I have a old set of craftsman dado blades and looking at getting new set. Mine is not cutting even in the middle of the cut and I'm having to chisel out the middle.

What do you have or what would you recommend

I have two identical sets of Freud.  Highly recommend them.

As much as I detest Freud saw blades, they do make a decent dado set. A much better set is the Gold Medal set from Tenryu. But, it's an 8" set. My Shopsmith labors mightily turning that beast.

I've used a Freud dado set for (the same one) for probably 20 years, been sharpened 3 times (I think) and still going strong. I haven't seen any tool tests recently on dado sets, but in the past they usually came out with the Freud Super dado being second to the Forrest Dado King which was quite a bit more expensive. The Freud SD208 (no longer made) was almost always awarded "best buy". That set has been replaced with the SD208S.

Have Freud will buy AMANA next....they just don't last like Amana...

Amana is a great set but I don’t think it’s worth twice the price of a Freud. 

It last twice as long, so I think I save on the sharpening...if you don't use it a lot it might last you a lifetime and never sharpen it.

 

When someone says it's not worth it, this could be at argued  with every tool and accessory purchased. One has to decide what's important. To a young man a few dollars spent now, can save a few dollars later... what's in your wallet?

Edited December 13, 20196 yr by BillyJack

1 hour ago, BillyJack said:

It last twice as long, so I think I save on the sharpening...if you don't use it a lot it might last you a lifetime and never sharpen it.

 

When someone says it's not worth it, this could be at argued  with every tool and accessory purchased. One has to decide what's important. To a young man a few dollars spent now, can save a few dollars later... what's in your wallet?

I’ll play the devil’s advocate.  I have two Freud sets.  One I just bought because I caught a deal but the other I’ve owned for over 10 years, used it extensively and never had it sharpened.  As with everything, it’s a personal choice.  If they quit performing to my satisfaction Maybe I’ll  buy the Amana 

I have a Freud 6" dado. It has worked well for me on my Jet contractor saw. Have an older Craftsman 8" wobble dado that worked but was a little scary to use.

1 hour ago, BillyJack said:

what's in your wallet?

Dust????

Like Ron I have a Freud for maybe 20 years and never sharpened. Still works for me but I can see that a sharpening would make it crisper cuts.

Mine is used mostly for box joints. The router or the SCMS does most every other dado job. The Freud set may never need sharpening.

Edited December 13, 20196 yr by Gene Howe

7 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Mine is used mostly for box joints. The router or the SCMS does most every other dado job. The Freud set may never need sharpening.

I have an old Craftsman set. They work but can say little more than that. I do plan to get a new set this Christmas.

I've got two of the old Delta 6"  stack dado sets. The newer of the two is branded Delta Milwaukee.

I ha I e a delta I use on the arm saw

Thank you everyone.

Kind of debating between Freud SD208S and the Freud SD508. 

Will probably decide after the first of the year?

I'm not by any means suggesting one should buy the more expensive set as a hobby woodworker unless they use them regularly. Cabinet shops have them set up in the shop full time so the sharpening adds up.. after Freuds failure I dont suggest them anymore...

I just don't do a lot of dadoes.   I do a lot of rabbets but find it easier to just run two passes on the table saw combo blade -- I'm done before I could have the blade changed.  Or if it's just one or two, I'll make multiple passes and level with a chisel.  I do use the dado set when I have a lot of them to do (like the workbench I just finished)  Mine is an 8" Freud but don't remember the model #.

Have my router in the same set up for 5/8  bit for dados. Reason I dont use the dado blades much anymore..  I found it faster at my shop and didn't take any extra space...

 

I will set them up for solid wood..

Edited December 14, 20196 yr by BillyJack

2 hours ago, LarryS said:

Thank you everyone.

Kind of debating between Freud SD208S and the Freud SD508. 

Will probably decide after the first of the year?

Those are 8" aren't they? If so, why?