Box Joint Blade Vs Dado Blade – 6 Factors to Consider

A decent blade set is one of the most critical things a woodworker can have. If you purchase low-quality blades, you will almost certainly have low-quality outcomes. 

That’s why choosing the right one between the dado blade and box joint blade isn’t an easy task.

So, box joint blade vs dado blade, which one should you pick?

The box joint blades are more accurate and efficient than dado blades. They cut wood faster and don’t damage the riving knives soon. Box joint blades are also more long-lasting. They can cut sharper and smoother. But if you look at the price, dado blades are slightly cheaper than box joint blades.

Here I will tell you all about the factors that you should consider about these blades. 

So without losing any time, let’s hop in to see what’s there to know about these two blades.

Box Joint Blade Vs Dado Blade: Quick Guide

Before I take you to the detailed discussion, let’s know about the two blades precisely. The following table compares the two blades based on the key factors-

Feature	Box Joint Blade	Dado Blade
Dimension	10” wide, 1” thick	8.6” wide, 1” thick
Accuracy	Comparatively more accurate	Comparatively less accurate
Build Quality	Comparatively better	Comparatively unfavorable
Efficiency	Comparatively fast	Comparatively slow
Durability	More lasting	Less lasting

Do you want to see on what scale I’ve rated these two blades? Then you can see the following graph-

But I would insist you not decide on a blade right away. You should understand deeper into the factors. 

This will help you to know better which blade will suit your work better.

Box Joint Blade Vs Dado Blade: Head-to-Head Detailed 

Now that you’ve gained some idea about the two blades, let’s know the details. After finishing this section, you’ll learn why one of these blades can be better than the other. 

So let’s dive in.

Dimension

First, let’s compare the dimensions of a dado blade compared to a box joint blade. Along with it, let’s learn about the dimensions of their teeth.

A 6mm (~1/4inch) wide table saw blade is pure gold when it comes to box joint making. https://t.co/djimwZzcLA #woodworking pic.twitter.com/PYbv9IaSwl

— Dieter Schneider (@dieter_me) October 6, 2018

The Box Joint blade set simplifies the creation of robust, precise box joints. And they execute so without the need of shims or other uncomfortable modifications. 

This patent-pending technology allows users to create flawless squares. You can make accurate box joints the first time and every time. 

Dados are great when making beautiful joints that require no tool other than a handsaw. With dados, you can use them to make simple half-laps. Or you can join large pieces of lumber together. 

The only reason that you should use dado blades is if your job requires half-laps.

The box joint blade is 10 inches wide by 1 inch thick. While the box joint dado blade has a width of 8.6 inches across by 1 inch thick. 

Winner: Tie

Accuracy

Box joint blades are very smooth in cutting woods. When cutting thin pieces of wood on your table saw, they cut against the grain. And so they won’t damage riving knives as much as dado blades do. In this case, you should always consider problems with a table saw.

A dado blade is used in a table saw. It’s used to cut between the top and bottom of a thin piece of material. A dado blade must cut across the grain. Otherwise, it will cause riving knives to be created, which can ruin your project. 

However, in this case, you can use a blade stabilizer. It’ll help you to get the precise cut by reducing vibration at the rim of your saw blade.

A box joint blade is also used in a table saw. But it only cuts into one side of the thin piece of wood. Also keeping track of how much wood you’ve removed during each pass is easier with it.

In terms of accuracy, box joint blades win the race because of their smoothness. Dado blades are good but they damage the riving knives very soon.

Winner: Box joint blade

Built Quality

Features of the two blades are almost alike but there are differences in their performance.

For best performance, the box joint blades are made of a TiCo high-density carbide crosscutting combination. It contains a 5/8 “Arbor for making precise 1/4″ and 3/8” box joints. It’s suitable for a table saw. 

The majority of companies have two 8″ TiCo carbide blades with a high density. The silver I.C.E. coating minimizes buildup on the blade surface. And it keeps the blade operating cooler and cleaner.

The dado blades usually come with 30 teeth. You can find them with carbide tooth chippers. Carbide-tipped blades are far more durable and resistant to heat and impact. 

It allows them to cope with steel effectively. And they can endure up to 200 times longer than a standard carbon steel blade.

It can be seen that the two blades have very unique build features. The features are specified to their objectives that are related to your job. However, the build quality of the box blades is comparatively better.

Winner: Box joint blade

Efficiency

The box joint blade is a fast way to make a stiffer and lighter fly line or rod. It also has the advantage of being able to be turned on the lathe. Box joints are fast, but you have to cut your blank accurately.

Also, as these joint blades are fast it’s wise to use a push block with them. Because it’ll save you from the kickback of the saw and will protect your hands.

The purpose of a dado blade is to make grooves. These grooves are later cut out by a chisel or tenon saw. Bridle joints are commonly made with dado blades. But you can also use them in smaller pieces of furniture, such as corner blocks. 

In both cases, the cutting direction of the blade can be arranged. It might be along the grain and across it as well. The latter produces more durable joints but it’s not as fast as the box joint blade. But there is less risk of end grain weakness.

However, can you dado plywood? Yes, you can use dado blades to shape plywood too. 

So you can notice the efficiency of the box joint blades is more than dado blades. They are smoother and faster. So if efficiency is your goal, box joint blades just won the race.

Winner: Box joint blade

Durability

The Box Joint Blade is one of the most durable jointing tools on the market. Because high carbon steel is the main component of these blades. They can be hardened, tempered, and shaped for greater strength in a fraction of the time.

This allows these blades to be used for multiple applications. From edging boards to cross-cutting material up to 64 inches wide. 

The Box Joint Blade comes fully equipped with larger diameter threaded inserts. It allows easy attaching to any milling machine or lathe.

On the other hand, dado blades usually consist of multiple thin steel teeth set close together with spaces between them. This allows chips to escape as they are cut out by the rotation of the tooth.

You see, a 25-tooth dado blade has about the same cutting edges as a 50-tooth combination blade. A 31 or 32-tooth dado will offer slightly more durability than a 25- or 28-tooth blade. 

Still, box joint blades can be considered a great hand tool like dewalt. It lasts longer than dado blades and so they win this one too.

Winner: Box joint blade

Which One Should You Pick?

I hope it is quite clear to you now that box joint blades are better. They outstand dado blades in every feature except for the price. But it’s my suggestion to go for the extra price to gain better performance. 

Here’s a table outlined for you to take the final call:

Product Name	Which one is better?
Box joint blade	More accurate and fast
Dado blade	Less expensive but less durability

FAQs

Summing Up

The box joint blade vs dado blade is a comparison of two popular saw blades. 

They can be bought separately, as well as being part of a larger set. I hope now you know which one is suitable for your work.

Till then, all the best!