You can't just put a dado blade on any table saw. That can potentially be very hazardous. The wise thing to do is to find a table saw with dado compatibility and cut the dados more safely.
Here we've listed five of the top portable table saw that accept dado blades. Check them out...
Portable Table Saws | Max Dado | Other features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
2. Skil 10"   | 13/15" | Rip capacity: 35" Motor: 15 Amp Table size: 20" x 32" | [Most affordable] |
3. Dewalt 7491X   | 13/16" | Rip capacity: 32-1/2" Motor: 15 Amp Table size:26-30" | |
4. Hitachi C10RJ   | 13/16" | Rip capacity: 35" Motor: 15 Amp Table size: 28x 22" | |
5. dewalt 744xrs | 13/16" | Rip capacity: 24" Motor: 15 Amp Table size:26-1/2"- 19-1/4" |
Table Of Contents
Top 5 Table Saws that USe Dado blades
1. Dewalt 7491RS Table Saw - Best Overall
This is simply a larger version of the DeWalt 7490X.
Dewalt 7491RS Saw Dado Compatibility:
This can take in an 8-inch dado blade, with a max-width of 13/16 of an inch.
This 10-inch Jobsite Table Saw gives you a rip capacity of 32½ inches that can cut easily through bigger trim and shelving materials.
You get a depth of cut of 3.125 inches at 90 degrees, while at 45 degrees it is at 2.25 inches.
Read More
Purchase Includes:
You get a 10-inch 24-Tooth Carbide Blade, along with a rolling stand, miter gauge, and push stick.
It works for people like remodelers, deck builders, trim carpenters, hardwood floor installers, and cabinet installers.
The table offers 26.25 inches by 22 inches of space for ample material support. There’s also an on-board storage system for your Site-Pro Guard components and push stick when you’re not using them.
Key Features:
- This also comes with a 15-amp motor.
- There’s also a 2-inch dust collection port. This port connects to your vacuum cleaner so you keep things clean and you get rid of the dust quickly.
- The rolling stand also makes this a lot more portable. There are huge heavy-duty wheels so you can roll all over the site and not mind the curbs, steps, and debris. The stand is also easy to set up and then break down when you’re done.
2. Skil 15amp 10 inch Table Saw - Best Budget Option
What you get includes a 10-inch table saw, a carbide-tooth blade, two blade wrenches, a heavy-duty steel folding stand, a self-aligning rip fence, and a miter gauge.
Skil 3410-02 Saw Dado Compatibility:
You can use dado blades with this table saw too. It can deal with 8-inch dados cutting up to 13/16 of an inch in a single pass and the dado cuts are nice.
The 15-amp motor gives you a no-load rpm level of 5,000 while it features 3.5-inch cut height capacity to go through 4 times the material.
That’s the kind of cutting capacity you need for various woodworking and carpentry tasks.
The bevel angle ranges from 2 to 47 degrees. The cut depth at 90 degrees is at 3.5 inches while at 45 degrees it’s at 2.5 inches.
Lots of beginners prefer this because it’s ready to use right out of the box.
There’s no need for any sort of adjustments first. It’s quite easy to use and more importantly, for newbies, it’s got safety features too.
Key Features:
The table is ample with measurements of 20 inches by 26 inches to support the work.
You’re also able to make very precise cuts with the self-aligning rip fence and the EZ View measurement system.
The Quick-Mount system lets you set up quickly to get to work.
The heavy-duty steel stand also provides a steady work environment with no wobble.
3. Dewalt 7491X Table Saw - A Great Alternative
Dewalt is one of the most renowned brands in the DIY tool industry, and the Dewalt 7491X is one of their more recent portable saws.
It’s an improvement over the venerable Dewalt 7480.
Dewalt 7491X Saw Dado Blades Compatibility:
This will accept a dado blade set, with dado blades of up to 13/16 of an inch. You mustn’t try to stack dado blades that exceed this measurement.
You should also refrain from using dado blades that exceed 8 inches in diameter.
You’ll need to get the Dado Throat Plate, with the Dewalt Part Number DWE7402D1.
You have to get the special dado insert separately when using the dado.
Dado cuts aren’t thru-cuts, so you need to do these cuts only after first removing the blade guard assembly.
To do this, you need to pull the release lever for the riving knife/blade guard and then you can just pull up on the guard or riving knife.
Rip-Cut:
You can cut through a wide range of bigger shelving and trim material with its 28-inch rip capacity.
Its ripping capacity is terrific, and you also get a scissor stand. Its 58-pound weight makes it somewhat easy to transfer from one job site to another, especially with the telescoping fence rails.
Purchase includes:
A miter gauge, a push stick, a 10-inch 24 tooth carbide blade, and a folding stand. You get a rack and a pinion telescoping fence rails that allow you to make faster, smoother, and more accurate fence adjustments.
Key Features:
- The 15-amp motor gives you enough power to cut hardwoods and pressure-treated lumber. At 90 degrees the depth of cut is 3⅛ inches while at 45 degrees it is 2¼ inches.
- This comes with the Site-Pro Modular Guarding System. This enables tool-free adjustments of the guarding components.
- Another feature is the 2-inch Dust Collection Port that easily connects to a vacuum for efficient dust extraction.
Further Read: Cutting wood on a table saw
4. Hitachi C10RJ Table Saw - Inexpensive Alternative
This comes with a 15-amp motor too, with up to 45000 rpm for the toughest uses.
Hitachi C10RJ Saw Dado Compatibility:
It comes with a 10-inch 40-tooth blade with carbide tips for excellent cutting capacity.
But it can also use 8-inch dado blades with a maximum width of 13/16 of an inch.
The bevel range can go from 0 to 45 degrees. The depth can range from 2.25 inches at 45 degrees up to 3.125 inches at 0 degrees.
The working tabletop measures 28.75 inches by 22 inches, while the outfeed support is 28.75 inches by 2 inches for secure material support.
The telescoping table extension allows for 35 inches of ripping capacity to the right and 22 inches to the left.
There’s also storage space for various items that you might need while working.
Purchase Includes:
Blade Guard Assembly (371647),
Anti-kickback Pawl Assembly (371648),
Miter Gauge Assembly (371651),
Push Stick (371532),
Rip Fence Assembly (371649),
Outfeed Support Assembly (371650),
(2) Blade Wrenches (371633),
5mm Hex Bar Wrench (371644),
4mm Hex Bar Wrench (371645),
2.5mm Hex Bar Wrench (371646)
Other Key Features:
A stable fold & roll stand for easy transport and accurate cuts due to less wobbling
Easy to make adjustments for the blade angle and height
Easy fence adjustments
5. DEWALT DW744XRS Table Saw - Good Choice
This is another portable table saw that comes with a 15-amp motor and a 24.5-inch maximum rip capacity.
Dewalt DW744XRS Saw Dado Compatibility:
If you have a dado set, it will be accepted as the max dado is 13/16 of an inch. So if you have a ¾-inch set, that’s within parameters with even 1/6 of an inch allowance.
The 15-amp motor can get the 10-inch blade to spin at 3.650 rpm. That’s good enough to give you clean cuts even when you’re dealing with pressure-treated lumber and hardwood. Blade speed remains consistent due to the electronic feedback built-in.
Other Aspects:
The soft start-feature is great, as it minimizes the startup torque. This helps to ensure the longevity of the table saw and particularly of the motor.
The special fence configuration allows for the 24.5-inch rip capacity. With the rack and pinion fence rails, you can make sure that your fence adjustments are quick and precise.
The telescoping design of the fence doesn’t just make the table saw easier to transport. It also allows the rails to extend all the way out to 24 inches.
Key Features:
A max cut depth of 2.25 inches at 45 degrees, and 3.125 inches at 90 degrees
The table surface measures 26.5 inches by 19.25 inches
You have the Site-Pro Modular Guarding System, which lets you do quick and easy adjustments of the guarding components
Tabletop height at 30 inches off the floor, for best cuts
2-inch port for dust collection when connected to a vacuum cleaner
Portable due to the use of heavy-duty aluminum, sturdy wheels, and folding legs.
What Is A Dado Cut?
A dado is a groove, cut into a piece of wood into which another piece could fit in seamlessly. In woodwork processes, dados are commonly formed to hold door panels or in some cases, drawer bottoms. A router or table saw is used to cut out dados. The latter is the most common method used, though.
What Is A Dado Blade And The Types Of Dado Blades?
A Dado blade is a circular blade that is normally used to cut dadoes by installing them into a table saw or radial arm saw.
There are two main classes of dado blades used in conjunction with a table saw. They include the wobble-style dado blade and the stacked dado set.
1. Wobble-style dado blades:
Typically, a wobble-style blade is mounted on a disk/collar. The angle of the blade changes as the disk is rotated. On rotation, the wobbling blade begins to make its cuts. The biggest advantage of this type of blade is that it cuts dado grooves with a rounded bottom. On the other hand, it can cause unwanted vibrations in table saws.
2. The stacked dado set:
It is widely considered the better of both options for a host of reasons. To begin with, it consists of several chippers and two saw blades. These chippers are designed to fit between the two blades on the saw’s arbor. The number of chippers slotted in between the outer and inner saw blade is the major determinant of the width of the dado.
The Best Dado Blades For Table Saw
1. Freud 8” x 24T Super Dado Sets - The Best
When it comes to dadoes, none cuts better than the Freud 8” Super dado sets. The following reasons show a little insight into why it’s called ‘Super dado set.’
This super dado set is the most durable dado set you can ever come across in the woodwork market. It can last several years, even with the most rugged of jobs and the most difficult of situations. Its durability feature is not unconnected to its unique titanium cobalt teeth. This is generally more durable than the carbide or stainless steel in most others.
Its versatility contributes to its appeal. Finding a blade that can work with both standard table saws and circular arm saw is a tough one. However, this blade fits snugly into them like a hot knife through butter.
As far as dado blade discussions go, this is the best option.
2. Oshlun SDS-0842 8-Inch 4 Tooth Stack Dado Set - Best For The Money
The Oshlun SDS is a real bargain. Indeed, its price is non-comparable with the cutting power it delivers. It comes with 42 teeth and cuts out flat bottom dados with a brilliant width range of ¼-inch and 28/32-inches.
Its carbide tips can be used to make dados on woods of varying thicknesses effortlessly. Compared to most other models in the market, the sharpness of the carbide tips lasts long. The blade also comes with full-body chippers, a better variation of the wing-styled chippers adopted in many blades. Full-body chippers generally minimize vibrations in using a table saw and ease up the setting-up process of the blades.
With its low price and beneficial features, it’s easy to see why this is the best value for money.
3. MIBRO 416381 8” Carbide Stacking Dado Blade Set
This is debatably the best starter pack for any woodwork enthusiasts or hobbyists. Since the blades max out at a considerably high speed of 5000RPM, it can cut almost all types of wood. This includes hardwoods. The starter set contains seven shims. These seven shims enhance its adjustability by giving room for cutting wider dadoes.
One of its biggest perks is its compatibility. Its standard size of 8 inches means it is compatible with most tables saws you might come across. Its highly compatible nature makes it highly convenient to use.
Its blades also promise improved accuracy. This accuracy is aided by the blade’s strong teeth. Its precise cutting reduces the time you would have otherwise used in finishing your piece after cutting out your dadoes.
How To Install The Dado Blade Into A Table Saw
Step 1:
Unplug the table saw. This is the mandatory first step for any powered DIY tool.
Step 2:
Pull off the saw guard from the blade. This exposes the top of the blade.
Step 3:
Then remove the throat plate around the blade. This exposes all the parts of the blade.
Step 4:
Switch the safety of the blade up.
Step 5:
Remove the arbor nut. The guard down keeps the blade from coming off (which is always a nice safety feature in a table saw).
Step 6:
Use the wrenches to loosen the nut so you can just turn the nut quickly to take it off. Just make sure you catch the nut in your hand.
Step 7:
Slide the blade off.
Step 8:
As the dado blade is only 8 inches instead of 10, the blade guard will stick up too high. So it must be taken off as well. You’ll need an Allen wrench to remove the 2 screws that hold the guard.
Step 9:
These dado blades come with a guide for the main blade and the chippers. Every blade and chipper = ⅛ of an inch. So you’ll get ⅝ of an inch, while the guide tells you how many blades and chippers you need.
Step 10:
You can add the blade first (take note of the directional arrow on the blade).
Step 11:
Then the chipper goes in. The chipper must be properly aligned, so that the teeth are within the width of the blade teeth. That’s to keep the teeth from hitting each other.
Step 12:
Put in another blade next, and again check that the teeth aren’t touching. Put in the washer, and then the nut.
Step 13:
Put the throat plate back in. Now if you have put in too many blades, they won’t fit into the throat plate gap. This means you may need a special dado blade throat plate with a wider gap. This can let you get up to the limit of 13/16 of an inch
Step 14:
Adjust the height of the blade to the height you want.
How To Make Dado Cuts With A Table Saw
Step 1:
Put in the dado blades and chipper blades, stacking them to the width you want.
Step 2:
You’ll need the miter gauge too. You may want to consider attaching a “sacrificial” fence to back up the back end of the cut and for greater bearing support.
Step 3:
The challenging part is to get the cutting width right. You want the parts of the dado joint to fit in together snugly, without any unnecessary slide.
Step 4:
To do this more easily, set your outer blades on a flat surface so the blades aren’t touching one another.
Step 5:
Take the workpiece you’re going to fit into the dado and set it next to your outer blade.
Step 6:
Stack the chipper blades atop the outer blades, with the teeth not touching.
Step 7:
Continue to stack the chipper blades until you have a combination that matches the top of the workpiece. That’ll give you a snug dado fit.
Step 8:
If the blades don’t exactly match the top of the workpiece, you can add a shim or two with the right width between the chipper blades to get the match just right.
Step 9:
Once you get the width right, load the blade combo into the table saw. Just make sure that you load the outer blades with the points pointing outward. Normally you just need to set the logos outward on the stack.
Step 10:
Don’t forget to fan out the chipper teeth out.
Step 11:
Raise the blade to the cutting depth you want. Try a test cut on a scrap piece. You should use the piece against the miter gauge so it doesn’t shift left or right. The test cut will give you an idea of the snugness of the fit of the dado joint.
Step 12:
If the test dado joint is too loose, you’ll need to reduce the thickness of your dado blades. If the joint is too tight, then you may need to add a shim to widen the cut.
Step 13:
Once you’re satisfied with your trial attempts, mark your workpiece and do your dado cuts.
Alternative Ways To Cut Dados Without A Table Saw
1. Router And Straight Cutter Bit -
One of the most popular ways of cutting a dado is using a straight-cutting bit together with a router. For best results, ensure that the bit speed is low. Also, cut the dado in multiple shallow passes. Each pass should be 1/16 to 1/8 deeper than the previous pass. Using a slow bit speed prevents the dulling of the router bits. To ensure a straight path, use a straightedge.
2. Circular Saw And Straight-Edge Guide -
Another popular method is the use of a circular saw and a straight-line edge. To begin with, make two guide fences to guide the circular saw. Each fence should have the same width as the edge of the shoe to the blade built with it. Put both fences around the piece from which the dado is to be cut and clamp them to the workpiece.
Follow this up by making a number of cuts to hog out the material. Since getting all the ridges with the saw could be a little tricky, break that using a few sideway taps with a hammer before scraping out the rest using the claw of the hammer. Finally, move the saw from one side to another to flatten out the bottom of the dado.
3. Cutting Dadoes Without A Dado Blades -
Sometimes you might not have a dado set at your disposal. Still, you can make clean cut dados. Rip a blade’s thickness from one face of a scrap of the stock used to fit into the groove. Let the cut be about 1” deep. Using a scribing knife, map out the location of the groove. The depth of the blade should match that of the groove. Establish one edge of the groove and cut the second edge. Follow this up by touching up the bottom.
Frequently Asked Questions -
1. Can you use a dado blade on any table saw?
The short answer is NO you can't.
Fitting in a full stacked dado blade set can be risky because of the short arbor and most small to medium size table saws have similar size arbors.
Be sure to READ manual before you use a dado blade on a table saw.
2. Can you use a dado blade on a Dewalt table saw?
Not on all Dewalt Table Saw. These are the one that accept dado blades
- Dewalt DWE7491RS
- Dwe7490X and
- DW744XRS.
3. Will an 8 dado blade work on a 10 table saw?
YES, it can work.
If the diameter of your dado blade arbor hole matches the diameter of your table saw's arbor and the saw's arbor is long enough to accommodate it. Read more.
4. Are dado blades dangerous?
YES, it can be.
Here's the deal:
Potentially all woodworking power tools can be hazardous if it isn't operated safely.
Use an extra fence on the table saw to operate dado blades safely.
5. Can a job site table saw accept dado blades?
Yes, probably it can if the arbor is wide enough, and also the clearance plate had to be removed which can be dangerous. We always recommend putting dado blades only to table saws that accept it.
6. Do DW745 and DWE7480 table saws accept dado blades?
No these table saws aren't dado compatible but you can use a DeWalt dado throat plate to use the dado blades on your DW745 and DWE7480 table saws
7. Can Hercules table saw use dado blades?
They can take thin dado blades with a spacer. However, you can't fit in a wobble dado blades into it. You can find more here.
8. Router or Table Saw: Which Is Better For Dados?
This is one of the heaviest debates in dado discussions. Some prefer router some table saw. I have an article which clearly shows which is better you can find that here.
Conclusion
Even though there is much debate about which power tool is ideal for doing a dado. But there is no doubt that Dewalt DWE7491RS is the perfect portable table saw with dado blades capacity. Sure it lags a bit if you compare it to a cabinet table saw but the portability and the huge price difference make it ideal for people who are looking to have a portable and affordable table saw that accepts dado blades.
This was awesome and so helpful thank you!!!
Glad you’ve found it helpful.