Freud SD208 8". . .
 

anyone using or have used this blade? Curious about how clean and flat =
the dado bottom is with it. I am currently using a set from HF but do =
not think it is suitable for much fine work.

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -

I bought a set last month from Amazon for $74 and have used it twice.

A 3/8" deep 3/4" wide cut in butternut was perfect. I thought I had a great
bargain.

Then a 1/4" deep 5/16" wide cut in oak was not so great. The bottom was not
flat and there was significant tearout on the ends. Maybe the tear out was
the fault of the oak, but the non-flat bottom was because the 1/16" cutter
was a bit higher than the rest.

Is it worth $74? That I really don't know. (But it beats the heck out of a
router, and that is how I was doing it before)

anyone using or have used this blade? Curious about how clean and flat the
dado bottom is with it. I am currently using a set from HF but do not think
it is suitable for much fine work.

The bottom is clean and flat, but there is a very slight V groove on either
side.

"SwampBug" wrote in message
...
anyone using or have used this blade? Curious about how clean and flat the
dado bottom is with it. I am currently using a set from HF but do not think
it is suitable for much fine work.

I have the SD208. I'd say it's probably the best set in the price range.
Cuts nice flat bottomed dados for me in *most* materials.
Since then, I also bought the Infinity Dadonator set. Although almost twice
the price, it produces very flat bottom dados, some of the best I have seen.
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/rev...ydadonator.htm

--
Regards,

Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
Online Tool Reviews
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
Over 60 woodworking product reviews online!
------------------------------------------------------------
Latest 6 Reviews:
- Porter Cable COIL250 Coil Nailer
- Ryobi 18v Cordless Jigsaw
- Festool CT22E Dust Extractor
- Fasco GN-40A Brad Nailer
- Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture & Cabinet Construction
- Milescraft SignCrafter
------------------------------------------------------------

On Wed, 1 Dec 2004 20:52:17 -0600, "SwampBug"
wrote:

anyone using or have used this blade?

I've had one for six years. It was fine until I found a Dado King for
$149. G I always thought of the SD208 as "flat enough", as my
dados have always been covered by a face frame or banding.

Tearout at the end is eliminated by using a sled, which supports the
cut as the blade exits. This is true for any cut. Insist on using a
miter gauge? Use a sacrificial fence. Many plywood case sides get
rabbetted to accept a back. Cut the rabbet last, and tearout is moot.

I'm actually keeping the 208 for MDF and general construction dados.

Barry

Thanks. The best price, local, here is about $95. Possibly $88 or so at =
Amazon. I will look some more.

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


"toller" wrote in message =
...
I bought a set last month from Amazon for $74 and have used it twice.

A 3/8" deep 3/4" wide cut in butternut was perfect. I thought I had a =
great=20
bargain.

Then a 1/4" deep 5/16" wide cut in oak was not so great. The bottom was =
not=20
flat and there was significant tearout on the ends. Maybe the tear out =
was=20
the fault of the oak, but the non-flat bottom was because the 1/16" =
cutter=20
was a bit higher than the rest.

Is it worth $74? That I really don't know. (But it beats the heck out =
of a=20
router, and that is how I was doing it before)=20

The ubiquitous "V" groove, , ,I wonder if any blade eliminates that. s =
Thanks.

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


"mp" wrote in message =
...
anyone using or have used this blade? Curious about how clean and flat =
the=20
dado bottom is with it. I am currently using a set from HF but do not =
think=20
it is suitable for much fine work.

The bottom is clean and flat, but there is a very slight V groove on =
either=20
side.=20

Thanks Woodcrafter, i read the linked report. Not sure I can afford, or =
justify the Dadonator price but I appreciate the info.=20

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


"Woodcrafter" wrote in message =
u...

"SwampBug" wrote in message
...
anyone using or have used this blade? Curious about how clean and flat =
the
dado bottom is with it. I am currently using a set from HF but do not =
think
it is suitable for much fine work.

I have the SD208. I'd say it's probably the best set in the price range.
Cuts nice flat bottomed dados for me in *most* materials.
Since then, I also bought the Infinity Dadonator set. Although almost =
twice
the price, it produces very flat bottom dados, some of the best I have =
seen.
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/rev...ydadonator.htm

--
Regards,

Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
Online Tool Reviews
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
Over 60 woodworking product reviews online!
------------------------------------------------------------
Latest 6 Reviews:
- Porter Cable COIL250 Coil Nailer
- Ryobi 18v Cordless Jigsaw
- Festool CT22E Dust Extractor
- Fasco GN-40A Brad Nailer
- Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture & Cabinet =
Construction
- Milescraft SignCrafter
------------------------------------------------------------

I would not have to look too hard at a Dado King for $149! s I think i =
can go with the SD208 for now and look to better when my skills justify =
it. Patience is king! s Thanks.

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


"Ba r r y" wrote in message =
...
On Wed, 1 Dec 2004 20:52:17 -0600, "SwampBug"
wrote:

anyone using or have used this blade?=20

I've had one for six years. It was fine until I found a Dado King for
$149. G I always thought of the SD208 as "flat enough", as my
dados have always been covered by a face frame or banding.

Tearout at the end is eliminated by using a sled, which supports the
cut as the blade exits. This is true for any cut. Insist on using a
miter gauge? Use a sacrificial fence. Many plywood case sides get
rabbetted to accept a back. Cut the rabbet last, and tearout is moot.

I'm actually keeping the 208 for MDF and general construction dados.

Barry

On Thu, 2 Dec 2004 07:25:24 -0600, "SwampBug"
wrote:

The ubiquitous "V" groove, , ,I wonder if any blade eliminates that. s Thanks.


no discernable v groove from my amana set.

I will check out Amana again but the site is very slow just now. They =
don't seem to believe in pics there. s

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


wrote in message =
...
On Thu, 2 Dec 2004 07:25:24 -0600, "SwampBug"
wrote:

The ubiquitous "V" groove, , ,I wonder if any blade eliminates that. =
s Thanks.


no discernable v groove from my amana set.

The ubiquitous "V" groove, , ,I wonder if any blade eliminates that. s
Thanks.

Please note I said "slight" V groove. It's not all that noticeable after
assembly and glueup, but if you take a magnifying glass (or electron
microscope for the more affluent newsgroup members), you'll see it.

I have this set and it has been adequate. The dadoes that I cut are not
quite flat bottomed, but the sides have been clean on everything I have cut
except for some veneer plywood that I used. That plywood would not cut
cleanly for anything with any blade that I used, even sharp ones :-). To
see the unevenness of the dado bottoms from the end, you would have to get
very close to the piece, and be looking for it to see that it was not
absolutely flat. Besides, it gives the glue someplace to go. :-)

The bottoms are not flat because of the difference between the hole in the
blade and the size of the arbor. For example, if the size of the hole was
actually .628", and the diameter of the arbor was actually .622", then you
have a potential of .006" variance in depth from blade to blade. The inner
cutters of the SD208 are only two tooth and are supposed to be mounted at
right angles to each other. Since one would be vertical, and the next one
to it is supposed to be horzontal, they fit on the arbor differently which
results in a dado with a bottom where you can see the swathe cut by each
cutter. If you use more than two of them then the angles get staggered
more, but it is still an issue. I don't think this would be as much of an
issue with sets where the inside cutters have 4 or more teeth. But even so,
the difference is . . .say . . a blond hair. No wait! Make that a red hair.
:-)

You could probably reduce this by using some sort of shim (tape?) on the
arbor so that the blades fit more snuggly, but I have not tried it.

Wayne





"SwampBug" wrote in message
...
anyone using or have used this blade? Curious about how clean and flat the
dado bottom is with it. I am currently using a set from HF but do not think
it is suitable for much fine work.

--
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Thank you mp, i caught that. s I should have said "I doubt if any =
blade eliminates that!"=20

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


"mp" wrote in message =
...
The ubiquitous "V" groove, , ,I wonder if any blade eliminates that. =
s=20
Thanks.

Please note I said "slight" V groove. It's not all that noticeable after =

assembly and glueup, but if you take a magnifying glass (or electron=20
microscope for the more affluent newsgroup members), you'll see it.=20

That is why I was inquiring about this set. My HF set has a problem with a
sloppy arbor hole and the quality of the dado bottom varies with each
setup. I was hoping the SD208 was significantly better then that.


On my Delta saw the SD208 blades are a very tight fit. No perceptible slop
at all, and the quality of cut is pretty good. The flatness of the cut is
comparable to the quality of cut from a router.

That is good to hear as I also have a Delta contractor style table saw. =
Thanks, The best price I have found for it just now is $90 from Amazon =
without their 'card' which I am still considering.

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


"mp" wrote in message =
...
That is why I was inquiring about this set. My HF set has a problem =
with a=20
sloppy arbor hole and the quality of the dado bottom varies with each=20
setup. I was hoping the SD208 was significantly better then that.


On my Delta saw the SD208 blades are a very tight fit. No perceptible =
slop=20
at all, and the quality of cut is pretty good. The flatness of the cut =
is=20
comparable to the quality of cut from a router.=20

Use Teflon tape. It is very thin, compresses nicely and has no adhesive to
clean off. I use it sometimes to press things together that are not quite a
press fit.
max

Have you tried that? Won't the tape interfere with the arbor nut?

Thanks, I did not think of Teflon. I plan on purchasing the SD208 based =
on the consensus here. I think I have a more realistic view of the set =
now. It should be a big improvement over the inexpensive HF set I now =
use, tho mostly for hogging out half laps. If I see a significant =
improvement over the two, I will try the tape on the HF and maybe post =
pics. . .ought to be interesting. Thanks
and thanks to all who replied!
--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


"max" wrote in message =
...
Use Teflon tape. It is very thin, compresses nicely and has no adhesive =
to
clean off. I use it sometimes to press things together that are not =
quite a
press fit.
max

Have you tried that? Won't the tape interfere with the arbor nut?

I have been considering the Avenger 8 inch as well as the Freud 208 set.
Based on the test reviews and the discussion here I think I am going to go
with the Avenger. I talked with the manufacturer, and they use C4 carbide
and come with the small chipper and a wooden box.
max

Thanks, I did not think of Teflon. I plan on purchasing the SD208 based on the
consensus here. I think I have a more realistic view of the set now. It should
be a big improvement over the inexpensive HF set I now use, tho mostly for
hogging out half laps. If I see a significant improvement over the two, I will
try the tape on the HF and maybe post pics. . .ought to be interesting. Thanks
and thanks to all who replied!

well the price certainly is right. . .I found this review. . .
http://www.just4fun.org/woodworking/...er_dado_blade/

--=20
SwampBug
- - - - - - - - - - - -


"max" wrote in message =
...
I have been considering the Avenger 8 inch as well as the Freud 208 set.
Based on the test reviews and the discussion here I think I am going to =
go
with the Avenger. I talked with the manufacturer, and they use C4 =
carbide
and come with the small chipper and a wooden box.
max

Thanks, I did not think of Teflon. I plan on purchasing the SD208 =
based on the
consensus here. I think I have a more realistic view of the set now. =
It should
be a big improvement over the inexpensive HF set I now use, tho mostly =
for
hogging out half laps. If I see a significant improvement over the =
two, I will
try the tape on the HF and maybe post pics. . .ought to be =
interesting. Thanks
and thanks to all who replied!