RIDGID R4518T Operator's Manual page 42

OPERATION
MAKING A DADO CUT
See Figure 58.
An optional dado throat plate is required for this procedure
(see the Accessories section of this manual and check with
the retailer where the table saw was purchased). All blades
and dado sets must not be rated less than the speed of this
tool. This saw is designed for use with a 6 in. stack dado (up
to width of 3/4 in.). Do not use an adjustable dado on this saw.
Rabbeting cuts are dado cuts made on the end of a workpiece.
For best results, complete rabbet cuts using a dado stack
blade.
NOTE: Use an auxiliary fence when making rabbet cuts to
prevent the face of the rip frence from making contact with
the dado blade stack during the cutting operation.
WARNING:
When making a non-through cut, the blade is
covered by the workpiece during most of the cut.
Be alert to the exposed blade at the start and
finish of every cut to reduce the risk of personal
injury.
WARNING:
Always put all blade washers, spacers, and nuts
in proper location when changing back to saw
blade. Failure to do so may result in possible
injury and damage to the tool.
WARNING:
Always use push blocks, push sticks, and/or
featherboards when making dado cuts to avoid
the risk of serious injury.
 Unplug your saw.
 Remove the blade guard, anti-kickback pawls, throat
plate, and riving knife.
NOTE: For details on removing and reinstalling the riving
knife, see Cleaning the Riving Knife Lock Lever Plates
in the Maintenance section of this manual.
 Remove the blade nut, outer blade washer, saw blade,
inner blade washer, and spacer.
NOTE: Always store the blade washer and throat plate
in a secure location.
 Reinstall the inner blade washer.
 Mount the dado blade, according to manufacturer instruc-
tions, using the blade and chippers appropriate for the
desired width of cut.
 Reinstall and securely tighten the blade nut.
NOTE: The blade washer may be used provided the arbor
shaft extends slightly beyond the arbor nut.
BLADE GUARD
REMOVED
MITER GAUGE
 Make sure the blade nut is fully engaged and the arbor
extends past a securely tightened blade nut.
 Place riving knife release lever in locked position.
 Install the dado throat plate and rotate the blade by hand
to make sure it turns freely then lower the blade.
 Depending on the shape and size of the wood, use either
the rip fence or miter gauge.
 If making a rip cut, install featherboard in the appropriate
position for the cut being made.
 Turn the saw on.
NOTE: Make sure the wood does not touch the blade
before you turn on the saw. Let the blade build up to full
speed before feeding the workpiece into the blade.
 Position the workpiece flat on the table with the edge
flush against the rip fence or miter gauge.
 Use a push block or push stick to move the wood through
the cut past the blade. Never push a small piece of wood
into the blade with your hand, always use a push stick.
The use of push blocks, push sticks, and featherboards
are necessary when making non-through cuts.
 When the cut is made, turn the saw off. Wait for the
blade to come to a complete stop before removing the
workpiece.
NOTE: A dado cross cut is shown in the illustration above. To
make a dado rip cut, remove the blade guard, anti-kickback
pawls, throat plate, and riving knife. Install the dado blade
and dado throat plate then perform the rip cut, see Making
a Rip Cut earlier in this section.
Once all dado cuts are completed:
 Unplug your saw.
 Remove the dado throat plate and dado blade.
 Reinstall the riving knife in the "up" position.
 Reinstall standard cutting blade, throat plate, blade guard
and anti-kickback pawls.
42 − English
DADO CUT
Fig. 58