A table saw is a great tool for woodworking and it’s even better if you’ve made a set of zeroclearance blade inserts for your favorite regular and dado blades. Here’s how we keep it all organized and ready to set up various widths.

#dadoblade #dados #tablesaw #tablesawblade #shopstorage #storage #organization

In another episode, we showed you how to make your table saw inserts (also known as a throat plate) using ½” MDF, Allen screws, and a washer. We label ours with what the insert is used for, such as a glueline rip blade or a particular width setting that the Dado stack will cut.

You can see that episode here:

   • Combo Dado Blade Inserts and Sizing G...  

We also write the “recipe” on the plate, so we instantly know what combination of blades and chippers yields that width cut. Each plate is dedicated to a particular blade configuration, and the cut in the insert also serves as a gauge so you can see and feel what stock will fit perfectly into that cut.

If you do even a moderate amount of woodworking, your collection of dedicated inserts will grow and you’ll need to keep them organized.

Our solution is to make a dedicated box in our saw supplies and tools cabinet (situated under our miter saw), with the inserts sitting edge up. The size of the cut is labeled on the edge and is ordered from smallest to largest, left to right. This allows us to get the right or approximate one right away. This is far superior to stacking them up because the one you need is invariably in the stack, and the stack takes up shop space.

We made the drawer out of ½” baltic birch, using the ¼¼¼ method. You can see how that is done in this DFJ episode:

   • Drawer Boxes the Easy Way 1/4  1/4 ...  

Every bit of organization in the shop helps to keep work surfaces clear and makes it easier to start and do work in the maker space.

We’re really happy with how this simple project turned out and we think you’ll like it too!

Just Do It Yourself!