Router speed control on this TS?

[rlah]

Since this has a universal motor, a router speed control (like HF has) should work on this saw. I use this speed control on several other tools like a belt sander, my Ryobi AP1300 planer, and others without a hitch. Others have said you shouldn't use dado blades not rated for this saw's speed, but with a speed control on it, I should be able to do it. I have a HF dado blade set (#40745), 8" diameter rated for 4500 rpm. I have used it on my previous cheap Tradesman TS and it worked fine. Any comments before I try this? (I haven't found in the archives of anyone trying this.)

rlah

[Stytooner]

I don't really see a problem with this other than not knowing what the actual speed is. It should work as intended. There may be some torque issues with this though. It possibly may be detrimental to the motor because the fan won't be turning as fast to cool it. I'm no expert, but these are just things that came to mind. Perhaps others can elaborate further.

[LCHIEN]

I have never heard of using a speed control on a table saw. I think the reason is (unlike router bits which can vary from 1/4" dia to 3" diameter a 12:1 spread) the diameter of the blade is usually not changing and if it does, it's not getting bigger (that's when you would slow down).

I think that table saw speeds are optimized for the best cut and rapid material removal. Slowing it down would reduce the quality of the cut AND also slow material removal so you would tend to push harder, cut slower, and end up burning.

Overall, I don't think its a good idea.

Get the proper tools/accessories/dado blade for the job.

[wardprobst]

I tried it and didn't like the results. It will work but there are some clearance issues with the 8" dado blade and I ended up with a Freud 6" set which was rated for the saw and cut much cleaner. Bottom line, it'll work in a pinch but I sure didn't like the way it performed or the motor sounded.
DP

[rlah]

Glad to hear from someone who's tried it... although I understand LCHEIN's point of the "proper tool", I have had *some* success with HF tools, certainly not all. (Their 3-1/2" panel raising router bit works excellent for me) But wardprobst's experience makes me think extra hard that I need to get the Freud set - for both of the benefits he indicates. I Don't Want To Break This Saw! :-)

Anyway, a quick check on Amazon for the Freud SD206 dado blade indicates best price of ~ $85. Maybe I can find a better deal on eBay...

Thx to all.

rlah

[scorrpio]

Anyway, a quick check on Amazon for the Freud SD206 dado blade indicates best price of ~ $85. Maybe I can find a better deal on eBay...

Thx to all.

rlah

I would not use the HF dado in BT3 not due to speed, but due to its diameter. You will not be able to run a full stack at 8". Speed actually should be fine.
Far as SD206, a sweet set, love it. I actually caught it on amazon at $72 when they had a sale.

[cgallery]

Well crap! This (using speed controller on BT3K) was discussed previously from the perspective of using a sanding disk on the saw. I thought it was agreed that it worked fine. I think someone even said they tried it and it was fine. Is using the speed control okay for sanding disk use but not smart for dado use, or just no good no matter what?

[LCHIEN]

Well crap! This (using speed controller on BT3K) was discussed previously from the perspective of using a sanding disk on the saw. I thought it was agreed that it worked fine. I think someone even said they tried it and it was fine. Is using the speed control okay for sanding disk use but not smart for dado use, or just no good no matter what?

I think that a speed controller will control the speed of the BT3's universal motor fine.

I think using a speed controller on a dado blade is bad for the aforementioned reasons in my post above.

I think using a speed controller on a sanding disk is a different matter than a dado blade, I can see how that might help.

[footprintsinconc]

I bought delta's 6" dado set back at thanksgiving for $30 at rockler's. havent used it yet, but i will be trying it out in about a couple of weeks. i will try to post how it went.

[eezlock]

speed control....

I haven't used HF speed control on anything yet...already got one from
Grainger...don't use it much.

As for the dado set....I have and do use the one from HF...8" version
on my BT3100 saw....works great, makes good quality dados, and rabbets
never any problem on my saw. Others here, say not to use it...I don't know why? Mine has always performed as expected and it makes some nice,
smooth bottom dados that fit nice and snug, that is all I want!
eezlock

[ofna89]

I bought the same dado set as Footprints did but havent used mine either.

[LCHIEN]

I haven't used HF speed control on anything yet...already got one from
Grainger...don't use it much.

As for the dado set....I have and do use the one from HF...8" version
on my BT3100 saw....works great, makes good quality dados, and rabbets
never any problem on my saw. Others here, say not to use it...I don't know why? Mine has always performed as expected and it makes some nice,
smooth bottom dados that fit nice and snug, that is all I want!
eezlock

just a warning, the HF dado set is not rated as high RPM speed as the BT3x turns, you are exceeding the ratings.

[gmack5]

just a warning, the HF dado set is not rated as high RPM speed as the BT3x turns, you are exceeding the ratings.

That's a good way to end up "wearing" one of the Dado Stack's Teeth!
Estimated speed of that projectile would be in excess of 100 MPH!

Just be sure to wear GOOD Eye protection if you're going to use a Dado Stack, rated at 4500 RPM on a Saw spinning at 4800. I would recommend Lexan 1/4" thick at least.

The Economy of using a cheap cutting tool above it's rated limit is foolhardy, to say the least. One trip to the Emergency Room will wipe out any savings, let alone the damage it may do to you physically.

[rlah]

One word of safety warning on this forum is worth a hundred glossed-over warnings in the operator's manual! Thx to the veterans looking out for newbies like me.

But I may attempt my HF dado set with the router speed control yet... it worked well enough on my cheapo TS earlier this year. I slowed it way down and it worked with some test cuts although it wasn't as smooth on the bottom as I would have liked. But it was much better than a cheap wobble dado blade I tried before... a notice for anyone considering a wobble dado blade...

I'll try to re-post here if I get some experience with this setup.

rlah

[eddy merckx]

I have personally tried the HF dado set on my BT3 and ended up replacing it with a Freud 6". The troubles I had with the HF set were both fit and quality control. The fit issue has to do with the saw itself. It is not really made for an 8" blade so you end up having to stack the dado out on the threaded section of the arbor. This practically guarantees grooves in the bottom of your dado because the blades wobble a little on the smaller diameter of that part of the arbor. One blade will end up a little higher on one side than the rest. If you're doing dados that nobody will see, this wouldn't be a big deal.

The other issue is that (at least with my set) you can't cut a 1/4" dado because the blades are too thick. The box says you can but.....

The speed limitation/safety factor is what really put me over the top. I must say that the newer set cuts way better, and is much easier to use.

Hope this is of some use.

Eddy