LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Bench top Mortisers

3K views 30 replies 19 participants last post by  RobS888 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
So I have been giving a little thought to a benchtop mortis machine. The primary reason is that i am terribly slow when I do them by hand and don't always get the results I desire. When doing a lot, I set up the cheapy Grizzly attachment on the drill press, but that thing is so finicky its hardly worth it. On a big job like the closet I did a couple years back it was worth having. It took awhile to set up but then I was able to crank out roughly a hundred 1/4" mortises. Something that would have taken an eternity with hand tools even with the alder I was using. For just a few, it is nothing but a source of frustration.

All that said, who has experience with what? What do you like, not like? If you tell me you like everything about it, I might call you a liar. Just sayin. Nothing's perfect, but obviously some are better than others.

Currently looking at the powermatic and the general 040. I don't like the price of either, but they seem to be better. FW mag put the Wood River up there, but I don't have any experience with their equipment of any sort so no idea what to think there. Thoughts?
 
#5 ·
Thanks all. Solid feedback.
Candy, I have been keeping an eye out for used but never thought of recon. Thanks for the tip.

Definitly going to have to look up the wood whisperer vid. I agree, he usuall has good info.

I noticed that about the PM chisels. I suppose a guy could run other chisels though?
 
#6 ·
I own a Jet Mortiser. It cuts nice, clean holes and is very easy to use. My complaint is the fence system. Not just on the Jet, but almost all of the less expensive models for hobbyists.

I suggest adding an x y vise, like I have in this photo. Makes using a mortiser a real pleasure to use, especially if most of your work is face frames. It is not expensive but it does take a little of your time to build.

Gas Engineering Machine tool Milling Electrical wiring


Light Wood Engineering Machine Composite material
 

Attachments

#8 ·
I, also, have a Jet. If you lived closer I would give you a real deal on it and the chisels. :) IMO the hold down leaves a LOT to be desired. I have replaced it with a MortisePal which I really like. It is accurate, fast and easy. I make a lot of mortises as well.
 
#10 ·
I have the Craftsman version. Only Craftsman WW tool I own. I know I got it on a sale, can't recall how much I paid. But not much. It does what it is supposed to. The chisels are questionable, but I really don't use it too often. So it has been fine given the investment.
 
#11 ·
Solo…just how far away are you Art?

That's one of my current methods as well giser. I find it to be faster than other methods, but still slow for those time when you have to crank out a bunch.

I didnt know craftsman made one Shane. Will have to look at that. Thx
 
#12 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have the Delta, and I use it on every project. The hold down leaves something to be desired, but it will make accurate mortises, and tons of them. I have broken a few parts on it, but parts were available.
I make arts and crafts furniture with real through tenons, so a Domino or doweling jig wouldn't work for me. Honestly I can't imagine woodworking without one.
If I bought another benchtop I would consider the Powermatic, the General, or the Woodriver. The roller wheels look helpful with holding the workpiece against the fence (the Delta does not have this feature).
 
#13 ·
Thanks PintoD. You hit a couple of my concerns on the head. First the hold down. The one on my drillress attachment leaves plenty to be desired. And secondly I also do just enough through tenons that a domino wouldn't work. I have a doweleing jig, but as you point out, it doesn't help with a lot of joints.
 
#15 ·
I also recently purchased the Delta. It works great, but as mentioned the hold-down is a little hard to use. If you get it tight enough to hold the wood, you can't slide the wood for the next plunge. If you leave it loose, the chisel tries to pull the wood up off the table when you pull it up. I think the models with the sliding table/hold-down would definitely work better, but they are much more expensive in most cases. I'm happy with it, especially for the price.
 
#16 ·
I've tossed around the idea of a mortiser if I start making more furniture, and it really seems like unless you've got the cash and space for a standalone one, getting a used Delta/Jet/Woodriver and modding it with an X-Y table a la timbertailor is the way to go.
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)

Attachments

#20 ·
I have a Jet JBM-5, and it does okay. I put an auxiliary table and fence on it, which helps, but I still have to deal with the crummy hold-down.

I have been contemplating the kind of setup timbertailor showed us above, but I really like the looks of the Baileigh RobS888 has.

If I were doing a lot of flat work that involved mortises, I might put the Jet up for sale and buy a Baileigh, but right now my focus is on turning.
 
#23 · (Edited by Moderator)
^I was disappointed to see the Baileigh rated poorly in a recent magazine review.

I've messed around with a lot of them John. Your asking my opinion, so here it is. When it comes to this particular tool, there's powermatic….and there's the rest of them. Any of them will work better than the drill press attachment. You'll just fuss more with the others other makes more than a PM.

I have a shopfox, I wish I would have saved for the powermatic. The holddown, table, everything is better.

If you don't want to spring for the PM, just get a used one. I see Deltas and the like on CL and ebay often.
 
#24 ·
Would also be interested in a review on the Baileigh.

I do like the PM, just not the price. Will have to keep an eye out for used. Not much in this part of the country for good woodworking tools though.
 
#25 ·
I bought the PM, a few months back. I really love it. It's worth the price in my opinion. Rack and pinion fence, roller clamps, and a good hold system, are among the features that really sold me on this mortiser.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top