I’m making new kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts and am getting ready to plow dadoes in 180 stiles and rails. The dadoes will not only house the door panels but, on the stiles, will also serve as mortises. Each dado will be 1/4” wide and 3/8” deep.
Here are my questions: To cut the dadoes, should I use my dado set or just use a saw blade with a flat kerf? If the latter, what brand, configuration, and tooth count would you recommend?
Thanks in advance.
(note … I also posted this to the Fine Woodworking forum and have started getting responses.
Replies
How do you skin a cat?
Some will tell you to use a router. Some will tell you to use a stacked dado blade, some will tell you to make the cuts on a single table saw blade.
What works for you and what are you comfortable doing? A lot depends on your shop setup.
Regarding blades I'm using a diablo I think its a 60tooth. I'm very happy with it. Whatever blade you use keep it clean (soak in Simple green once in a while and scrub with a toothbrush to remove the varnish that collects on the teeth)