No more dado setup- Get a Kerfmaker

[@StumpyNubs]

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*Tools used in this video:*
Kerfmaker: bridgecitytools.com/products/km-2v2-kerfmaker-pro
Harvey "Gold top" table saw review: ruclips.net/video/6PXPHiHIEfY/видео.html
★THIS VIDEO WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY★
Bridge City Tool Works: bridgecitytools.com/
*Please help support us by using the link above for a quick look around!*
(If you use one of these affiliate links, we may receive a small commission)

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[@MorRobots]

I've had two bridge city Universal gauges for a while now. They're not the most robust things I've owned when it comes to measuring tools. They're also not the best angle gauges, the artsy shape actually hurts their usefulness since you can't pickup an angle on one edge and then carry it over to another. Also the thumb screws are aluminum and snap off if you look at them funny.
I don't hate them, but I also don't love them.
This kerf maker looks to be a slightly better deal price wise and a bit more robust so I'm not going to be negative about it however I'm personally not impressed with bridge city based on these gauges.
I think they sacrifice some functionality and robustness for artsy looking anodized aluminum.
That's just my take.
Oh and I see the joint maker pro came down in price. Had I not had my experience with the universal gauges, I probably would have picked it up at this price.

[@TAWei-hi6uv]

@@MorRobots They also make their stuff in China, for those who think they are buying American.

[@cvcolomb]

I have this tool and love it. I expand on the concept of the kerf measurement. Take each of your tablesaw blades, and make the two cuts to remove a corner chunk...but use each blade on a different corner. Then you can glue the off-cut back in each corner, label them so you know which blade cut which corner, and it's quick-n-easy setup no matter which blade you're using.

[@SchwettyBawls]

Brilliant.....and you then get the added hidden benefit of it already having space for glue since you glued it back on!

[@i.b.deplorable]

GOOD IDEA. I had planned on saving the pieces, but glue is a great idea. And see SB's comment below/above about glue thickness.

[@i.b.deplorable]

Or, to follow up on SB's comment about glue thickness - Use only one saw blade. Then put glue on only one surface, but label which it was. Then you can set up for that blade with, or without glue.

[@Escviitash]

Maybe even better: With they kerfmaker in place, make slabs of 6mm plywood about 60x140mm, one for each of your blades, maybe with a hole in on end for a string, strip or alike. Then move the stop 20mm closer to the blade. For each blade adjust the kerfmaker as shown in the video. Adjust the blade's height to 20mm, place the kerfmaker orange up and make a cut on each side of the plywood slab, cut one of them again with a piece of paper between the kerfmaker and stopblock, now cut the slab to length using the kerfmaker orange down. You now have a slab for each blade, with both a tight fit and a glue fit measurement, but without any glue up. For labeling I would write the details of the blade, such that the glue fit measurement is on the side that is above the text and the tight fit measurement below the text. You could also make a notch or round of a corner on to distinguish the measurements.surements.

[@botch3936]

I've watched several demos of this tool, but only now do I "get it". Thanks James!

[@larrygardner53018]

In addition to all the excellent knowledge you provide in your videos, this one touched my heart. My son bought me two different-size Kerfmakers shortly before he passed away from an auto accident. After that, I was not able emotionally to get them out of the drawer and figure them out. Now, years have passed and your video has inspired me. I'm looking at them now and ready to give them a try. Thank you, Stumpy, for all you do, and especially for this one.

[@RondeLeeuw]

Go make some pretty cuts, Larry! 🤍

[@larrygardner53018]

@@RondeLeeuw Thank you, Ron.

[@TrevorDennis100]

The best part of this video was seeing how James measured the kerf. That is going to be a lot more accurate than clamping the blade with the tool, and that might not even be possible if the tpi is so course that the tool will not bridge enough teeth to account for the set. In fact you'd really need to bridge three teeth to measure the set, and even then you are not measuring any slight runout.

[@i.b.deplorable]

Yes, and the KerfMaker method will account for blade runout and whatever else.

[@CaptK-py8rq]

It's not too often I run across a tool that is so genius, not just a gimmick...this I can use. You know what's next...why didn't I think of that! Thanks! Always look forward to your videos.

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@burntsider8457]

I like the brisk pace and crisp editing. Well done.

[@marcmacialek9250]

Got to love the simple ingenuity of devices like this.

[@mark2talk2u]

Sometimes I refer to this tool as an “Adder-Subtractor” tool. It basically takes the width of the shelf and subtracts the kerf width. When you think about making the two outer dado cuts, this is the amount one needs to move the table saw fence. I’ve had a kerf maker for years.

[@allanwilliams679]

I’ve owned the smaller version of the Bridge City Kerfmaker for a couple of years now and keep forgetting to use it! But this is the best (and simplest) explanation of how to use it that I’ve seen. I’ll definitely be putting mine to use in future. Thank you for the video James… 👍🏻

[@jonnyrox116]

Doing high end woodwork and sculpture, seems to me that gauge is simply a toy! I run 3-4 test pieces then make my cut , but I guess for a garage " craftsman" .... You gather skills by doing, not by reading about it....skills being the operative word and not a self analysis

[@Attilles]

@@jonnyrox116 go kick rocks Jonny.

[@MichaelCampbell01]

@@jonnyrox116 By that measure, all tools, jigs, etc. are toys.

[@justinknockaert6102]

Your one of a kind James ! thanks for the content.

[@rodramsey9756]

I watch a good bit of your content here and get solid info each pass. But have to say this is one if the most insightful and helpful tools I've seen here per my specific work. Thanks

[@ProTechEpoxyFloors]

The way you break down things into their smaller components is outstanding.
I just ordered the Bow feather board in another one of your videos.

[@qapla]

I ordered a Harvey table saw - it is scheduled to be shipped mid-January - Harvey/Bridge City sent me one of these Kerfmakers as a free thank you gift. Can't wait to try it with the new saw

[@i.b.deplorable]

I just received the KM-2 for Christmas!!! The quality is every bit as good as I had expected. Can't wait to put it to use.

[@Webendowed]

Seems that I found something new to fill that old empty dusty drawer in my toolbox! I can't wait to try this. I love math but as I get older, I find I need quicker and accurate ways of doing some things. Behold a tool that solves a lot of problems in a jiffy! As always, thumbs up for safety and thank you James for further inspiration!

[@jacktracy4845]

What an awesome tool. It just went on my Christmas wish list.

[@pietdixon3232]

Thank You Stumpy!!!! I was intrigued to say the least. In fact I was so intrigued I bought one. It arrived today and I've spent the last couple of hours playing with it. Fantastic!! It does just what it says on the tin. (English saying) This little tool is really well made and well worth the £96 quid I paid for it. It is going to save me a ton of time.

[@lequsejones5384]

Wow. 96 quid. Wow. I've just solved this problem in a very different way without paying more than I paid for my saw. My setup is very different, but I've managed to make a kerfmaker and stop block to use with my circular saw crosscut jig. I'm planning to get round to doing a video because it has revolutionised my workshop and made complicated work very simple indeed. I confess that the idea was generated from this kerfmaker, but my setup is infinitely cheaper.

[@makenchips]

Excellent video and demonstration Stumpy!

[@krh2]

I've had one for a year. Works exactly how you show it. One of my favorite tools.

[@mikecrook8434]

Great video and topic. I've seen people on video make ambitious attempts to explain how to use a kerfmaker, but your simple demonstration and explanation made the steps quite clear.

[@KastaRules]

I've had this tool for a long time but I never used it. It takes away all the fun of messing up the joint multiple times before getting it right!

[@armslength2618]

I prefer to make dados with one of my radial arm saws, because you can see exactly where the blade is going with it and can make the tiniest adjustments. I prepare a reference spacer-block the width of the material to fit into the dado, minus the milling width of one blade (which is greater than the width of the blade for me). Then clamp a left stop-block against the fence where you want the right side of the blade to make the right dado cut. For the left cut, just pop in the spacer-block against the stop block. That will get you close or bang on. Adjust the tightness of the dado by milling a tiny bit more or less from the reference spacer-block, which you can keep forever for that combination of material, blade, and desired tightness.
To make several dados perfectly regularly spaced on two facing rails, like for bookshelves, cut several additional shelf-space blocks using a stop block. Put an additional one of those in against the fence when cutting the left-next dado for each rail using the reference spacer-block.

[@barnyardkh4]

Why would this not work to help set up your stop blocks quicker/more accurately?

[@marcothehammer]

Fantastic time saver!

[@seankearney6915]

Thanks for this one. I saw one in the UK in a Rutlands email, but it wasn't called a kerfmaker and there was no real clue how it worked. Now I know and will get one. I am a firm believer in not measuring unless you have to as you just compound errors with the quality of ruler, pencil and ageing eyes. The initial set by cutting the wood was neat easy and not something I would have thought of either. And of course it is truly universal working equally well with imperial and metric.

[@richardplester]

Quality content as ever, appreciated how short/punchy this video was and very informative. Great tip on cuts to measure kerf👍

[@sethwarner2540]

Hello, Stumpy. I can finally say with gusto"Halleluia, here finally, is a tool that is impressive; not for its beauty,or fine shavings, but but its humble wisdom in serving us where we are in our journey to excelence,then accompany us, at our own pace, till we arrive. This tool fits in our pocket,while guiding us to build a kitchen, or toy for a loved one;anything we can imagine thats got 90 degrees involved. If this tool costs $50, I'd pay it, though I greatly doubt it costs that. Well, dang! I just looked at the accompanying add. It does cost $50!! Wish I could go to Lowes. Cant buy on line...

[@lechatbotte.]

How clever is this!!! Seems safer to use too.

[@tomjeffries58]

I just visited Bridge City Tools. Wow.

[@justicefries]

Just started using this and maybe I am using it wrong but it has a decent amount of deflection if you push against it with any amount of force. FWIW I was trying to use this to cut a groove in the back of cabinet with the kerf maker on the opposite side of my fence.

[@MegaWeagle]

I had never heard of this tool before today. Seems very handy and Christmas is just around the corner!

[@donproctor3445]

perfect timing. I'm going to be building my own kitchen cabinets soon.

[@markanderson8677]

Man, what a great idea. I've never heard of this tool before. Thanks!

[@shedactivist]

I just finished a finnicky cross half lap joint in oak by hand with OK'ish results then one hour later I watch this video. Not sure how I feel right now.

[@dwainlambrigger3769]

Just think of how much better your future dados and half laps will be when your wallet is $45.00 lighter... plus shipping! Hopefully that helps to sort it out.

[@kerrygibbs8198]

I love these videos!! I’m a pretty good handyman and I enjoy to learning about things that can help improve my projects!! Thank You!

[@ckmoore101]

Wow, considering the build quality, its actually very affordable. $59. Impressive

[@jkdubya85]

Holy crap. I need this. Sometimes this would be way more convenient.

[@CrazyEstradaKids]

Looks like an improved version of what microjig offers.

[@stevewright454]

Mine just came in today
Can’t wait to try it. Nicely made(in China)
The box alone probably cost $20

[@gteam53]

Very interesting tool!

[@sambiscits6711]

I got one! Thanks for the tip!

[@jmac2o229]

that is an impressively simple yet impressively useful tool

[@UnicornBikes]

It's incredible to see the solutions woodworkers come up with to avoid measuring something :P

[@StumpyNubs]

There's a reason for that. Measuring introduces the possibility of error.

[@jgoldwhite]

I love your channel, so I hope you take this with all the good humor intended, but I hope the tool makes perfect measured cuts, not "prefect" ones!

[@davekavanagh7599]

This is quite good for Europeans like me that can't have a dado stack. A router does the job too, but you gotta have more than 1 way to do the job I reckon

[@robertdoell4321]

Great Find.

[@notasheep199]

Mind Blown 🤯

[@gunnerb47]

A very interesting tool the kerf maker

[@matthewzaiasmozaic7727]

I will definitely be looking into getting one! This will save a lot of time in the shop!

[@frijoli9579]

That is a very cool tool!

[@scottbertrand2057]

Very nice tool

[@willemkossen]

Darn, that goes straight to the wishlist for Christmas ….

[@kencoleman7762]

I love this tool. I have yet to purchase a Bridge City tool I didn't like.

[@rtgray7]

Clicking the link and buying one now!

[@mrmeatballx]

I love how the kerf maker is a little over half the cost of buying a Diablo Dado stack, and would result in more accurate performance in a wider variety of scenarios. Good looking out, man!

[@davidmccracken647]

OOOPS I love this, and love the price. BUT It is currently out of stock. I added a bk on my browser just for this and I will get one ASAP. Thanks Stumpy once again!

[@JGV_IX]

Bought one! Thanks for the recommendation!!

[@bzuidgeest]

Dado blades or stacks are uncommon if not outright forbidden in the EU. This seems like an interesting tool. I wonder if they have a reseller here.

[@nobuckle40]

Very ingenious invention. Thanks.

[@JageeAgain]

A nice tool. Looks well made.

[@f.demascio1857]

Great design.

[@nightcatarts]

That is a very well made tool. It's so nice, & sadly so rare, to see full metal tools these days.

[@kiwdwks]

Kerfmaker is awesome...so nice!

[@JC-ms2rz]

Oh man I wish you had uploaded this BEFORE I purchased a dado set! Was not cheap and they scare me anyway. I just got it a month ago and have not used it, and now that I have a safer way to do this cut that expensive dado set will never get used. :{

[@pierre-lucplouffe6592]

I love it.

[@alexhardwicke]

Ouch! Shipping to Sweden for either $286.21 or $964.00 (US). That's a little much ;)
I'll have to look for another source. Still a great video as always and now I have another tool to keep an eye out for!

[@Rocket62AL]

Fantastic, thank you very much. Can you do a video with the tenonmaker?

[@creepyloner1979]

nice product, but you've overlooked one thing... it's a super simple design and everyone watching this who might need one can just make their own. :P

[@bippie23456]

Fantastic! Thanks Numpy Stubs!

[@RoughLandings77]

Great tool. I made one several years ago out of oak. I like the magnetic stop block, might have to add that feature to mine!

[@markhedquist9597]

I've been meaning to purchase this item (or a cheaper one) for a long time now. My tablesaw is not the best, nor is my miter gauge. The whole set up is pretty much poo. So, precision work is out of reach for me at the moment. I know this item can be used with a sled. And I have a decent one built. Me thinks I should put the cart before the horse, like I often do, and buy this super nice tool. Then, I will motivate to upgrade my tablesaw. Ya, that's the ticket. Me also thinks I should not cheap out. Bridge City tools are, as far as I can tell, "Drool Tool City".
Edit: I did it. And, of course, I had to add a few more things to the order. And, I blame you.

[@jeffreythompson9549]

It is nice to have someone else to blame. Getting that past the wife is another story.

[@fryefoto]

Thanks for the explanation!

[@J_punkt_O_punkt]

After playing around with a kerfmaker and never getting quite satisfied i've switched to custom made spacer bocks.
I usually just use it for dadoes and rabbets and use one width of sawblade and 3 thicknesses of material (plywood). With just three blocks of wood i've got the same functionality. The blocks are cheap, robust, i don't need to reset them when i switch to another width.
When i get a new material i just cut a new spacer block to 1/32th of an inch on the tablesaw and then tune it first on the disk sander. Takes - for me - about as long as setting and tuning the kerfmaker.

[@StumpyNubs]

You don't change your block setup when you change width? ... I don't think getting out and using a different block is any faster than adjusting the opening on the end of the kerfmaker by pinching the new board.
I also can not imagine how custom cutting a block and tuning it on the sander is as fast as pinching a board, but that's fine. You should do what works best for you. That's the whole point :)

[@J_punkt_O_punkt]

@@StumpyNubs My process: I'm in europe. i only use a 3.5mm saw blade. I use 3mm ply (fits in the kerf w/o anything), 10, 18 and 20mm ply. Good quality, always from the same factory. For the last three i use special made blocks/spacers (thickness minus kerf). When i need to do a dado/groove i do a cut, fix a magswitch/clamp to the fence/stopblock in the old position, adjust the width by adding the spacer between magswitch/clamp and fence/stopblock.
> I also can not imagine how custom cutting a block and tuning it on the sander is as fast as pinching a board, but that's fine. You should do what works best for you. That's the whole point :)
I suppose if you use it often it works quite well. I found re-setting the kerfmaker fiddly and compilcated. And i needed to re-set it every time i changed materials. I just wanted to share my method for people working with similar thicknesses. Maybe if i used more wood out of the planer with different thicknesses, i would use my kerfmaker more often.
PS: Really enjoy your video. Never thought i would watch a video about tool steel, but that's how i spent my last 10 minutes ;)

[@StumpyNubs]

@@J_punkt_O_punkt I'm not saying your way is particularly slow. You are the one who brought up the comparison and claimed your way was faster. I'm just saying it took about 2 seconds in this video to change the Kerfmaker's setting from 3/4-inch to 1-1/2-inch. Your way may work better for you. But it's not faster :)

[@josephking6515]

Damn, all I need now is a table saw. 🙄

[@Robyrob7771]

Nice find! Slick as hell!

[@calebcotter2850]

Interesting tool. Thanks stumpy.

[@calebcotter2850]

Interesting tool. Thanks stumpy

[@derekjarman1638]

What a great idea!

[@jeffrotondo4731]

Very cool. Thanks

[@MrSeminole77]

Bridge City Tools - still high level quality although a China made and owned company.

[@dcsensui]

Genius!

[@robertdennis1439]

great info on a nifty tool...you quickly showed a cross lap joint, so i wondered have you already made a video on your favorite method to dial in the depth of the cut?...thanks...hope your hand is feeling better

[@robertdennis1439]

sorry...more specifically...half lap joint

[@StumpyNubs]

It's one of the tips in this video: ruclips.net/video/aTpgXOCk3iI/видео.html

[@robertdennis1439]

@@StumpyNubs thank you! but i dont think thats the link that contains the tip you mean

[@StumpyNubs]

@@robertdennis1439 Sorry, wrong link. Here it is: ruclips.net/video/thArIHfEIDg/видео.html

[@jerrystark3587]

Great tool! Thanks!

[@robertroberts5218]

Beautiful.

[@cherylm2C6671]

Love that evil genius!

[@BiglinesNL]

The hongdui chinese version of the kerfmaker is surprising high quality too

[@barnyardkh4]

Now more than ever we should be supporting the American manufacturers. Unless some distributer has one already stateside, I doubt you could get one from China before Christmas anyway.

[@BiglinesNL]

@@barnyardkh4 not everyone in the world is American :p also, why is getting it before christmas relevant?

[@barnyardkh4]

@@BiglinesNL because most people shopping right now are looking for gifts. We have hundreds of cargo ships parked off shore right now unable to deliver. If you are waiting for imported goods, you’ll likely be waiting for a while. Don’t worry though, as long as you aren’t American you don’t have to worry. We did it to ourselves and only have ourselves to blame.

[@dg50484]

At a $115.00 for this jig, Bridge City Tool prices are definitely not intended for the small shop guys like me.

[@blackvenges]

I would like to see a video on your miter gauge

[@garyhome7101]

Reasonably priced too (in my opinion)!

[@russellcasperson6695]

Its cheaper than their straight edge lol

[@marconeill9510]

Brilliant 👍

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty interesting little tool indeed, James! 😃
Great review!!!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks James, that’s a cool tool. Fred. 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻✋🏻✋🏻

[@stuartandrews4344]

Just about to buy one, & spotted the Kerfmaker KM 2 works on router bits & saw blades,where as the KM 1 doesn't,or I'm I reading this wrong?

[@geoffbrumpton8544]

Now that’s great video, tar

[@profcah]

This will make doing dados a snap, since my saw cannot accommodate a dado set! Thanks so much!

[@martylts]

Could be added to one of your Cool Tools list

[@SteveC38]

Cool Tool!

[@howler5000]

Im ordering one

[@timsharr5436]

Very helpful video! This tool looks great! I can't do Dado blades on my Dewalt so this would help a lot. If you could only afford the big or small one, which should I buy?