Recommendations on a sub-100 dollar dado blade set?

[jip]

Anyone have a recommendation on a sub-$100 dado blade set?

- Jimmy

[BadgerDave]

Hold the tar and feathers PLEASE but I have had very excellent results with the 8" stacked dado set from Harbor Freight. The set I'm talking about is their PN 44566. It normally sells for $60 but can often be found on sale for $29.99. The set consists of two 42 tooth outer blades, four 1/8" 6 tooth chippers and one 1/16" 6 tooth chipper. It also comes with a set of shims. The blades are C2 carbide tipped. I use them in oak, pine and plywood and along with getting a flat bottomed cut there is little or no tearout. A word of caution for some saw owners, this set is rated for a max. of 4500 RPM.

[jip]

How fast is the 3612 run, can this dada set be used w/ it?

TIA
-J

[BadgerDave]

Thats the saw I have. Runs at 3450 RPM.

[Bob R]

JIP,

I have the Freud 506 model rather than the Freud 206 shown, but this one also got good reviews. I am very happy with mine.
freud dado (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000223O8/qid=1061950950/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-8173936-5346359?v=glance&s=hi)

Bob R

['olCrookedCut]

I'll second the HF cheapie. I did 2k board feet with mine and it held up well.

[daveferg]

I have the SD 206---though recent dado review in Wood magazine rated the SD 506 and Forrest as best with the 206 coming in behind it. If it were my money, I'd by the 206 and pass on the HF---Freud has a very reliable product---somehow, something made be HF spinning at 3400 rpm, with questionable carbide attachement---- :eek: I mean, it's not that much more money!

[Cutbuff]

I'll agree with Badger Dave. This particular $30 set from HF produces good tear-free flat dados. Naturally, it's made in China, this and the C2 rather than C3 carbide, are the reasons for the much lower cost.

Haven't heard of anyone having a tooth come off yet Dave! ;) Of course I only use mine once a month or so, if it were on a weekly basis I'd also head for the Freud's.

David

[woodslayer]

I’d steer clear of Sears, I have their 7-inch set and the blades have a slightly larger diameter than the chippers resulting in a groove on each side of the bottom of your dado.

Woodslayer

[Mike3206]

The set that HD sells for $90 has gotten good reviews in mags. I think it was the 508, but I'm not positive. I own one and like it a lot. Next step up for me is the Superdado for $150 something at Amazon

[daveferg]

"Haven't heard of anyone having a tooth come off yet Dave! Of course I only use mine once a month or so, if it were on a weekly basis I'd also head for the Freud's."

Yea, but David---do you want to be the first----would take body piercing to a new level! :eek:

[Cutbuff]

Dave, have you seen my body recently...anything could be an improvement!! :eek:

David

[BadgerDave]

daveferg,

Besides you, who has questioned the carbide attachment? As I use this set, I'd really be interested to confirm if this is or isn't a legitimate criticism.

Dave

[daveferg]

Badger (all these Daves and Davids :eek: )

I've read numerous books, articles and heard comments from mfgs reps about the different grades of carbide (and those used by Chinese mfgs) as well as the quality of attachment. On other ww'ing forums have read about carbides coming off saw blades and router bits, on these cheapo products.

To me, it's very simple----if HF sells a dado set for 1/3rd the price of the Freud----do you REALLY believe it's all to do with the cost of a name brand???

I may buy some things at HF, but I don't buy stuff which will be running at 3400 rpm or have to withstand thousands of pounds of weight, etc. Just not a smart choice IMHO!

[BadgerDave]

Originally posted by daveferg:To me, it's very simple----if HF sells a dado set for 1/3rd the price of the Freud----do you REALLY believe it's all to do with the cost of a name brand??? Of course not Dave, it's not only the cost of a brand name, it's also the cost of packaging, choice of carbide used, labor and probably grade of steel used.

We could debate this till the cows come home and not get anywhere but I still feel this set is a good set for under $100 which was the original question asked by the poster.

Even though I have never heard or seen a report of a lawsuit concerning the tips flying off of a HF PN44566 Dado Set I will in the future check my blades before using. And for what its worth, I make it a rule never to believe a word of what a Mfg. Rep. has to say about a competitors product. :D

[ 09-04-2003, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: Badger Dave ]

['olCrookedCut]

Hey, the product works, I've never lost a carbide, but I don't do much hardwood with my $20. set. I would have no qualms about using HF's $50. set (Badger Daves) for hardwood.
Let me state one other thing, I have lost many carbide teeth off saw blades, but not my HF Dado. Also, router bits spin at roughly ten times the speed of a table saw, quite a difference! (and no, I don't work for HF! Lol!)

[KellyC]

Originally posted by daveferg:
I have the SD 206---though recent dado review in Wood magazine rated the SD 506 and Forrest as best with the 206 coming in behind it. If it were my money, I'd by the 206 and pass on the HF---Freud has a very reliable product---somehow, something made be HF spinning at 3400 rpm, with questionable carbide attachement---- :eek: I mean, it's not that much more money! I can tell you now that mine has lost two teeth and sits motionless on my workbench awaiting the day I decide to toss it. The set did produce nice flat bottom cuts until the fourth day I used it...never again!

HF is great for some things, but not for blades or power tools.

[splinters]

I bought the Avenger dado set from Woodcraft for $49 on sale a while back. I haven't used it a whole lot but it made some pretty good cuts on 3/4" birch ply. Anyone else tried this one?

[jip]

I ended up getting the Freud SD208 from Amazon for about 75 bucks ( I had a 10 dollar coupon )

Thanks
- Jimmy

[all10fingers]

I'm not sure if you've resolved your dado issue yet but man oh man... did I find a bargain! Paxton's has the Freud SD208 (8") for $69.00. I love the set-up and accuracy.

[Cutbuff]

Don't worry about us resolving our web based discussions chum. We all know that Rockler is selling the SD 208 for $69 along with many others. :D

David

[ 10-23-2003, 05:00 AM: Message edited by: Cutbuff ]

[ChefHDAN]

Has anybody tried the new "Dial-a-Dado" from Frued?? I'm curious as to any pro's or cons.

[BadgerDave]

Where can you buy a Freud dial dado blade for under $100? :D

[ChefHDAN]

GEE How did you get the Badger moniker... HmmnH let me just suppose...nawh thad jus be mean... Anyway, I'm usually accused of being long winded so let me expound upon the reasons for the question. Would $50 to $75 over $100 be worth the Dial-a-Dado or should I go for the conventional set for less money & try to capture some shop elves when Norm's not looking. As to $$$ for a dial a dado I really don't know what the $$$ is right now but I just saw the ad in Wood Magazine & am curious how it would stand up against the others

[BadgerDave]

The subject of this thread was dado sets under the cost of $100. Your response had nothing whatsoever to do with that. I just get a little tired of seeing threads constantly being hijacked all the time. If you have a question and it doesn't fall under the realm of the subject matter, start your own thread. It's not my fault if you're so thin skinned that my tongue in cheek response hit a nerve. After all, it's not like I called you names or questioned your heritage.

[Steve L.]

I have purchased a HF 8" dado blade and I am looking to upgrade to [likely] a Freud. I was impressed with $19 HF dado. You will still need to do a little chiseling with the HF. I purchased the HF to learn on so as to not tear up an $$$ dado set.
Steve

[ChefHDAN]

Dear Badger Dave,
Please accept my sincere, honest apologies for in anyway causing you to believe that I called you a name or inferred your heritage was derived from a badger. Please also accept my apology for "hijacking" a thread. In all honesty, I still haven't been able to find a price on the dial-a-dado rig & therefore am still ignorant as to whether or not I was "off-topic" in regards to discussing the merits of the dial-a-dado under a subtext heading of a dado cutter discussion. Furthermore, there has never been a "thin-skinned" chef IMHO & if there was he'd be a waiter by now. My posts & responses are generally always "tongue in cheek" as you say. From time to time however, my dry sarcasm doesn't always translate to the written word. SO, no harn no foul, no offense taken, can't we all just get along, & whatever other trite cliche may apply to this situation...Okay??? :D

[yogibear]

If you price match the Freud SD208 at Home Depot, which they usually sell for $95, you'll get it at $70 minus 10% price match equals $63 plus tax- pretty nice little deal. Just a tad cheaper than getting it from Amazon/Tool Crib for $70 and no shipping or tax.

Just be sure to bug customer service enough to match the internet price. Only one person in the store knew they could do that when I bought it.

[Genghis]

Originally posted by ChefHDAN:
Has anybody tried the new "Dial-a-Dado" from Frued?? I'm curious as to any pro's or cons. I went to the AFWS show in Anaheim this year and hit the Freud booth the first day. I liked the idea of the Dial-A-Dado, but when i asked the rep about it, it wasn't something that would work with my equipment. If I remember correctly, it's not made for a 10" table saw. If someone else knows more, please correct me or fill me in. That's the way I remember it.

[Dbonzi]

Carefull Genghis, Badger will blow a nut if he sees you hijacking the woodworking forum by talking about woodworking instead of chewing someone out in public. tongue.gif tongue.gif tongue.gif

[swsavvy]

Sacrilege but, the Ryobi forum had a bargin alert several weeks back on the Freud SD508 at Sears. Some lucky stiff got one for $54 bucks, but I believe that was an error. I hit a few Sears in my area and walked away with one for $93, the national clearance price. Not bad considering they go for $169 and list for way more than that. Check you area.

Good luck.