Why CMT’s New 24-Tooth LOCKED Dado Set Is Worth the Upgrade

A dado set is one of those accessories you might not think you need until you start building cabinets, shelves or furniture. Then you realize how much time you have wasted making repeated passes with a regular saw blade.

Dado blades create wide, flat-bottomed grooves that help pieces fit together tightly. They are commonly used for:

1. Cabinets and built-ins
2. Shelving
3. Furniture
4. Rabbets and grooves
5. Plywood and other sheet goods

The new CMT 8-Inch 24-Tooth LOCKED Precision Dado Set is made to produce those grooves with cleaner edges, accurate widths and less frustration during setup.

A traditional stacked dado set includes two outside blades, several chippers and shims. Those pieces need to be installed in the correct order and positioned so the cutting teeth DO NOT touch.

CMT’s patented LOCKED system uses specially designed spacers to keep the blades and chippers separated during operation and braking. The stack can be assembled outside the saw, making it easier to handle and eliminating the need to manually realign every chipper once everything is properly locked together.

The included plastic and magnetic shims also allow for very small width adjustments. That is especially helpful with plywood, which is rarely as thick as the number printed on the label.

CMT says its original 12-Tooth LOCKED Dado Pro Set was the first dado set deemed compliant with UNI EN 847, a European safety standard for woodworking cutting tools.

That does not make the blade risk-free or replace proper setup. What it does show is that CMT designed the LOCKED system around more than convenience. Keeping the cutting components from contacting one another while the stack is rotating is a meaningful difference from a traditional stacked dado set.

With a blade spinning at thousands of revolutions per minute, “the pieces probably won’t touch” is not exactly the reassurance I am looking for.

The original 12-tooth model is still a solid professional dado set. The new version keeps the same LOCKED design but increases the outside-blade tooth count from 12 to 24.

Those additional teeth will produce cleaner edges and reduce chipping and tear-out. That improvement matters most when working with veneered plywood, laminate and melamine, where one rough cut can ruin an otherwise good panel.

The FTG and ATB tooth combination helps create clean shoulders and a flat bottom for tight-fitting joints. The set includes:

1. Two 24-tooth outside blades
2. Three chippers
3. Three LOCKED spacers
4. Plastic adjustment shims
5. Magnetic adjustment shims

It also received a 2025 Pro Tool Innovation Award in the Table Saw Blade category, so the upgrade is more than a fresh label on the same old blade.

This is an 8-inch stacked dado set with a 5/8-inch bore and a maximum speed of 6,000 RPM. It can be adjusted from approximately 6 to 20 millimeters, or roughly 15/64 to 25/32 inch, using the included chippers, spacers and shims.

Before ordering, check your saw’s manual to confirm that it accepts an 8-inch stacked dado set and has enough usable arbor length. This set is intended for compatible stationary table saws and radial arm saws, not handheld circular saws.

SawStop owners should also verify their exact saw model. Compatible SawStop saws require the proper 8-inch dado brake cartridge and dado insert, which are sold separately.

If you primarily cut basic grooves in solid wood, the original 12-tooth model remains a great option.

If you build cabinets, furniture or anything involving finished sheet goods, the new 24-tooth version is the one to buy. It gives you an easier setup and added separation of the LOCKED system while improving the finish quality where it matters most.

The original made stacked dado blades less of a headache. The new CMT 24-Tooth LOCKED Precision Dado Set takes that and finally gives you the clean cut you’ve been waiting for.