Shopsmith Forums

I am new to the SS and relatively new to woodworking. I recently acquired a Mark V 500 series. I am curious to know if the table saw is dado compatible? Does anyone have experience running a dado on the 500 table saw. If so, are there any modifications or anything that need to be made?

I have used the Shopsmith dado set when my machine was still a 500. So yes. THE PROPER ARBOR MUST BE USED FOR SAFETY. May be unsafe if not.
Bill V

Thanks for the response. I will look into the dado arbor then and get on my way with some box joints. I appreciate your help. Thanks!

You will likely need a dado table insert if the dado width is significantly wider than about 1/4".

JPG wrote:You will likely need a dado table insert if the dado width is significantly wider than about 1/4".

It looks as if Shopsmith no longer sells a dedicated dado table insert for the 500, but you can get a zero-clearance hardboard insert which you can custom cut by (carefully!) lowering the table over the spinning dado blade. There's also an eBay seller which offers the same kind of insert in a 3-pack at a somewhat better price.

I used the dado stack on my first 500 a few times. I mentioned in another thread that I still have the threaded arbor from that even though I passed along the blades. My preference is to use a router or a couple of cuts with a regular blade and chisel it out so I don't really miss it.

Make your own table insert(s) from wood,
I have done that for my 10ER and it works great.

Zero clearance insert for wobble dado.

Great suggestions! I will look into both options of ebay or making my own throat plate and see which one will work best for me. That will be my next step.

You can make insets from any 1/4" thick material you have laying around. Plywood is often not true sized at 1/4". Check your scrap bins and you should find something that works.
This is a dado insert for my 510 table. I made some for my 500 table too when I had it.