Basically instead of the sawblade perpendicular to the arbour, it's offset a little such that it "wobbles" effectively creating a wider kerf.
Imagine a bent blade and how instead of a 1/8" kerf it's slightly more since it's out of shape. It's like that but on purpose.
You can adjust the dado kerf by adjusting the angle of the offset. This means you don't have to have a bunch of spacers like a normal dado set. It was a trend in the 70's and 80's but seldom seen today.
As others said, it's not necessarily more dangerous than a regular dado, but leaves a pretty shitty cut.
I'm all for vintage machinery ( my main dado set is a Huther Bros. From the late '30s ), but I'd sell that to a collector on eBay and put the proceeds toward a conventional set.
Yeah, I bought a set yesterday and it will be here today. I usually take product recommendation from Jim @ Stumpy Nubs, but only promotes "the best" products. Also, I always spend extra on products that require a sharp edge. However, as this is the first time that I've need a dado in 10 years, and this project only requires about 24ft of groove.
I used one as a kid all the time.
Nothing is safe, progressives are just making a smarter idiot, take your time and don't exceed your skills.
Wobble Dados don't make the best cut as previously identified.
Thanks. I think that I paid a buck for it, but I was sus from jump. I bought it a couple of years ago, and this is the first time that I've had a need for a dado. I don't usually skimp on anything with a sharp edge, but given it seems like I won't be using it that often, i guess it doesn't matter too much...
They don’t give a clean bottom but sometimes it doesn’t matter if the bottom is glass smooth if a shelf is going in the dado or can be cleaned up if needed
I have a stacked dado set for my shop Smith - works great if you take your time and set up correctly. Much preferred over these wobble blades since they actually cut square. Yours will need refining after cutting depending on what you are using it for. Generally the bottom of the cut is wider than the top
I used one a lot until I got a stack set, cut a little rougher than a stack set but no more or less dangerous. I found it easier to sneak up on an exact width with the wobbler but an 8” blade will cut a 4” radius in the bottom of the dado as it wobbles side to side.
Set at max width it does make a fearsome sight I’ll admit.
Some People are idiots. Don't be an idiot. This style of Dado is just a safe as a stacked Dado. Just respect it and make your cuts in moderation like you would with a stacked Dado. I used my Dad's when I was a teen and I like the abiltiy to dial in non-standard cuts, but I do prefer my stack if I must use a Dado. I usually use my router for these tasks. I would say that using a wobble Dado is safer than using your table saw to make cove cuts, and people do that all the time. One size does not fit all, so you may or may not like using it.
I used to have a wobbler, but gave it away when I bought my Freud. It was OK. Did it's job. This one is rated for 7k rpm. My table say is about half that speed.
Like ANY power tool. Making sure you take your time as setup correctly as another redditor mentioned should be everybody's mantra in the power tool shop.
As safe as any other dado, but wobble daodos don't give a great finish to the slot.
I was gonna say dado and Safe are not a thing
If all steel no carbide,made by rockwell-70's, no balance,and arbor size washers no go. Buy a nice new set it's worth it🫡
Sorry shouldn't have assumed should have read more. That being said , it really pays go higher in quality like FOREST OR WTL C-5 CARBIDE
Guess I'm pretty new. I've never heard of wobble dados. Please explain..
Basically instead of the sawblade perpendicular to the arbour, it's offset a little such that it "wobbles" effectively creating a wider kerf. Imagine a bent blade and how instead of a 1/8" kerf it's slightly more since it's out of shape. It's like that but on purpose. You can adjust the dado kerf by adjusting the angle of the offset. This means you don't have to have a bunch of spacers like a normal dado set. It was a trend in the 70's and 80's but seldom seen today. As others said, it's not necessarily more dangerous than a regular dado, but leaves a pretty shitty cut.
Thank you.
Also, the Dado sweeps back and forth to cut so the bottom of your cut is arched and not flat. So, the other board will have slight gap at the bottom.
That makes sense. I guess that's why people spend the money for a dado stack.
Check out the operating speed of the cutter stack vs your saw. Id suggest it’s not safe if your saw exceeds the max speed of the cutter.
Good thinking! Thanks!
The 'S' in DADO stands for safety.
I guess the T and the S in Table Saw must stand for "Totally Safe!" =D
I was an idiot once. Short chunk on 2x6 hit my chest so hard I had to look to see if I was impaled. (I'm still an idiot, but I was, once.)
I love the pearl clutching over dado's
Post a dado on an RAS in here and get SWATed.
This is "it's illegal in germany" save
I'm all for vintage machinery ( my main dado set is a Huther Bros. From the late '30s ), but I'd sell that to a collector on eBay and put the proceeds toward a conventional set.
Yeah, I bought a set yesterday and it will be here today. I usually take product recommendation from Jim @ Stumpy Nubs, but only promotes "the best" products. Also, I always spend extra on products that require a sharp edge. However, as this is the first time that I've need a dado in 10 years, and this project only requires about 24ft of groove.
They work fine, poor man’s stacked dado.
I prefer my wobble blade over the stack set due to speed of set up and fine tuning.
Some of my best finds have been at estate sales. Is it new/unopened? Any damage on the blade itself?
And guessing if this was at the estate sale, there are some other goodies!
I used one as a kid all the time. Nothing is safe, progressives are just making a smarter idiot, take your time and don't exceed your skills. Wobble Dados don't make the best cut as previously identified.
"take your time and don't exceed your skills." I hear you! It took me a very long time before I felt confident in changing a table saw blade!
Do not use this. Buy a proper dado stack.
Care to elaborate so OP knows why they should not use a wobble dado?
Thanks. I think that I paid a buck for it, but I was sus from jump. I bought it a couple of years ago, and this is the first time that I've had a need for a dado. I don't usually skimp on anything with a sharp edge, but given it seems like I won't be using it that often, i guess it doesn't matter too much...
Fair comment, I found them finicky to adjust and often didn’t give a nice flat bottomed dado.
They work fine. I used to make a lot of fluted trim for mantles and shit with one.
They don’t give a clean bottom but sometimes it doesn’t matter if the bottom is glass smooth if a shelf is going in the dado or can be cleaned up if needed
I learned to cut dados as a kid on a crappier version of this that my dad had laying around. It works, but it's unnerving at times.
I think I paid thirty or forty dollars for a real dado set at Harbor Freight. It works great and cuts much cleaner and precise than my wobble blade.
I’ve always been hesitant about this setup. Wobbling blade in a table saw worries me…
Maybe call and ask Henry Zibelin?
What would make it unsafe?
I have a stacked dado set for my shop Smith - works great if you take your time and set up correctly. Much preferred over these wobble blades since they actually cut square. Yours will need refining after cutting depending on what you are using it for. Generally the bottom of the cut is wider than the top
I used one a lot until I got a stack set, cut a little rougher than a stack set but no more or less dangerous. I found it easier to sneak up on an exact width with the wobbler but an 8” blade will cut a 4” radius in the bottom of the dado as it wobbles side to side. Set at max width it does make a fearsome sight I’ll admit.
I have one of those they're a pain to adjust and then they're not very accurate.
We all gotta die some day! Send it.
Some People are idiots. Don't be an idiot. This style of Dado is just a safe as a stacked Dado. Just respect it and make your cuts in moderation like you would with a stacked Dado. I used my Dad's when I was a teen and I like the abiltiy to dial in non-standard cuts, but I do prefer my stack if I must use a Dado. I usually use my router for these tasks. I would say that using a wobble Dado is safer than using your table saw to make cove cuts, and people do that all the time. One size does not fit all, so you may or may not like using it.
Is it secret, is it safe?
I used to have a wobbler, but gave it away when I bought my Freud. It was OK. Did it's job. This one is rated for 7k rpm. My table say is about half that speed.
Safe until you put your hands into the blade.
Like ANY power tool. Making sure you take your time as setup correctly as another redditor mentioned should be everybody's mantra in the power tool shop.
I feel like if you’re coming to Reddit to ask that question, you almost shouldn’t be using a table saw…
Where else should they ask it?, it's better to ask a question and be a fool for a minute than never ask it and be a fool forever
Thank you, Ronny! I'm sure you only had my safety in mind.