I bought a Freud dado set, which comes with a variety of thin shims for fine tuning the width.
Only problem is, for someone who has never used a dado, it doesn't say WHERE to put the shims-do I put them between the outer blade and the first chipper? In between the chippers? If I need to use more than one, do i put them all in the between the same two elements or distribute them evenly between several?
If you have to put more than one shim in, distribute them through the stack. Also, on some saws there is a valley between where the arbor shoulder ends and the threads start. A shim can be thin enough to drop into that "valley" and tweak the stack just a tad crooked. I try to put the shim on the smooth shoulder of the arbor if at all possible or else out on the threads themselves.
if you put them in the "wrong" spot or overload the shims between two chippers you'll develop little ridges at the bottom of your dado. If that happens, just take a chisel and slice it off, these ridges are usually thinner than a business card and slide easily. Make a few test/experimental cuts and you'll have your dado set up down pat.
One other thing that i have done with my set is to mark all my blades and chippers and shims by number (or letter I suppose). Then I've used them together to get the most used widths and made cuts in a single board. Then I marked on the board what combination of things got me to that thickness so when I need to repeat a cut of that width I know exactly what items I need and the order in which they are placed.
For example, to make a 1/2in width dado I use the following set up (from motor side out): blade1-chipper1-shim5-chipper3-blade2.
I put the shims between the last chipper to go on and the last blade. Less to remove if you have to adjust the width. Never had a problem other than the last blade will begin to turn as you tighten the nut, so I have to make sure I do have any interference with the chipper tooth.
Caveat: My set has a 1/16th" chipper so I never have to go over that thickness. In fact, I cannot recall installing over .030" worth of shims. IF I had to go thicker, I would stagger them, with the thinnest ones on last (again for fine adjustment ease.
Go, your tip about placing the shims closest to the last outside blade was one of the best tips I've heard. Makes good sense. Thank you!
- JJ
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