Cross cutting dado's

[cowchaser]

Since i am back in the hospital again I have been doing alot of magazine readiing and internet browsing and have come across some confusing information.

Basically some of the articles I have read say when crosscutting dados besure to hold it tight against the fence for better cuts???? Some say hold it tight again sled or miter gauge. From what I have gathered in different forums you never crosscut with the fence. Is there an exception made on that rule when cutting a dado? Am I missing something here? From what I gather if you crosscut using the fence you are putting the piece in a pinch point and setting yourself up for a kickback, but when cutting a dado there is no cut off so does that change the rules.

Thanks for any help in helping a man try and keep his digits just kind of confused here.

[nateswoodworks]

The danger comes when you either combine the fence and miter gauge, let the stock come away from whatever it guiding it through the cut (that either being the miter guage/sled or pressure against the fence) or a narrow piece of stock being to hard to control. The thing is to make sure that your stock goes straight through the cut, if there is any skewing away from that you get kickback. The rule is the same if you are using standard blade, dado set, or moulding head- any can throw your stock. Just think of the fence, miter gauge, feather boards, and sleds as aids to get your stock the safest and most controlled way you can straight through the cut. I hope this helps clear it up some. What are you in the hospital for?? Best wishes for a quick return to the sawdust.

Nate

[fyrman38]

not exactly the way to go when dealing with wide and long panels. Tried it on a project and ended up screwing up a nice sheet of maple ply which doesnt come cheap in my parts. I thought of making a dado sled which would be nice but haven't got around to it. Just have to stick with the router and simple jig till then.

[PaulMarcel]

The rule about "fence+miter gauge=kickback" comes into play when it's a through-cut; the offcut has nothing to guide it so it is free between the blade and fence and can vibrate into the rising back teeth. With a dado, nothing is coming free so there is less danger although if the fence is skew to the travel of the miter gauge, you'll be pushing wood into the back teeth again.

Get better, cow. I'd rather see you disappear from the forum because you're in your shop than this!

[cowchaser]

The rule about "fence+miter gauge=kickback" comes into play when it's a through-cut; the offcut has nothing to guide it so it is free between the blade and fence and can vibrate into the rising back teeth. With a dado, nothing is coming free so there is less danger although if the fence is skew to the travel of the miter gauge, you'll be pushing wood into the back teeth again.

Get better, cow. I'd rather see you disappear from the forum because you're in your shop than this!

Thanks, I am actually getting ready to be released. I am being released yet again without diagnosis and orders to follow up with specialist. Almost funny to a point. I come in present my problem, Docs agree I am sick and need to be in the hospital. In hospital for a few days and they can't figure it out so they just send me home to end up coming back to hospital.

[Rick LoDico]

The rule about "fence+miter gauge=kickback" comes into play when it's a through-cut; the offcut has nothing to guide it so it is free between the blade and fence and can vibrate into the rising back teeth. With a dado, nothing is coming free so there is less danger although if the fence is skew to the travel of the miter gauge, you'll be pushing wood into the back teeth again.

Get better, cow. I'd rather see you disappear from the forum because you're in your shop than this!

Bingo! If it's not a through cut the fence can be used for repetitive measurements

[Beechwood Chip]

Thanks, I am actually getting ready to be released. I am being released yet again without diagnosis and orders to follow up with specialist. Almost funny to a point. I come in present my problem, Docs agree I am sick and need to be in the hospital. In hospital for a few days and they can't figure it out so they just send me home to end up coming back to hospital.

A friend of mine has Crohn's, and he's always getting symptoms that the docs don't expect. Makes it hard to diagnose. Each specialist thinks the problem is something in their area, except the GI doc, who figures it can't be Crohn's because the symptoms aren't right. Didn't get diagnosed until they actually looked at his guts and saw the damage, if I remember correctly.

I'm not saying you have Crohn's, just saying I know what you mean by "almost funny". Being obviously sick but not having a diagnosis, and watching the docs run around and get nowhere.

Good luck, hang in there, and keep your sense of humor!

[iSawitFirst]

Dang, Cow,

I hate to hear you're in the Twilight Zone with this thing. I just read an interesting article here that talks about how complicated the gut and all it's bacteria can be. It focused on the effects antibiotics have on the digestive system (I haven't a clue if that applies to you) and gives some insight into how delicate the equilibrium is in there.

It doesn't surprise me that you're having a hard time getting a diagnosis. Specialists too often just can't see the big picture. If you don't fall into their little niche you're worthless to them. I've been on that treadmill before and its pretty scary.

Keep the faith. Hopefully you'll connect with the right people soon.

I wish you the best.

Oh, and just so my post isn't entirely off topic, keeping your "Dado" next to a fence isn't such a bad idea.

Unless its an electric fence.

[Guest Trace]

Hey Cow,

I hope you are getting the proper care, but sounds like a change of MD's might be an option. I know that some symptons can be confusing, but hang in there and get the situation resolved. My wife is an RN-PhD, and the best diagnostition I've ever been around, her usual comment to me is you'll get over it, then sends me to specialist she knows. I'm a cancer survivor, now totally free of the stuff. Git-r-done. As for the cutting of dados, I have a dedicated sled used in combination with a stacked dado set. This combo works very well, and I have a couple of friends who swear by the use of this setup.. I hope you find a way that works for you. The miter guages that come with most table saws usually are not acurate or strong enough to use cutting dados.