Solid Wood Machining

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Post a Response
The staff at WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at any WOODWEB Forum. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.
Your Name:
Your Website:
Email Address:
Subject: Re: Radial Arm Saw for Dado

Message:

(read message guidelines).
Note: Do not use the below fields to advertise your business - only for links related to the discussion.
Thread Related Link URL:
Thread Related Link Title:
  To "point" to an image (picture) from another website, provide the URL (Web Address) of the file ( include ONE reference to http:// )
Thread Related Image URL:

Date of your Birth:

Upload a Thread Related File:
File Types: Image (gif-jpg-png-bmp), PDF, Sketchup, Video (mov avi wmv mpeg mpg mp4 ogg). (Image Upload Tips)

I have read the Site User Agreement and agree with the Terms

  <= Check to receive e-mail notification of responses

Message Thread:

Radial Arm Saw for Dado

1/21/14       
J. Schrock Member

I have been contemplating using a radial arm saw with a dado stack (in rip mode) with a stock feeder to run the dado in cabinet sides so that the dado is the exact same every time. Does anyone know why this wouldn't work or if there would be danger involved? Thanks for your input.

1/22/14       #2: Radial Arm Saw for Dado ...
Jim Baldwin  Member

Website: http://www.handrailer.com

Ripping and cutting dadoes with a radial arm saw has always been a hazardous proposition since the wood is always jammed between the blade and the table. Despite this, radial arm saws were designed to be utilized this way and have been for years.

Home builders used to trailer their big Dewalts out to the job-sites where they were used (and misused) in every conceivable way (I still have one).

It's a sad fact however, that carpenters using these saws have also been ripped, dado-ed and skewered along with their boards. "Kickbacks" were common and trips to the emergency hospital with fingers in lunch boxes etc.

So no, I don't consider it safe or sane to use a radial arm saw for anything other than cross-cutting. Even that is now considered obsolete and hazardous. (Perhaps you've noticed the disappearance of these old saws from the big box stores and workshops?)

Countless hobbyists in their home shops have also been injured by these saws and their advertized versatility. "No need to own a table saw when a radial does it all."

Of course you can set it up to be safe but will you? And will you take the time every time you need a cut?

I honestly think you'd be much better off with a dedicated table saw coupled with your power feed unit.

1/22/14       #3: Radial Arm Saw for Dado ...
David R Sochar Member

I agree with Jim - far too dangerous, and not as accurate as you may want.

The preferred tool is a shaper, with a power feeder and dedicated rabbeting heads. Fast, super accurate and safe, it is the way to go.

1/22/14       #4: Radial Arm Saw for Dado ...
J. Schrock Member

Thanks for your input fellows. We have a shaper setup to run rabbets for the sides and that works great. The problem we are having is that we use a table saw with a stack dado to dado the cabinet sides and alot of our time is spent in setting the depth of the dado so that what is left beneath the dado is always the same (for 3/4" side there would be 5/8" left). This is done so that you have the same distance from the outside edge of the face frame regardless of the material variation in thickness. And finding a method to dado from the top of the side would eliminate this problem. Maybe I'm not looking at this the proper way. Thanks for taking time to respond. I'd much rather do a few more setups than try to work without a few fingers or even hand :(

1/22/14       #5: Radial Arm Saw for Dado ...
David R Sochar Member

Panel router is the way to do cross grain dadoes in quantity. You will also eliminate tearout, which would be another drawback for dado set on a radial arm saw.

Or a dedicated jig with a quickset router since you are only 1/8" deep.

Or, CNC.

1/22/14       #6: Radial Arm Saw for Dado ...
Jim Herron

Second on the panel router. Best way to accomplish consistent depth without tearout of tablesaw or setting a new land speed record with radial saw.

1/23/14       #7: Radial Arm Saw for Dado ...
Max Neu

I also use a panel router,and I suggest if you do,that you put a rabbet on the ends of your shelves.I use 3/4",with s 1/2" dado,then rabbet the shelves so they fit into the dado.By doing this, you are creating a shoulder to limit how far the shelf can go into the dado.It is near impossible to get consistent dado depths with a panel router for various reasons ( material thickness,hold down issues,etc.),that's why you need a shoulder,so all shelves will go in the same depth,regardless of how deep the dado is.Also,use a solid carbide,downward spiral bit.

1/23/14       #8: Radial Arm Saw for Dado ...
Bruce H

I understand why you would want the dado head over the top of your work piece. If you are really committed to this it wouldn't be all that hard to buy a shaper mandrel, mount it horizontal with a power feeder and have a dedicated machine for this process. Would this be any different than a radial arm saw, don't know. It would depend on how much you put into the set up. Another way of doing this, you might consider buying a Williams and Hussy and setting that up. The cutter is over the top and has power feed.

2/3/14       #9: Radial Arm Saw for Dado ...
Adam

Radial arm saws are a necessary evil for crosscutting wood. Ripping wood on a radial is a fool's errand. Might as well ask the devil for a ride on his way back to hell.

 

Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)