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+-- Thread: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? (/showthread.php?tid=7346804)
Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - Wild Turkey - 03-03-2019
I've always cut dadoes with a table saw (I have a Unisaw now) but I saw an ad for a good RAS set up for dadoes at an excellent price (too good -- it's gone
) but it got me to thinking -- which is do you like, TS or RAS?I've got an old Rockwell 14" RAS but it's arbor is too big for my dado set and a good dado set to fit it would cost more than the RAS.
What's your preference and why?
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - stillgotten - 03-03-2019
(03-03-2019, 04:19 PM)Wild Turkey Wrote: I've always cut dadoes with a table saw (I have a Unisaw now) but I saw an ad for a good RAS set up for dadoes at an excellent price (too good -- it's gone
I've got an old Rockwell 14" RAS but it's arbor is too big for my dado set and a good dado set to fit it would cost more than the RAS.
What's your preference and why?
I prefer RAS since that is all I have. But I would prefer it to a table saw for dados anyway because you can see the cut your making on a RAS, on a table saw the blade is buried.
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - ®smpr_fi_mac® - 03-03-2019
If they aren't too long, I prefer my RAS, which is a 1959 DeWalt 1030.
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - Stwood_ - 03-03-2019
Table saw, as my RS was sold 3-4 years ago. And I never used it for dado's. I didn't have a guard on it wide enough for a dado head.
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - jteneyck - 03-03-2019
(03-03-2019, 06:11 PM)®smpr_fi_mac® Wrote: If they aren't too long, I prefer my RAS, which is a 1959 DeWalt 1030.
Same here. I can set stops to index parts easier than on my TS and the cut is guaranteed to be 90 deg. The down side of using a RAS for dados is the thickness of the parts has to be constant, and the parts have to be flat, in order to maintain a constant depth.
You should be able to have the hole in your dado set, or another, enlarged to fit the arbor on your RAS.
John
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - dlorenz - 03-03-2019
(03-03-2019, 04:19 PM)Wild Turkey Wrote: I've always cut dadoes with a table saw (I have a Unisaw now) but I saw an ad for a good RAS set up for dadoes at an excellent price (too good -- it's gone
I've got an old Rockwell 14" RAS but it's arbor is too big for my dado set and a good dado set to fit it would cost more than the RAS.
What's your preference and why?
RAS gives a cleaner dado cut because the blades cut going into the wood, where TS blades cut coming out of the wood. So I prefer RAS for dado work.
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - jteneyck - 03-03-2019
(03-03-2019, 08:20 PM)dlorenz Wrote: RAS gives a cleaner dado cut because the blades cut going into the wood, where TS blades cut coming out of the wood. So I prefer RAS for dado work.
Your TS must work differently than mine.
John
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - cputnam - 03-03-2019
Assuming (big assumptions) that the table is flat and at right angles to the dado set, and that the arm and fence are squared, then I prefer the RAS as long as the dado length is within the crosscut capability of the saw - otherwise I prefer a router.
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - lincmercguy - 03-03-2019
Router or router table is another option. I often use a router and clamp on straight edge for plywood dados because the 23/32" and 15/32" bits make life easier.
RE: Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS? - Wild Turkey - 03-04-2019
(03-03-2019, 06:31 PM)jteneyck Wrote: You should be able to have the hole in your dado set, or another, enlarged to fit the arbor on your RAS.
John
But then I wouldn't have the option of using my TS for longer dados.
But buying a second dado set for my RAS might be cheaper than buying a second one (and I wouldn't have to find space for it)
So I'm still wondering which is best?
