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Can I Put a Dado Blade on a Circular Saw?

Yes! When you will find grooves in woods that are wider than saw blade cuts, you will surely need to fix the dado blade with a circular saw.

How to Choose My Dado Blade?

The range for the dado blade we find in the market is from ¼” to 13/16″. The most popular dado blade diameter is 7/8″.

How to Install Dado Blade on Saw

Unplug the Saw

As a first step, shut off the saw machine and unplug it.

Remove the saw Guard

Remove the upper guard and throat plat. Now you can see your blade parts.

Remove the saw Guard

Pull up the Safety Lock

By opening the safety lock, you can take the arbor nut and the blade can be pulled off. Thus, the blade will not come off and provide great safety!

Loosen the Nut

Simply take the blade out. Remove the blade guard mount using the Allen wrench. Eliminate the two screws that are holding the guard in place. Select the main blades and chippers.

Install the Dado Blade

Choose the bade according to the dado sizes you want to make. Every dado blade comes with a thickness guide. Select the main blades and the chippers according to the guide. You will find a flat plate and rotating direction on each blade.

Set the Blades

Put the blade first and then the chipper. Align it and make sure the teeth of a chipper are offset between the teeth of the blade. Thus, these two will not damage each other and any of the materials. Then put the last blade and offset it again. Install the washer and finally, the nut.

Finishing

Take the throat plate in place. Wind your blades down to the depth you require. Now you can make the perfect cuts into any material.

Dado Blade for Circular Saw Home Depot

The home depot has come with an amazing blade named Diablo Saw Blade. Its features are:

  • Sometimes we find that parts of the wood are joined by the glue and resign. So, when we run the saw, the glue melts and sticks to the blade and decreases productivity. Here, the Diablo blade is coated with nonstick coating and aluminum alloy. So, it ensures nonstick protection.
  • Not only that, it gives the minimum friction and nearly 5800 rpm while rotating.
  • Home Depot is providing the thinnest and high density saw blade ever on market!
  • Its carbide teeth bear titanium and so, creates low vibration.
  • Diablo can stay sharper for four times longer!
  • It can go with steel, iron, and a diamond plate.

Dado Blade Bunnings

We have picked up the best blades available in Bunnings Warehouse. Let’s have a check.

Irwin 184mm 60T Circular Saw Blade

Features

  • The thin kerf ensures the fastest cut.
  • Its expansion control slots reduce vibration and precision ground teeth give an accurate cut.
  • There are heat vents for reducing heat.
  • Carbide coating ensures long life and durability.

Ozito PCX 150mm 36 Tooth Circular Saw Blade

Features

  • It bears a blade that can be reversible also.
  • Works great on timber.
  • Provides 36 teeth and 10 mm bore for clear and accurate cuts.
  • Fits well for both left and right-handed saws.

Full Boar 254mm 80T Trade Series Mitre Saw Blade

Features

  • You will find sharp, strong cutting edges.
  • Steel alloy body and kerf design for straight running.
  • Corrosion and binding are protected with the finest finishing.

Cutting Dado with Track Saw

Measure the width of your plywood and square up the board. Do that using a speed square or framing square. Mark the dado on plywood. Measure a line back from the dado and use that to align the saw. Get goggles and masks on and bring your truck saw. Set the guide track (obviously parallel to the dado line).

Cutting Dado with Track Saw

Now set the router just over the dado and the cutting blades at a 90-degree angle. Adjust the depth knob and then lock it back in place. For a 12-millimeter width, use 10 millimeters of the router bit. Put the router bit perfectly parallel to the dado. Run the saw and then put the power off, loosen off the knob at the back, use the adjustment screw to winder out a bit away from the side of the router (keep the bit just kissing the second dado line).

Now run the machine again. Make a test fit with an offcut of the plywood; if it fits lovely without hammering, and stays tightly enough, then no need to run the machine again.

Dado Blade Alternative

Dados are generally made to fix two pieces of wood together. So, to join two woodcuts, a perfect cut/dado is needed. To make a precision cut, use a dado blade. In absence of a dado blade, you can use a table saw or circular saw.

Dado Cutting Without a Dado Blade

  • Slide the piece of wood just through the saw. Take a tooth of your blade just on the dado line.
  • Set a stop block just beside the woodcut and clamp that tightly.
  • Put another piece of the block just on the other side of your woodcut.
  • Mark the dado lines (use pencil).
  • A full kerf table saw of nearly 1/8 inch can go for the best job.
  • Run the saw through both of the dado lines.
  • Now cut the middle part inside the dado lines.
  • At the end of your dado, a couple of ridges are created, clean those up using a chisel.

Can You Put Two Blades on a Circular Saw

Yes, using multiple blades (more than one) on a single saw is definitely possible. But if you want to use two blades together in a saw, keep the sets of teeth of the blades alternating.

Dado Cut with Router

  • Select the dado location on your wood panel.
  • Then you position the jig just over it.
Dado Cut with Router 1
  • Put the fixed fence of your jig just over the dado line.
  • Take the clamp near and tighten it rotating the knob.
  • Stand a wood piece in the jig and slide the fence tightly against it.
  • Tighten the knobs of that fence.
  • Clamp the whole woodcut and fences with the working table.
  • Now take the router, set the bit width.
  • Run the bit along with one fence and then turn and come along the other fence.
  • Finally check the dado depth and clean the inside ridges.

FAQ

Q: Are dado blades dangerous?

Ans: It depends on you. Though these blades are potentially hazardous, by using them safely, you can avoid injuries. Use a mask and safety goggles whole making dadoes.

Q: What is the hardest join to make?

Ans: Dovetail is said to be the hardest joint to make by hand. This Dovetail joint is visible, so it needs to be more perfect.

Conclusion

The flexibility of circular saws does extend to accommodating a wobble dado blade or a dado blade set, despite traditional limitations. However, keep in mind that the radial arm design of these saws is not ideally structured for the wide breadth of dado cuts. Due to their design, they excel at straight cuts like rip cuts, but the task of making dado joints is more arduous.

Fitting circular saw blades for such specific tasks requires a good understanding of wood grain and cutting speed. It’s important to make multiple passes at lower speeds to achieve clean dado cuts, especially if you are using a single blade instead of a dado set. Working with wood grain direction and adjusting the cutting speed can result in a smooth finish that’s harder to achieve with a typical rip cut.

Overall, while it is feasible to use a dado blade on a circular saw, the process requires patience, skill, and a thorough understanding of both the capabilities and constraints of your equipment. Remember, safety should be paramount; never attempt to force your tools beyond their intended use. If your projects frequently involve dado cuts, consider investing in a table saw, which is specifically designed for such operations.

Also Read- 1/4 Inch vs 1/2 Inch Impact Driver

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