Your preference for dadoes --TS or RAS?

[Wild Turkey]

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?

[stillgotten]

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?

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.

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

If they aren't too long, I prefer my RAS, which is a 1959 DeWalt 1030.

[Stwood_]

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.

[jteneyck]

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

[dlorenz]

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?

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.

[jteneyck]

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

[cputnam]

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.

[lincmercguy]

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.

[Wild Turkey]

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?