How to mortise the end of a board?

How to mortise the end of a board? · 01-28-2009, 12:21 PM

I have a project that requires several mortises (the hole) to be made in on the grain end of several small 2 1/2 inch wide boards.
I have a table top mortiser but it does not lend itself to this type of board end drilling. I am leaning toward a drill, a vise, and some sharp chisels but I was wondering if any of you have a better idea.

Keye · 01-28-2009, 12:37 PM

I can not wait to see all the replies to this.

Do you have a bisquit or slot cutter. This and a chisel might work. A drill bit in end grain might not work so well.

Larry Rose · 01-28-2009, 12:44 PM

How about making a jig and using a router. Kinda sounds like Norm doesn't it?

Joe Scharle · 01-28-2009, 01:14 PM

A Woodrat will do that in a NY second. Next choice would be a horizontal router, followed by a jig for the RT. If you don't have any of those, you could make a mortising jig for a hand held router. If carefully made they can work very well.
Next approach would be to forget about the mortise and use a tool like dowel max (sp). I tried once with a drill press and table turned on edge, but my results were less than stellar.
Just some ideas,
Joe

michaelgarner · 01-28-2009, 01:28 PM

plunge router with a jig

Charles Lent · 01-28-2009, 01:41 PM

Make a jig, L shaped with flat surface on one side to hold your router, with a hole in it to fit one of your a router collets. Use the other side of the L to clamp to the side of your board so that the router hole is positioned over the end of the board. Clamp the board upright in your vise with this jig clamped to the top end. Use a plunge router with the collet and an upcut spiral bit to make the mortise. Use several plunging cuts to clear out the bulk of material followed by some side to side motion to remove the rest. The measurements needed to make this work coprrectly are your problem.

Charley

gordonmt · 01-28-2009, 02:13 PM

Do any of these ideas lend themselves to work on a router table?

WoodWrangler · 01-28-2009, 03:33 PM

I have had to do this and just use a router and a simple jig to guide it. Plunge in and your done.

gordonmt · 01-28-2009, 05:27 PM

Thanks everyone for the great replys. I guess i just didn't think of my router and i should have. I have a plunge router that should work good.

Thanks again

fergy · 01-28-2009, 05:57 PM

You should be able to set up a dovetail jig to do this as well, if you've got a model that does sliding dovetails.

mkepke · 01-28-2009, 06:16 PM

If you were closer Mark, you could come by and use my horizontal mortiser.

A router and homemade jig will work fine tho.

-(another) Mark

WoodWrangler · 01-28-2009, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by mkepke

If you were closer Mark, you could come by and use my horizontal mortiser.

A router and homemade jig will work fine tho.

-(another) Mark

I guess to that note and opening my mind a little ... you can do that on the Multirouter fairly easily & accurately. You are more than welcome to come by and use it.

jmauldin · 01-28-2009, 08:21 PM

My approach would be to use a self-centering doweling jig then clean up with a chisel. Much simpler.
Jim in Mayberry

merrill77 · 01-28-2009, 08:46 PM

I'd do it on my horizontal router table with a big carriage to keep the workpiece at 90deg. I've got pics of my table, look at the end where I show it in horizontal mode.

DavidF · 01-30-2009, 11:49 AM

How long is the piece? I have made a horizontal router attachment for my tablesaw that works well for long pieces, but for shorter lengths I use my B&D workmate. Clamp the board vertically and use the top as a support for the router. Use the edge of the table top to run a guide fence along and clamp end stops to limit travel.