and dado stacks but one you almost never see on these kinds of videos are the adjustable groover/trencher that's been around in one way or another for a hundred years, with replaceable carbide versions being available for the last 25 years. Much easier and far more accurate to set up compared to the wobble saw or dado stack as it's two solid plates that overlap each other, and you fit shims in between the plates the exact amount over the minimum width of cut for the size you need, so with an 8mm groover you would want to add 2.4mm of shims to create a 10.4mm dado/groove/trench. The only downside is that they don't have as much range as a dado stack so you would need multiple sets, with sizes usually being 4-8mm, 8-16mm, 16-32mm and so on, which works out far more expensive than dado stacks but so much better for the industrial user as they last indefinitely and can be maintained in-house by replacing the inserts and do not need frequent regrinding as dado stacks do to keep them cutting well in abrasive materials like melamine-faced chipboard.

[@dbnoho]

Had one. Lost a part of my thumb. That sucked. Life goes on. Bought this exact set. Use it. Save hours of time.

[@simfro2530]

Awesome, thanks

[@katzmosestools]

You bet!

[@MaxPatterson-yu7hr]

good stuff!

[@borismakesart]

Any tips/guidelines for safety in terms of how much to take off per pass?

[@1803cannon]

Hi Jonathan, great no BS video. I have a question for you. How often do you tune up your saw? By tune up I mean using a dial indicator to check blade alignment to miter slots and squareness of your the fence? Also would like to know if you check arbor runout? Thanks Chuck in CT.

[@johnford635]

Love your videos. Doesn't Sawstop recommend changing the brake cartridge when using a dado stack, assuming it is 8 inch?

[@xerogear]

Great guide! still using a single blade to make all those cuts you talked about. maybe its time to upgrade to a dado stack 😁

[@katzmosestools]

It’s such a big upgrade

[@gorillaguy13]

Just want to inform you that the link for the marking gauge sends me to the marking knife. Thanks

[@JonathanWilliams256]

When will the box joint jig be on the website??

[@dpmeyer4867]

thanks

[@jim2642]

With these various dados, how do I know which one I should get?

[@katzmosestools]

Get that locked dado. My favorite all time and it’s not even expensive

[@RebeccaDifilippo]

I just watched your video on Dado Stacks and I am wondering what the name of the tool is that your use to scribe measurements on the wood.

[@Tony.Tony.Tony.]

The distinct whine of a dado stack reminds me of Norm Abram.

[@gcranston83]

Lots of great info and tips in here, especially using shims to dial in the thickness. Hopefully that will take a couple of iterations out of my test fits. Another suggestion: if you're working a lot with the same material, make a test board for your common thicknesses and write down what the blade+chipper+shim combinations were (say all your cabinet carcasses are 3/4" ply from the same supplier) then you can test which groove your "shelf" fits best on your next project and start from there. I've gotta say though, the finish on that half-lap cut there was a little disappointing. I borrowed a dado stack from a friend and the bottom of those cuts were perfectly flat -- no cleanup required and straight to glue-up. I won't say which brand it was.

[@deanowright359]

I was going to ask . I have seen a few videos where marks were left on the board . If you can shoot me some type of link , code . I need a dado stack where I don’t have to do no 👎🏽 cleaning. For the prove it’s time saving and neater . Thanks

[@peterlaughlin930]

I have a Hercules table saw like a contractors model which data set do you think would fit

[@crzyjunyer]

Great video on set up but ome question. Who else tried to smash the bug on their screen at about 12.01 ?

[@katzmosestools]

Lol I had to go watch it again

[@rajakorban8838]

Great thank you Jonathan. That makes sense. And I guess I bit cheaper than the 24T.

[@tomhargreaves8820]

Love your work. I often watch KZbin videos at 1.25 or even 1.5 speed, but not yours! Question: do any of the dado blade makers make a single outer blade to stack with a regular 1/8" blade so you can use the "1/4,1/4,1/4" (actually "1/2,1/2,1/2") system for drawer joinery with "1/2-inch" plywood that is actually less than 0.5" (12.7mm) thick? Or, 2 8", thin-kerf outer blades? For that matter, could you use 2 thin kerf 8" circular saw blades stacked together with appropriate shims for "1/2inch" plywood?

[@Tony.Tony.Tony.]

ANOTHER (obvious) TIP: Bring the blade height up to maximum for easy installation. There's not a lot of room in there for my sandwich claws.

[@katzmosestools]

Great tip

[@tomt9543]

I always keep a telescopic magnet close by the tablesaw for retrieving wayward nuts! I think there’s a joke in there somewhere! Lol

[@BiggMo]

Groovy video… Dude-o I know I’m being pedantic but, I was taught, cross grain grooves are called Dados and inline grain are called Plow Grooves. But maybe that’s because I had a British instructor Seriously Jonathan, great video

[@richadent968]

I have the Skil $299 10" table saw. Should I buy a 6" or 10" dado stack?

[@DanVenhuizen]

Hey Jonathan, Great video as always. I really appreciate great knowledge and tips. I have a job site table saw 10" blade 2 HP, I was told with a Motor lower than 3 HP to use a 6' blade. Is that correct?

[@katzmosestools]

No. That’s plenty of power to run a 10” blade

[@DanVenhuizen]

Sorry, I meant to run a Dado blade since it has more weight.@@katzmosestools

[@garynelles]

Jonathan, do the CMT dado stacks leave a flat bottom or do they create those little triangle ears in the corners?

[@Buzzybeeacres]

I’m looking to buy a table saw what works best with dados?

[@woodandwheelz]

I used to be a huge fan of yours until you said "Metric is better". I must depart ways now. LoL! Great video and information. I was given a dado stack with chippers and shims with absolutely no instruction. I figured it out pretty easily, but I wish this video was out when I got them. Thank you.

[@PeterFreese]

I was expecting you to react to your special guest at 11:58! :)

[@DetroitSicilian]

Thx JKM

[@Rivertable]

Yeahhhh❤

[@katzmosestools]

🙏🙏

[@chadgreen100]

6” v 8” set for jobsite saw? Or, when would an 8” be necessary?