treesner Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 Wondering if any guys are selling handmade kerfmaker tools for setting up perfect dados? Seen some nice wood and brass ones that look handmade but can only find this aluminum one from pridgecity tools. http://www.bridgecitytools.com/default/featured/km-1-kerfmaker.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 Pretty sure @Llama and @Tom Cancelleri both have one. Also pretty sure they've never used them. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 Haha I have one and use the hell out of it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 3 minutes ago, Llama said: Haha I have one and use the hell out of it. Perfect Mel Live topic. I've always wanted to see one of these in action...without having to put in any gargle effort. Prepare. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 I have the Bridge City model and have messed around with it enough to feel I will be glad I have it on an up coming project, maybe two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_r_ Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 I have the BCTW one and use it every single time I need to cut a dado. Its awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 If you cut your dado first and then fit the panel to it...is it really necessary? Because that's how I've always done it and I can't remember once in my life ever needing to widen a dado. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 I'll make a video as soon as I get my dado stack. Then Eric can but a kerf maker. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 The reason I picked it up is to make Muntins in a project, not necessarily for dado work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 36 minutes ago, Llama said: Then Eric can but a kerf maker. If you convince me to butt one I will patreon the llama for six months. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted July 23, 2017 Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 1 minute ago, Eric. said: If you convince me to butt one I will patreon the llama for six months. Can I put you down for $10 per month? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted July 23, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 23, 2017 Just now, Llama said: Can I put you down for $10 per month? If you make me butt a kerfmaster I'll patreon rrama one dorra each munf. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 24, 2017 Report Share Posted July 24, 2017 I watched the video. I'm getting one because I was impressed, and it doesn't cost more (at 73 bucks) than it would take time to make one, but not for setting a dado stack with. It looks great for cutting joints where you don't want to bother to swap the saw blade. For dadoes, I measure the piece going in the dado with calipers, and set the stack by the chart. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher Posted July 24, 2017 Report Share Posted July 24, 2017 1 hour ago, Tom King said: I watched the video. I'm getting one because I was impressed, and it doesn't cost more (at 73 bucks) than it would take time to make one, but not for setting a dado stack with. It looks great for cutting joints where you don't want to bother to swap the saw blade. For dadoes, I measure the piece going in the dado with calipers, and set the stack by the chart. I tried this, and my dadoes end up a smidge too wide. I have to measure the piece going in the dado, and set up the stack like .020" less than the caliper says. Its a pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 24, 2017 Report Share Posted July 24, 2017 Is it consistently that exact amount off? I use magnetic shims for fine tuning a measurement that doesn't work out exactly to the charts, but never remember one not working out. .020 is a lot. There are a number of things that could have an effect, like table saw alignment, but that is big difference. The old matchbook cover "feeler gauge" is .015, so a third again thicker than that, I can't understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted July 24, 2017 Report Share Posted July 24, 2017 I suspect runout. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 Im sure alignment is the problem, now that you mention it. You know that Ridgid table saw that is notorious for the blade loosing alignment when changing the height? Thats what I have, only it says Craftsman on it. I have figured out how to "mostly" overcome that, but due to the table mounted trunnions, I just cant get it perfectly aligned to the miter slot. Im around .007" off. It took more fussing than I feel like doing to get it to that point. So yes, blade alignment is undoubtedly the problem. It just hadnt occured to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylder Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 I have the Microjig Matchfit ... its the plastic, less expensive version. Works well when I tested if, but I have yet to use it on a project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 I made one. It's a simplified versioin for use iwth my WWII blade. I also made 3 more at the same time so I can have one for another width kerf if needed. Works great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 10 hours ago, Dylder said: I have the Microjig Matchfit ... its the plastic, less expensive version. Works well when I tested if, but I have yet to use it on a project I ordered one of those too, but it looks more like a multi-step adjustable stop block, whereas the kerfmaker is a setting tool for a stop block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesner Posted July 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 20 hours ago, Tom King said: I watched the video. I'm getting one because I was impressed, and it doesn't cost more (at 73 bucks) than it would take time to make one, but not for setting a dado stack with. It looks great for cutting joints where you don't want to bother to swap the saw blade. For dadoes, I measure the piece going in the dado with calipers, and set the stack by the chart. now is it worth the extra money for the 95* tenon version http://www.bridgecitytools.com/default/tm-1-tenonmaker-297.html although this post describes how you can use the kerfmaker to make tenons http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/1493 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 My 35 pound tenoning jig is too heavy for me to feel comfortable using the BCTW tenoning jig setting helper. It probably does save running a couple of test pieces with lighter weight tenoning jigs, like the one in the video, but I'm pretty sure I could damage it too easily with the big chunk of cast iron, so not worth the risk for me to save a minute, now and then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesner Posted July 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 3 hours ago, Tom King said: My 35 pound tenoning jig is too heavy for me to feel comfortable using the BCTW tenoning jig setting helper. It probably does save running a couple of test pieces with lighter weight tenoning jigs, like the one in the video, but I'm pretty sure I could damage it too easily with the big chunk of cast iron, so not worth the risk for me to save a minute, now and then. not sure if the guy at BCTW was just trying to sell me on two tools but when i asked about the tenonmaker being able to do the same thing as the kern maker "Not necessarily. Same look, but different uses. People end up getting both tools because they both serve different needs. Kind of like cousins—related, but not the same thing." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus A Posted July 25, 2017 Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 14 minutes ago, treesner said: not sure if the guy at BCTW was just trying to sell me on two tools but when i asked about the tenonmaker being able to do the same thing as the kern maker "Not necessarily. Same look, but different uses. People end up getting both tools because they both serve different needs. Kind of like cousins—related, but not the same thing." I looked at that also, and it looks like the tenonmaker was intentionally designed to prevent you from using it as the kerfmaker... There are large radii where you would fit the kerf. Kind of shitty and no other reason to do this than to sell you 2 tools instead of 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treesner Posted July 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2017 2 minutes ago, Cygnus A said: I looked at that also, and it looks like the tenonmaker was intentionally designed to prevent you from using it as the kerfmaker... There are large radii where you would fit the kerf. Kind of shitty and no other reason to do this than to sell you 2 tools instead of 1. yeah that's pretty lame. I'm glad I asked because i almost ordered the tenonmaker with thoughts i might use it someday for the tenon feature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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