--- Update below in thread ---
Eons ago I used to stop by the DeWalt Repair Center on Capitol Blvd, and check their bargain bin. At one point I picked up a Porter Cable slot cutter arbor and several 'blades' - 3 wing, carbide tipped cutters in widths of 1/4", 1/8". and 1/16". I have used a few times awhile ago.
I can't find much info online about these - I THOUGHT that these 'blades' could be stacked for intermediate thickness slots (i.e. 1/8 + 1/16 to get a something approximating 3/16"). In fact I have several very thin metal washers (shims?) that were supplied with these - suggesting to me that these could be stacked.
I haven't used in some time, and now I can't seem to get the arbor to fix the 'blades' in place, they just seem to rotate about the shaft, even with the arbor nut quite tight. So clearly something is amiss.
I am trying to cut a slot for the plywood panel in a shaker style door - nominally 1/4" but of course nowhere near that thickness.
Anyone have helpful info/advice or real life experience with these slot cutters? I would rather use these than a dado set on the table saw because I don't want to cut a through slot on the stiles, only on the rails; creating a stopped dado on the TS requires machinations that I am not willing to go through. These slot cutters create a much smoother line than I get with just a 1/4" bit (which is also too large really). I don't have an 'undersized' bit for this thickness (3/16" nominally).
Eons ago I used to stop by the DeWalt Repair Center on Capitol Blvd, and check their bargain bin. At one point I picked up a Porter Cable slot cutter arbor and several 'blades' - 3 wing, carbide tipped cutters in widths of 1/4", 1/8". and 1/16". I have used a few times awhile ago.
I can't find much info online about these - I THOUGHT that these 'blades' could be stacked for intermediate thickness slots (i.e. 1/8 + 1/16 to get a something approximating 3/16"). In fact I have several very thin metal washers (shims?) that were supplied with these - suggesting to me that these could be stacked.
I haven't used in some time, and now I can't seem to get the arbor to fix the 'blades' in place, they just seem to rotate about the shaft, even with the arbor nut quite tight. So clearly something is amiss.
I am trying to cut a slot for the plywood panel in a shaker style door - nominally 1/4" but of course nowhere near that thickness.
Anyone have helpful info/advice or real life experience with these slot cutters? I would rather use these than a dado set on the table saw because I don't want to cut a through slot on the stiles, only on the rails; creating a stopped dado on the TS requires machinations that I am not willing to go through. These slot cutters create a much smoother line than I get with just a 1/4" bit (which is also too large really). I don't have an 'undersized' bit for this thickness (3/16" nominally).
Last edited: