Thread: Dado blades

Dunno I just turn the adjuster a click or 2

I bought some of those Veritas shims that can be inserted with the stack assembled. You just need a long pair tweezers and you can adjust the stack size without completely disassembling the stack to add a shim. Inserting them this way should prevent them from getting mangled by the thread. They are plastic as well.

I don't know of anybody that sells them here. I got them from Woodcraft in the US with another order. The only mistake I made was I should have bought two sets just in case.

Mark, they are really no different from what came with the dado set, except that they are slotted so it makes it easier to insert. However they would still slip down into the arbor thread.

Will give the "happy fat" a go I think

My CMT dado set came with plastic shims, so I don't have your problems but one blew away in a big wind, so I will look for a supplier of plastic shims.
les

Originally Posted by les88

My CMT dado set came with plastic shims, so I don't have your problems but one blew away in a big wind, so I will look for a supplier of plastic shims.
les

Les, bit puzzled here. Why don't plastic shims slide down into the thread of the arbor? They shouldn't behave any different to brass ones, should they? (other than in a big wind).

My thicker brass ones (15 and 20 thou) aren't too bad, but the 5 and 10 get a bit tricky!

Anyway, if you follow Marks' link above you will have found your plastic shim supplier!

Had to do a lot of 8mm grooves today in MDF, to match the thickness of the MDF, had to use some shims. Tried out the vaseline idea and happy to report that it works like a charm. Shims stick to the blades with just a smear and you can put blade and shim on the arbor without fiddling, they then stay in place without getting caught in the thread

The vaseline idea is good but what about a quick spray of WD-40 (substitute as required) on the shim? The surface tension should be enough to stick it to the blade.

I haven't tried it but just a thought.

Les, and others,

I may be telling you how to suck egg's but, plastic shim material of varying thickness is available from engineering supplies, cuts easily with scissors, knife, hole punch and leatherwork tools. You can even add a little handle.

Hope this helps.

James

Fred, reported this same issue to Northwoods - who are going to make the hole some what smaller in future runs...

As an alternative the hole in a compact disc is 15mm.... you can increase it to 5/8 and use those as well.....

Originally Posted by markharrison

The vaseline idea is good but what about a quick spray of WD-40 (substitute as required) on the shim? The surface tension should be enough to stick it to the blade.

I haven't tried it but just a thought.

Mark, might give that a try tomorrow, could work and would be easier than vaseline!

Reading a few recent Aust Woodsmith last night and came across an article on dado blades that mentions magnetic shims (#55, pg19).

Does anyone know where these are available from and how much they cost?


Sounds like a ripsnorter of an idea to me!

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Mark, might give that a try tomorrow, could work and would be easier than vaseline!

Mark, have now tried your idea of WD40 and it works like a charm, also easier to apply than the vaseline and less chance of contaminating the work.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Originally Posted by spartan

Fred, reported this same issue to Northwoods - who are going to make the hole some what smaller in future runs...

As an alternative the hole in a compact disc is 15mm.... you can increase it to 5/8 and use those as well.....

Warren, don't think that will help, if it is big enough to go over the arbor it will still be able to slip into the thread.

Found the magnetic shims for sale at Forrest Blades in the US, but at $US24.95 plus freight for only 6 shims (2x20,2x15,2x10), a bit exxy

The WD40 (see above) works like a charm!

The shims in my Freud set are a snug fit on the arbor and I've never had any problems with them slipping into the thread...