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Care
A dado stack set needs attention on every component, not only the outer cutters. Resin on the chippers, paper dust between shims, and a marked arbor washer will change the groove width before the carbide is actually dull. Keep the set dry, wipe each plate after use, and separate pieces so the teeth never knock together in the drawer.
Start with the faces that clamp together, because a speck trapped there shows up in the cut. Pine pitch, chipboard glue, and melamine residue collect around the shoulders of the chippers, so use a blade cleaner and a soft nylon brush rather than a steel scraper. Once clean, oil very lightly for storage and return the spacers to their marked sleeves so the next setup is not a guessing game.
Each week, check that all chippers match their stamped thickness and that no shim has a burr on the edge. Once a month, inspect the arbor nut, both washers, and the inside faces of the outside blades for fretting marks or packed dust. After load-shedding stops mid-cut, leave the stack to cool before loosening it, especially after long trenching runs in SA pine or veneered board.
Send a stack for sharpening when the bottom of the trench turns furry, feed pressure climbs, or burn marks appear on the shoulders of the groove. Replace any piece with chipped carbide, cracked plate steel, or a tooth that has struck a hidden screw, because one bad chipper spoils the full set. Sharpening services in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town can regrind many carbide dado components if the body is still true.
Store a dado stack set in its case or in separated sleeves, with every chipper and shim labelled by thickness. Coastal humidity around Durban and the Cape can mark bare steel quickly, so a light protective film helps if the set stands unused for a while. When sets travel between workshops, pack the small spacers in sealed pouches so nothing goes missing in the bakkie or site box.
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For a dado stack query, include the arbor size, shim arrangement, and the trench width you are trying to hold. Add clear photos of chip-out on the outside cutters or any scoring on the chippers. Use our contact form if you need guidance from Kya Sands, Johannesburg.
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