How big of a dado blade do I need?

XY GTHO, I know what you mean. Here`s my suggestion, just use a '1/2" dado blade with the saw your going to buy and rotate the piece of wood your dadoing for a '3/4' dado. So you cut 1/2" out the first time then by moving your fence, cut a 1/4" more groove for a total of 3/4" dado groove.. No different than trying to make a 3/4"dado with a single carbide tip saw blade. You keep moving the fence a little at a time to get the dado you want. I`ve done this many many times on my table saw, with a single carbide tip saw blade. You need a 'dado plate'(fits in place of your single saw blade plate) for your table saw, if your going to make a lot of dado cuts. Again you don`t need a dado blade to make a dado groove. Just a few passes and moving your fence is all you need to make a dado cut. Good Luck an Good cutting...

XY...

I've had a couple craftsman table saws in my life, and I don't think they are the best value for your money. My saws would always develop some sort of problem, and sears has a terrible policy and process on repairing/providing replacements parts. I would go with a different brand.

As far as dado size, the saws are small, and that's the reason for the limitation. The throat plate on the saw isn't as wide as other, heavy duty models. However, if you're not going to build furniture, etc., then your dado size of 1/2" should be sufficient for any small projects you may encounter. They're really designed for cutting dados not much deeper than 1/2". Most dado cuts for small projects probably wouldn't exceed 1/2" if that's the height limitation. The width can always be widen by adding additional plates on the inside of the dado blade. Also, you could probably remove the throat plate to accommodate a wider dado.

good luck

Before you buy a Craftsman, check out the offerings at Grizzly.com. My saw is from them and is a 3hp cabinet model and I've been using it for 6 years. They have good tools at reasonable prices. Your saw should have the biggest motor you can get, 2hp or better. You need this power to handle a 10" dado blade, anything less and you will need to use an 8" dado blade.

You can also use a router to cut dadoes and groves for shelving. Keep in mind that 3/4" shelving is really 47/64ths" or there-abouts. So any grove you cut will have to be just a little narrower than 3/4 for a tight fit. Check an make sure your dado set offers spacers and blades to allow you to set the proper width.

If all you can get is an arbor with a 1/2" capacity, then you will have to make two passes and use an

8" dado set as saw with 1/2" arbor capacity have less powerful motors (1-1 1/2 hp range).

Good luck.

I wouldn't suggest using a dado blade with a saw such as this.

Too big of a blade/bite for too small of a tool, ESPECIALLY if you aren't proficient with tools.

You're asking for trouble, in my opinion.

You don't need a dado blade to make dados, as previously mentioned.

If you don't play it safe with power tools you're asking for injuries.

you should get a dremmel. i got one and it rules. you can cut anything with it. really.. i cut through an old brake rotor in about 38 minutes. (i just did it cuz my cousin said it wouldnt do it) but anyway... get a dremmel. if you spent the 300 bucks you got on dremmel stuff you would have the most bad *** dremmel set ever. i dont know what dados are but i know for a fact that a dremmel will cut through them easy. the 2 best dremmel stories are number 1: i used my dremmel with the grinder tool to carve a brick into a round shape. then i spray painted it white and threw it at my cousin when we had a snowball fight. it hit him in his leg bad. the other time i lost my lighter so i used my dremmel with one of the discs on a piece of metal until the dremmel disc was hot enough to light my cigarette! cool. anyway you should get a dremmel.