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No one serious about woodworking can skip the step of buying a good quality set of dado blades. If you’ve come to this stage, we’ll walk you through the details guaranteed to make your choice a breeze.
Keep reading on all the features that matter and get a glance at the best dado blades from popular manufacturers like Oshlun, DeWalt, or Freud!
Hoping to cut right to the chase? Below are the best dado blades:
- Best Overall: CMT 230.524.08
- Runner-up: Oshlun SDS-0842
- Best for the Money: Oshlun SBJ-0830
Comparison of the Best Dado Blades
Product | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
CMT 230.524.08  | ||
Oshlun SDS-0842  | ||
Oshlun SBJ-0830  | ||
DeWalt DW7670  | ||
Freud SD508  | ||
Porter-Cable 7005012  | ||
Freud SD208S  | ||
Freud SD206  | ||
CMT 230.012.08  |
What is a Dado Blade and What is a Dado Blade Cut?
A dado blade is a special type of circular blade that you can pair either with a table saw or with a radial arm saw. It is used for carving joint cuts, with excellent application in woodworking, or wherever precise, tight-fitting cuts for joints are a must.
A dado cut is a three-sided channel cut in a piece of wood, against the grain. It has two walls and a bottom, the latter being flat or curved, depending on the type of dado blade used – stacked dado set or wobble dado blade.
How Do I Choose a Dado Blade?
Taking the time to choose the right blade for your particular needs will allow you to make the best of your investment. A good quality set of dado blades is also quite pricey. So, you have even more reasons to ponder the following details when choosing a dado blade.
Type
The type of blade you choose makes a difference in the cut’s accuracy. Stacked blades are more versatile, letting you cut various size grooves, with superior quality. Wobble blades are cheaper, but also less accurate, and require a more powerful saw to perform decently. For more information on dado blade types, check out our guide below.
Stacked Dado Blades
Wobble Dado Blade
Size
The size of the blade will dictate how deep the cut can be. You only have two main options. But choosing the right size for your project needs is essential. Just don’t forget to match it with the size of the table saw you’re going to use for the work.
Teeth
A blade with more teeth per inch will work better on materials that are harder or tend to chip easier. Having more teeth means it will cut slower, yet the final result will be a smoother cut. You can expect to find sets with 42 teeth on the outer blades and sets with only 10 teeth.
Compatibility
Compatibility issues are minimal because there are only a few different types of dado blades. Also, most come with a 5/8-inch diameter arbor hole. They usually feature a 0o hook angle, for table saws or a negative hook angle for radial arm saws, between -12o to -5o.
Review of the Best Dado Blades
Before we delve into even more details on how to make the best of a dado blade, we have selected a few top choices you might want to look at. Here are the currently best-rated dado blades and what they have to offer:
Best Overall:
CMT 230.524.08
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Our best overall selection is an 8-inch stacked dado blade set manufactured by CMT. It is the stainless-steel version, with micro-grain carbide tips. It measures 8 x 8 x 0.13 inches at 2 lbs, and it can support cuts from 1/4 to 29/32-inches. Compatible with both table saws and radial arm saws, it works with a wide range of applications, except for non-ferrous metals.
The outer blades have 24 teeth, and the chippers have 4 teeth, sized with the classic 5/8-inch bore. The anti-kickback design will significantly reduce overfeeding chances. Whereas the 3/32-inch chippers allow you to handle even undersized plywood.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
This is a top-quality stainless-steel dado set that can rip or crosscut wood or chew chipboard, plywood and laminate materials in an instant. It features alternate top bevel teeth and flat top grind teeth, in a unique design combination. And it facilitates clean, flat-bottom cuts like no other!
Runner-up:
Oshlun SDS-0842
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Yet another 8-inch stacked dado blade set, this model from Oshlun is running shoulder to shoulder with our best overall selection. It comes in its carrying case, which isn’t very sturdy, but it is still a reliable option. And since it includes 16 pieces in the package, it weighs nearly 10 pounds at 10.5 x 9.9 x 3 inches.
The blades are made of professional-grade C-4 carbide, featuring precision ground carbide tips. The outer blades have 42 teeth, with a 5/8-inch arbor cut for either table saws or radial arm saws. And the combination of full body chippers and shims will let you adjust it for hardwood, softwood, plywood, and other materials of various widths.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
For DIY enthusiasts or serious woodworkers, this set provides value at a more affordable price than the best overall set from CMT. Each chipper comes with 6 teeth, which allows an even smoother finish of the bottom cut. And the full-body design of the chippers facilitates a more comfortable operation, with minimal vibrations.
Best for the Money:
Oshlun SBJ-0830
PROS
CONS
Our Review
You can always go for this budget-friendly set if you can’t afford or don’t need a full set of stacked dado blades. It is sized at 8 inches and designed to handle box and finger cuts with its two professional-grade C-4 carbide blades. And it makes an excellent choice when you’re financially limited.
The functioning principle is quite simple. So, expect to cut square fingers or notches with flat bottoms in a jiffy. The inner and outer blades can be reversed, facilitating cuts of either 1/4-inch or 3/8-inch width. And the high tooth count, while allowing a slower cut, will also make it smoother.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Not a stacked set with lots of pieces but neither a single wobble blade, this box & finger joint set makes a special choice. It gives you a bit more than the wobble blades with limited capabilities. And it facilitates some of the most popular woodworking cuts. It is easy to use, comes with detailed instructions, and its price is tough to beat.
Best Dado Blade Set:
DeWalt DW7670
PROS
CONS
Our Review
A professional tool for those who are truly serious about making dado cuts, this set from DeWalt is your best choice if you want nothing but superior stacked dado blades. The package includes two 8-inch outer blades dotted with 24 micro-grain carbide teeth and 6 chippers with 4 teeth each.
The set weighs 9 lbs and measures 15 x 3.25 x 12.5 inches. Tucked inside a sturdy, well-organized carrying case, you can be sure that all blades will be stored in the best possible condition. For the actual set up, the user instructions are more than explicit. Getting cuts between 1/16 and 3/32 inches is easily doable. And the quality of cuts is always impressive.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Coming from a reputable manufacturer like DeWalt, this set stands out as the best stacked dado blade set. Designed with laser-cut plates, it makes accurate cuts, clean and smooth, not only in softwoods, but also in hardwoods, melamine, or plywood. And it even has a -120 hook angle, for more flexibility and compatibility with radial arm saws.
Best Dado Blade for Table Saw:
Freud SD508
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Looking to make chip-free dado cuts in softwoods, hardwoods, laminates, or plywood? This 8-inch dado blade set from Freud could prove an ideal choice for your table saw. The package includes a set of 2 blades and 6 chippers, with shims for fine-adjustments, and a carrying case. The outer blades feature 24 teeth and the chippers 4 teeth.
But apart from the standard features, the overall design makes this product outstanding. Freud introduced a premium blade composition, for enhanced durability. And coated the blade in silver, to keep it cleaner and cooler during operation. Their unique, anti-kickback design is yet another welcoming addition that gives extra value.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
With this particular stacked dado blade set, you get the chance to perform excellent cuts, thanks to the premium blade made of titanium cobalt carbide. It’s a special formula developed by Freud, one that maximizes the cutting performances and that makes your work easier. What’s more, because it contains carbide grains significantly smaller than in other blades, it will wear slower.
Best Wobble Dado Blade:
Porter-Cable Oldham 7005012
PROS
CONS
Our Review
We’ve selected the best wobble dado blade from Porter-Cable. An Oldham blade, with tradition on the market, it features an adjustable design and an impressive 7-inch diameter. It weighs as little as 1.4 lbs and measures 8.5 x 1 x 10.38 inches. Easy to set up and to adjust, it’s a tempting option for anyone shopping on a budget.
For the actual cutting, you’re getting 16 teeth made of carbide, with a precision sharpened design. Plus, the option to adjust your dadoes to six different widths, from 3/16 to 3/4 inches. Softwood and hardwood alike, along with plywood, melamine, or wood composites are easy to handle once you’ve set it up.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
This Oldham wobble dado blades will stand out through its size, before anything else. You might have noticed how most dado blades come in either 6 or 8 inches. This one is sized at 7 inches and can support up to 7000 RPMs. With this size, you’ll be getting a little bit of welcomed extra power, even when operating on a smaller table saw.
Best Stacking Dado Blade:
Freud SD208S
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Freud is well-known for the special design features of its dado blades. But this 8-inch stacked set created for (almost) all saws certainly walks the extra mile. Maximum performance is easy to achieve, thanks to the premium high-density carbide crosscutting blend. And the silver coating will make both the cutting and the post-cutting maintenance of the blade easier.
Flat bottom grooves vary in between 1/4- and 13/16-inches width, with the standard 1/16-inch increment. And whether you have a Bosch, a Jet, or a DeWalt saw, it should pair with it nice and easy. This is, after all, a professional dado set that is well worth the attention of any woodworker expert or wannabe.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
This product stands out as the best stacking dado blade set with a great configuration and lots of premium design details. Basically, you get to combine the two outer blades with three chippers, three spacers, and ten shims, any way you think of. It also supports negative hook angles, making your work easy on table and radial arm saws alike.
Best Adjustable Dado Blade:
Freud SD206
PROS
CONS
Our Review
If you’re looking for a small size yet adjustable dado blade for cutting with clean edges, square shoulders, and super flat bottoms, look no further! This adjustable 6-inch dado blade set from Freud has a lot to give you. The set consists of 2 outer blades with 10 teeth and a 5/8-inch arbor cut, with 1/16-inch spacers and 1/8-inch chippers.
The anti-kickback design that Freud is famous for is implemented with this blade set, too. And the micro-grain carbide tips are guaranteed to ensure a long lifespan and superior cutting quality. As long as you’re not planning on using it on large size table saws, you’re going to want this adjustable stacked set.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Despite its smaller size, this Freud dado blade set gives you the outstanding features of the 8-inch models from the same manufacturer. Adding the combination of two-wing chippers and shims, you get to enjoy an accurate control of the cutting width. And so, you will be able to use it with hardwood, softwood, chipboards, laminate and plywood alike!
Editor’s Pick:
CMT 230.012.08
PROS
CONS
Our Review
If you need a dado blade set at 8 inches but with fewer teeth, you can turn to CMT, once again. Just like our best overall selection, this stacked set for pros features FTG and ATB teeth. With a 0.098 thickness of the plates and 0.125 kerf thickness, it will easily cut straight and clean, with little to no kickback whatsoever.
You’re getting five chippers in the set, one at 1/16 inches and four at 1/8 inches. And you can handle anything from softwood to veneer plywood without worrying about splinters or other issues you get with poor quality dado blades. What’s more, it also comes with a highly attractive price, so it caught our editor’s eye and will most likely catch yours, too.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Yet another interesting option from CMT, this stacked dado set provides surprisingly great value, for its price tag! It really makes smooth and clean cuts, even in hardwood and plywood. And the shims, even though they are not made of metal, come in various sizes, giving you a lot more room for adjustments and width combinations.
In summary, here are the best dado blades:
- Best Overall: CMT 230.524.08
- Runner-up: Oshlun SDS-0842
- Best for the Money: Oshlun SBJ-0830
How Does a Dado Blade Work?
To make the three-sided channel, a blade has to cut the two walls, to remove the waste material in between the walls, and to level the bottom of the cut. And yes, it does all of the three steps at the same time.
Such cuts, also known as grooves, rabbets, or dadoes, are unique. They can be produced in different forms, like box joints, lap joints, rabbet joints, and more. Adding the fact that no standard blade can cut them, it becomes obvious why dado blades are so popular.
What is a Dado Blade Used For?
Woodworking is where dado blades and the special cuts you can make with them will come in handiest. Rabbet, dado, and groove cuts are the three types of joints most commonly crafted with a dado blade. Here’s a short overview of each:
Rabbet
A rabbet is a notch cut performed right on the edge of the working board. Its two sides are 900 to each other. And the cut can be made either along or across the grain. It is a type of joint for drawer assemblies, cabinet backs, and other simple box joinery products where strength isn’t crucial.
Dado
A dado cut is a square or rectangular slot milled within a workpiece, across the grain. It can run along the entire width of the workpiece. Or it can be stopped on both ends, or even on one end. One of the most common uses of a dado cut is for housing shelves or building joints.
Groove
A groove cut is a square or rectangular slot milled within a workpiece, running along the grain, not across, like a dado cut. Apart from this difference, a groove is almost identical to a dado. It can take up to 1/3 of a board’s thickness. And drawer bottoms are one of its main applications.
What Size of Dado Blade Do I Need?
Size-wise, dado blades get the label of their diameter. There are two standard diameter sizes, 6 and 8 inches. There are also some 10 and 12-inch blades, but those are for industrial use and hard to find.
As a rule, the larger the diameter, the deeper the cut it can make. Since you’ll be using it with a table or radial arm saw, you must pick it according to the size of the saw you’ll be working with:
- For the smallest saws, portable or bench saw models, only use the 6-inch dado blades. Small saws don’t have enough power to handle a larger 8-inch blade.
- For contractor saws, you can work with either 6 or 8-inch blades. But if you pick the bigger size, avoid the full plate chipper models, as it could be too heavy for a mid-sized saw.
- For the largest saw models, cabinet saws, you can use any size of dado blade, with or without full plate chippers.
Ultimately, your size choice comes down to what fits your saw and how deep of a cut you need to make.
Comparison Overview: How Does It Stack Up?
Once you start looking into your options of cutting dadoes, you’ll notice some terms are often used. Here are the most common ones and the differences between them.
Rabbet vs Dado
These are two types of cuts you can make with a dado blade. A rabbet can go either with the grain or across the grain of the board, whereas a dado only goes across the grain. Also, notably different, a rabbet sits right on the edge of a board, its two sides at 900from each other.
Dado vs Router
A dado is an accessory you can attach to a power tool. A router is a power tool in itself. Both can be used for joints, with either dado or groove cuts. The router makes clean cuts with a square flat bottom, and it excels at stopped dadoes. However, a router is considerably slower than a table saw with a dado blade that cuts dadoes in a snap.
Wobble Dado vs Stacked
These are the two main options when it comes to dado blades. Wobble dado is an accessory consisting of a single blade, whereas the stacked dado is a system of blades and chippers that you must install together. As shown above, the stacked dado sets are always the superior choice.
Types of Dado Blades
There are two types of dado blades, which differ in terms of design, functioning principle, and quality of cuts. They also happen to have advantages and disadvantages, so you’ll carefully examine these two options:
Stacked Dado Blades
Stacked dado blades are sets of blades that you install and use simultaneously to perform the cut. Apart from having to learn how to install them, they have the disadvantage of leaning on the pricey side. Otherwise, they produce the best cuts, with smooth edges and a perfectly flat bottom, which facilitates a solid joint. They outperform wobble models in every single way.
A set contains two outer blades, with anything from 10 to 40 teeth, and four to six chippers, with two to four teeth. They also include dado shims and accessories that allow you to adjust the width without removing some of the blades you installed. The outer blades cut the walls, whereas the chippers remove the material in the center of the dado cut and flatten the bottom.
Wobble Dado Blades
Wobble dado blades come as individual blades that you get to install with a special hub. The hub can be adjusted to different angles. And instead of making a circular motion, it spins back and forth. This movement, along with the high speed, produces a groove, but it looks more like a cove. It is harder to control, and it certainly won’t allow such a tight fit for joints.
A wobble dado blade has the main advantage that it is more affordable than a stacked dado. Other than that, it’s almost impossible to get a flat-bottom groove with it. Moreover, it causes additional vibrations. So, it can be more dangerous and can cause some damage to the saw, as in shaking some of its parts loose.
Pros and Cons of Dado Blades
If you’re looking for consistent, accurate, and fast dadoes, a dado blade is your best bet. Take a look below at the advantages and the potential disadvantages it comes with.
Dado Blade Pros
Dado Blade Cons
How to Install Dado Blades
Knowing how to install a dado blade is crucial in getting the best results and working in safe conditions. Here’s what you need to do:
First, adjust your table saw, to remove its regular blade and install a dado blade:
- Unplug the table saw;
- Expose the blades and all the parts, by removing the saw guard and the throat plate;
- Pop up the safety on the blade;
- Loosen the arbor nut with a set of wrenches, take out the nut, and slide off the blade;
- Unscrew and remove the riving knife with an Allen wrench;
Then, you can proceed to install the dado blades:
- Decide how many chippers you want to use;
- Install the first outer blade, with its logo facing outward on the stack;
- Next, add the chippers – one or several, depending on your choice;
- Finally, install the second outer blade;
Be sure to pay attention to these tips:
- Make sure that the teeth are offset and don’t overlap in any way;
- Install the washer and the nut on the arbor;
- Place the throat plate, making sure it’s one that will well fit the width of the blade;
- Lower the blades all the way to the depth you need to get the work done, and that’s it.
These are the steps you need to take to install a dado blade on a table saw. If you’d like the chance to see the whole process in action before you do it yourself, check out the video below.
How to Use a Dado Blade on a Table Saw
Now that you know how to install a dado blade, a few words on how to actually use it in the best possible conditions:
First, make sure you have at hand everything you need:
- The stacked dado set;
- A suitable throat plate;
- A miter gauge;
- A sacrificial fence;
Second, plan ahead, so you can get the exact cut width you will need:
- Set the outer blades on a flat surface, making sure that the teeth aren’t overlapping;
- Take the workpiece and set it next to the outer blades, on the flat surface;
- Then, start stacking the chipper blades on top of the outer blades, until you find an arrangement that is flush with the top of your workpiece;
Third, do a couple of test cuts:
- Install the dado blades on your saw;
- Adjust the blade until you get the desired cutting depth;
- Make a test cut on a piece of wood, pushing it against the dado blade with the miter gauge and sacrificial fence;
Check if the workpiece will joint tightly into the dado cut you just made;
- If the cut is too tight, add one or several shims and repeat the test;
- If it’s too wide, reduce the width of the dado blade set;
Finally, move on to cutting on your actual workpiece:
- Repeat the steps you took for the test cutting, using the miter gauge and the sacrificial fence;
- This time, you will work directly on your workpiece, with the certainty that the dado blade is perfectly installed and adjusted.
If you want to have a clearer image of the entire process outline above, take a few minutes to watch the next video:
Conclusion
For sure, a dado blade is no tool for the beginner. At the same time, even if it isn’t the first time that you’re using a table saw or considering a dado blade, there are many things you can learn on the go. Hopefully, you’ve covered all the bases with the information from above. And you can now proceed to decide which is the best dado blade for your particular needs!
People Also Ask
As we are about to finish this dado blade buyer guide, there are still a few questions we know you’re interested in. Here they are, along with their answers – a selection of what else people ask before purchasing or using a dado blade:
How High Should a Dado Rail Be?
For guidance, the dado rail should be positioned depending on how high the ceiling is. The higher it is, the higher should be the dado rail, too. For regular workspaces, a 3 to 4 ft distance above the floor is considered a good positioning.
What Size Dado Bladefor 10 Table Saw
A 10-inch table saw should be powerful enough to handle an 8-inch dado blade. However, you need to make sure that the dado blade will fit the arbor diameter of the 10-inch table saw. And, also, must know if the arbor is long enough to accommodate a dado blade.
What Is a Dado Stack?
A dado stack is a set of two dado blades and four to six chippers, all of which work together, as a system. Dado stacks are generally expensive, but they make the best option in terms of precision.
Are Dado Blades Dangerous?
Dado blades are just as dangerous as any other power tool. The wobble blades require more attention. That’s because of the back and forth movement that shakes the saw in the process. Yet setting them as per the manufacturer’s recommendations, using safety equipment, and operating the right way should keep you safe.
Why Are Dado Blades Illegal In Europe?
Dado blades are illegal in Europe because of their operation requirements. One must remove the riving knife and the guard when working with a dado blade. Plus, dado blades are heavier than regular blades. Should the arbor stop too fast, it can spin off. And so, European regulators decided to label them as unsafe.
Can You Use A Dado Blade On Any Table Saw?
Matching a dado blade with a table saw implies matching size and power. First, you must determine the arbor saw compatibility – most dado blades come with a standard arbor hole with a 5/8-inch diameter, so you’ll hardly find an incompatibility from this perspective.
Second, you must determine if the saw has enough power to handle the larger diameter dado blade. A 6-inch dado blade can work with any table saw, but an 8-inch dado blade can only work with larger table saws.
Can You Use A Dado Blade Without A Throat Plate?
Yes, you can use a dado blade without a throat plate. Still, this would be unsafe, and it is not recommended. Moreover, it isn’t even necessary! If you can’t use your throat plate with a dado blade, try a zero-clearance plate, which will perfectly fit your blade.