Avenger 6" dado missing shims -- $20-$40?

[davidtu]

Might be able to get this for $20 (marked $40 but might be able to get 50% off) BUT it is used once and missing shims. What's involved in replacing shims?

For $40 seems like not a deal at all since I've seen others buy new ones at that price on here. At $20 is it worth it w/o shims?

[LCHIEN]

Might be able to get this for $20 (marked $40 but might be able to get 50% off) BUT it is used once and missing shims. What's involved in replacing shims?

For $40 seems like not a deal at all since I've seen others buy new ones at that price on here. At $20 is it worth it w/o shims?

shims are just spacers with 5/8" holes in sizes around .010". ,020" thick, etc.
You can buy nice sets of Freud dado shims for $5-12 so I would say its not a problem.

You can even go cheaper and use some thin cardboard like from cereal boxes, post cards, etc - I would guess that's around .010 (I just measured an advertising post card I got in the mail - .011"
That'll give you incremental sizes less than 1/64th inch.
Just cut a ~2" squares and cut or drill a 5/8" hole in the middle. It's not real critical and won't throw off the balance as light as it is.

I think the first dado I owned came with cardboard dados.

Freud dado shim set on Amazon - $12
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...19205?n=228013

It comes with a few each of .004, .008 and .012 and .020",
A dollar bill is .003-.004 thick so that one may or may not be useful (or just use a piece of paper or two).


P.S. is your drill chuck on good now?

[davidtu]

Thanks for the info Loring!

However, I am leaning away from it... 1) I've seen mixed reviews on the Avenger dado set... if I remember right, you don't like 'em too much 2) I'd be inclined to get the shims you noted for $12 which bumps the best price to $32 or so and that's about 1/2 the cost of the better Freud SD206 set when on sale at Amazon (assuming history repeats). So, I guess if I view $32 as a small amount of money, I might as well throw the EXTRA $32 into the Freud rather than the FIRST $32 into the Avenger.

Well, that's my current logic. Subject to change, I guess.

As for the drill press... I haven't had opportunity to use it since... I figure that if it comes undone again, I'll go ahead and inspect it as per your excellent suggestions. Otherwise, I guess its stuck on good enough so no sense dislodging it.

Thanks much, as usual!
-David

[LCHIEN]

Thanks for the info Loring!

However, I am leaning away from it... 1) I've seen mixed reviews on the Avenger dado set... if I remember right, you don't like 'em too much 2) I'd be inclined to get the shims you noted for $12 which bumps the best price to $32 or so and that's about 1/2 the cost of the better Freud SD206 set when on sale at Amazon (assuming history repeats). So, I guess if I view $32 as a small amount of money, I might as well throw the EXTRA $32 into the Freud rather than the FIRST $32 into the Avenger.

Well, that's my current logic. Subject to change, I guess.
...
-David

depends on how tight a budget you're on.
My objection was to the nuisance of having to shim a standard cut like 1/2" not being done solely with 4 - 1/8" plates and chippers.
Apparently they make good clean cuts though.
If the difference choice was no dado or $20 for one shimmed with cardboard, I'd do the $20 option.

If you can afford the freud, that's cool.

[sweensdv]

Buy the Freud. Unless you have a big HP cabinet saw, the Freud set will be much kinder to your saws motor than the Avenger set.

[gsmittle]

Buy the Freud. Unless you have a big HP cabinet saw, the Freud set will be much kinder to your saws motor than the Avenger set.

I dunno. I have the Avenger set, and it seems fine to me. As for the shim issue, again not a problem for me. I lettered all the chippers and numbered the shims, and now I record the combination that gives me the right-sized dado. I was (and still am) on a tight budget, and the choice wase the Avenger set or no set.

It does take a little time to set up, but I'm in this for a hobby, so the small amount of time I have to fiddle with the setup is no big deal.

The set does produce a nice clean dado and my set at least was super-sharp. If I ever need another dado set, I might upgrade then. I hear Avenger just went out of business, which figures. I have a talent for buying something that gets discontinued right afterward.

Happy 4th, everybody!!

g.

[drumpriest]

I also have this set and have no trouble with it. I recently posted a chart explaining how to setup different sized dados with this setup. For the money I paid, I'm very glad that I got this set.