Skil Dado Insert Plate for Table Saw

Why I added this insert to my TS6307-00

My Skil TS6307-00 does a lot of jobsite duty, but the stock throat plate stops the show when I need clean, repeatable dados and rabbets. To run a stack safely, you need the dedicated dado insert. I’ve been using Skil’s dado insert for this saw for a series of cabinet and shelving builds, and what follows is how it fit, how it ran, and the limits I bumped into.

Setup and fit

Out of the box, the insert dropped into the saw without any shimming or head-scratching. The profile matches the table opening, the front tab and rear seating points line up, and it sat flush with the cast top. I ran a straightedge over the seams to check for any lip that could snag stock; none showed up. If your saw table has taken a few knocks, you might need a paper shim under one corner, but mine didn’t.

Skil includes a combination washer and nut in the package. That’s not just a nice-to-have accessory—it’s key to running a stack on this saw. The part replaces the standard outer flange and nut, giving you proper thread engagement when you’ve got multiple chippers on the arbor. Threads were clean, and the face of the washer/nut was flat; I didn’t see any witness marks on the outer blade after my spin tests.

As for capacity, the insert is designed for 8 in. dado sets with a maximum stack width of 5/8 in. That covers the full range for shelf dados, casework rabbets, and most tongue-and-groove work. I routinely use 1/4 in., 3/8 in., 1/2 in., and occasionally 5/8 in. settings; everything fit under the insert with room to spare.

Using the insert with an 8 in. stack

Swapping from a standard blade to an 8 in. dado set on this saw also means removing the guard and riving knife. That’s expected on jobsite saws. With the insert in place, I always hand-spin the blade to confirm there’s no interference at full blade height and at a few bevel settings. On this insert, the wide opening is generous enough that alignment issues never surfaced, but it’s still a habit worth keeping.

Performance-wise, the insert is exactly what you want from a purpose-built part: it disappears. I ran a 1/2 in. stack through 3/4 in. maple plywood for shelf dados and then through poplar for a series of 3/8 in. rabbets. The work stayed stable as it passed over the opening, and there was no chatter or lifting at the plate edges. The saw itself will limit depth with an 8 in. set, so plan on a slightly shallower maximum cut than you’d get with a 10 in. blade—that’s true regardless of the insert.

Chip control is decent but not dust-collector perfect. The wide throat naturally lets more chips out than a narrow kerf slot. With the TS6307-00’s dust port hooked up, I still had some chips on the table, especially on wider 1/2 in.+ passes. That’s just the nature of dado work on open-throat plates.

Cut quality was consistent. I used shims to dial in exact widths and checked bottoms for ridges; any faint scoring I saw was blade-related, not from the insert. The plate’s edges are smooth, so narrow stock didn’t catch as it crossed the opening.

Stability, flatness, and feel

Rigidity matters here. A soft or bowed plate can telegraph into the work. This insert feels stiff under hand pressure and stayed flat across its 14 in. length. Over a long ripping session with multiple on/off cycles and height changes, it didn’t settle or creep below the table surface. I periodically recheck flushness before critical passes; it’s stayed true so far.

Seating is secure, with no rattle or lift when the saw’s running. I like to apply paste wax to the plate and surrounding table area for a consistent feel. The stock slides evenly across the seam, which helps keep feed pressure predictable—important when you’re running without a riving knife.

Limits you should plan around

This is not a zero-clearance plate, and it shouldn’t be—an 8 in. stack needs a wide window. A few practical implications:

• Narrow workpieces can dip into the opening if you’re not careful. Use featherboards and push blocks to maintain pressure over the solid parts of the table.
• Small offcuts can fall into the throat. I keep a magnetic pickup nearby and avoid fishing around near the blade.
• Tear-out can be more pronounced on veneered plywood at the shoulders of a dado or rabbet. A sacrificial fence or an auxiliary zero-clearance overlay on a sled helps a lot here.

Also, running a dado set without a riving knife raises the stakes on technique. A flat, well-waxed table, steady feed rate, and a push shoe that keeps your palm above the opening are good habits. The insert doesn’t change the fundamentals; it just makes the setup possible and safer than improvising.

Compatibility and capacity notes

• Blade size: 8 in. dado sets only. That’s standard on 10 in. saws and avoids overloading the motor.
• Maximum width: 5/8 in. is the cap, which is what most premium stacks allow anyway. I measured my go-to 5/8 in. setup under the insert and had clearance to spare.
• Bevels: The wide slot allows modest bevels with narrower stacks, but any significant bevel with a wide stack can approach the opening edges. Hand-spin and check before powering on.
• Dimensions: The insert matches the saw’s ledge geometry and sits at the same 5/8 in. height as the stock plate, so table-to-insert transitions are smooth.

Durability observations

After several weeks of on-and-off use, the insert shows minimal wear. The edges haven’t mushroomed or chipped, and the seating surfaces haven’t compressed. I’ve popped it out frequently to vacuum the cabinet and swap back to a standard blade, and the fit remains tight. This isn’t a complex part, and that’s in its favor—fewer moving bits means less to go out of spec.

If you tend to stack jigs on the saw, avoid setting heavy items directly on the insert; any throat plate can deform if abused. Stored flat or left in the saw, it should hold up for a long time.

Value and alternatives

You can make a homemade dado plate for some saws, but on the TS6307-00 the fit and ledge geometry make DIY more involved than carving a rectangle out of plywood. The OEM insert is a clean, drop-in solution that includes the correct arbor hardware for stacks. If dados are only an occasional need, a router with a straightedge can cover you. If you expect to batch shelves, drawer bottoms, or casework, the time saved by doing them on the table saw is significant, and having the correct insert is the difference between a safe setup and a sketchy one.

Tips for getting the most out of it

• Always install the included combination washer/nut with a stack; check thread engagement and hand-spin before power-up.
• Wax the insert and table surface to even out feed pressure across the seam.
• Use a sacrificial fence for rabbets to control shoulder tear-out.
• For super clean dados in plywood, pair the setup with a backer board or run on a sled with a zero-clearance overlay.
• Keep a dedicated push shoe that spans the opening to avoid pressure dips over the throat.

Recommendation

I recommend this insert for anyone running a TS6307-00 who wants to cut dados and rabbets on the table saw. It fits properly, supports an 8 in. stack up to 5/8 in. wide, and comes with the right arbor hardware, which simplifies setup and keeps things safe. It doesn’t try to be anything fancy, and that’s a virtue here—the part is flat, rigid, and stays put. The main limitations are inherent to wide-throat dado work: more chip spray, no riving knife, and less support for tiny parts. With sensible technique and a couple of simple accessories, those are easy to manage. If your work includes cabinet joinery or built-ins, this is the right accessory to round out the saw’s capabilities.