Thread: Minimax CU300 Question - Anyone experience with 8" dado set?

If it is just the arbor diameter and the arbor has sufficient length which is not always the case then the hole in the Dado set can be enlarged quite easily. I have never seen one but it may require drilling for brake pins as well but I doubt that. Felder charge for the Dado option as well. In Europe I don't even think they will supply it.

If I recall correctly, a "standard" Altendorf / Felder / Hammer / Minmax is supplied with an arbor too short to mount a dado stack wider than about 6-7mm.
The optional "dado setup" from these manufacturers is either a longer arbor and/or a longer arbor that is 5/8" diameter

Again, IIRC, the reason has to do with European regulations banning dado sets or making their use time consuming -- e.g. to use one in industry you also have to mount a wider riving knife and/or blade guard. Not to mention issues around the distance between the blade and sliding table which could easily foul a dado set-up.

Thanks for the replies Chris/Ian. I have taken a closer look at the arbor this morning and obviously it's not long enough to take a stacked Dado. I really don't understand why the Euro laws are as such. A dado set should never be used as a through cut and therefore a riving knife becomes unnecessary. I've had many hours of use with dado cutters and never experienced anything that would even come close to being described as a near miss incident. I've had more than a few close calls with the table saw over the years though. I'll make some enquiries with Italy about the dado upgrade that is standard supply in the US and CAN but expect it to be cost prohibitive.

To avoid the frustration that trying to source one from Italy will produce I would get one made here. The other alternative is get it from the US or Canada. The absolute quickest and surest way might be to join Sawmill Creek forum and ask the question there as a couple of the US reps contribute to that or used to and can be contacted through the forum.

SCM Group acquired Gabbett, you can obtain any available part through the local distributor. If there is the possibility of replacing the arbor, they will know.

Now, here's why you might not be able to, at least not without changing more than you think:
image.jpg
There is not enough room in the existing shroud for a dado stack, and because of the sliding table the dado needs to go toward the table insert, away from the slider. Which of course messes with the zero point on the fence. I'm not even sure there's room to do it because of the belt drive for the scriber, I haven't taken the insert out or the shroud off to check.

The best option is to just use another saw. I use my RAS, but a 10" contractor saw that can accept a dado stack is likely to be a cheaper option than trying to adapt the CU300. You could get a router collet spindle for the moulder but at 800+ it's expensive, and the spindle speed is too low for small bits. Otherwise a handheld router with a guide bush and jigs will do the job.

I might be wrong but I doubt any saw sold in the US would not have a Dado capability as it would not sell in that market. Here you go, 4:14 into this video.....

they do Chris, and as far as I know the current model sold here does as well. But that video shows some differences with older machines, see the full length table insert? We don't have that. The slider runs alongside the blade, the insert is only a half. I took some pics to give a better idea, this is from a 2006 CU300 which should be similar to Sunnycoaster's.
IMG_0549.jpg
clearly the US model has a different cast iron table, and there is likely some difference in the motor and arbor mounting, blade shroud, etc. Take the insert off, and you get this:
IMG_0560.jpg
yes, plastic insert sits over machined cast iron. And as I suspected, the drive belt for the scriber comes off behind the inner blade flange. Awkward to get a photo, but here it is:
IMG_0559.jpg
from the right, the hole in the flange is to put the rod to hold the arbor so you can take the nut off. Next to it is the drive belt for the scriber.
IMG_0560.jpg
with the blade shroud in place, then look at the gap between the scribe blade and the table and slider. There is no room for a dado, unless you move the sliding table away from the blade, modify the shroud, and are able to fit a longer arbor. Not a job for the faint hearted.

I'm glad I bought a K3 now, I just need a government subsidy to buy the genuine Dado set as it is about a $1000 the last time I checked.!!!

I believe in the US Felder supply a Forrest Dado King set. The European alternative are like a small trenching head that fits on the scriber arbor. I wouldn't have thought the scriber had enough height range to be useful.

The new Minimax don't have the same limitations, dado option is available. Quite a bit has changed in ten or so years. The dust collection works for starters. If only I could afford one. But it wouldn't change me from using the RAS for dados - I prefer being able to see the cut, which makes stopped dados a lot easier, bevel cuts are also simple and it's a lot more accessible than a table saw for setup. Guards stay in place too, which satisfies the safety police.

Hi Sunnycoaster,
I'm in the process of buying one these machine. At the moment I'm looking at the c30 genius. Any recommendation would be really appreciated as there are basically no reviews on these saws in the last 7-8 years.
Thanks in advance

As u can see the 29322605-C7CA-4500-AF14-605B1AB10252.jpg5/8th thick shaft has a big flange, and space for 3/4 Max Dado, I know as I just got a Minimax SC4E delivered and waiting on DAdo blade. I am thinking Freud SD608 It gets very good reviews. I want absolutely flat trenches, if not I wonder why bothering. In fact yet to use machine as it is only 1 day old. Haven’t installed blade.

I have a two year old CU300. Without extra parts from SCM, there is no way you are going to safely mount more than one blade at a time.

If you look at the cost of fitting the dado capability to Felder or Hammer, it would be cheaper to buy a regular table saw if you really need to have dado blade capability.

Or buy another router and make some jigs for dadoing. It would still be cheaper.

Did u sort this out ?
You could buy a new shaft with dado, but I have a feeling this facility may never have been a optional extra on that saw.
Regards


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It is unlikely to be available as a retrofit without a significant amount of money that could arguably be better spent on another solution. Buying a dedicated table saw just to use with a dado set may well be cheaper!

I'm sure SCM could acquire a new machine by special order, but expect to pay well for that function.