Recomendations for Mortiser

skysharks · 04-22-2008, 08:00 AM

Hey all, I am in the market for a mortiser.
I can't use the delta attachment for the Drill Press.
Any of you folks got suggestions/recommendation?.

BarryC · 04-22-2008, 08:18 AM

I asked about a Craftsman mortiser a few days ago and a Delta was recommended. But being a Craftsman club member and their mortiser being on sale for 169.99 to club members I bought that one. Well actually they had to order it so I won't get to lay my grubby hands on it until friday.

garymuto · 04-22-2008, 08:32 AM

I have the Harbor Freight Mortiser. It's about asa good as the lower priced Jet and Delta models. The fence and hold down are not to effective so I clamp a board across the front to wedge the work piece in place. The handle is hollow, so you can't pull too hard. If you are an occasional user like me and aren't in a rush, you can get good mortises out of it. It's frequently on sale for $100. With another 15% off due to a coupon it's hard to beat. It comes with 3 chisels and an extra drill chuck which allows it to be used as a drill press. I'd guess I would call this a suggestion rather than a recommendation. It works great for me, but your expectations have to be consistent with the purchase price. If I was a frequent user, I would buy the Delta model with the cast Iron Bed.

tom hintz · 04-22-2008, 08:35 AM

I have reviews of a few mortisers at the link below. Of the bunch I like the Powermatic 701 for a benchtop machine and the JET for a floor model. Reviews of both are at that link below. I went through a few mortisers on the way to the JET I have now and wish I would have bought this first and saved a ton of money that I spent/lost on the others!

My best advice is buy all that your budget allows. All of us hate budgets but most of us have to abide by them. sometimes working in the real world isn't all the fun it could be!

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews...html#mortisers

skysharks · 04-22-2008, 08:47 AM

Thanks Tom for the link. Man didn't know that they went up that high in pricing.
I guess I need to look at the bench top mortisers and probably (budget) around the 200 - 300.00 range.
Any suggestions within these parameters?

Larry Rose · 04-22-2008, 09:06 AM

I've got the Jet bench top and have had no complaints with it. However, if I had it to do over, I would spring for a model that tilts and has a better hold down system. I think Grizzly has it.

Travis Porter · 04-22-2008, 11:10 AM

I have the Jet as well. I will say it is ok, not great. The floor model Jet or Powermatic is the one I dream to have one day......

William Roscoe · 04-22-2008, 11:24 AM

The one from steel city got good reviews and it's in the price range you mentioned.

Nativespec · 04-22-2008, 12:20 PM

Try a plunge router-it works quite well.

David

woodnick · 04-22-2008, 01:06 PM

I think you'll find one of these works as will, if not better, then a motrise machine

DaveO · 04-22-2008, 07:02 PM

There's some good advice in Barry's thread - http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=14227
I am partial to the Delta I have, but just recently a member picked up an almost exact model from Griz for a good bit less -
http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2008/Main/121

Dave

jmauldin · 04-22-2008, 10:47 PM

I'm the member who just picked up the Griz bench-top mortiser. Love it. Just cut 15 mortises yesterday (haven't had time to take pics, but will - had a doctors appt. and had to stop). The price was great - $185.00. The only problem is the mortising chisels that come with it (four). I spent half a day getting them sharp enough to use. I think that is a problem with all mortisers. You simply can't cut mortises with a dull chisel. But I am ordering a set of industrial chisels and bits that are already sharpened, polished and ready to use. That will make a ton of difference.
I am really glad I opted for this machine. A drill press just isn't designed to cut mortises. And, yes, you can cut them with a router, but in the long run I think you will spend about the same amount of money. That being said, I would opt for the mortiser. Check out www.Grizzly.com
Jim in Mayberry

jeff... · 04-22-2008, 11:30 PM

scrap the drill press attachment idea - try it a couple time and you'll know what I mean.

JimmyC · 04-23-2008, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by jmauldin

I'm the member who just picked up the Griz bench-top mortiser. Love it. Just cut 15 mortises yesterday (haven't had time to take pics, but will - had a doctors appt. and had to stop). The price was great - $185.00. The only problem is the mortising chisels that come with it (four). I spent half a day getting them sharp enough to use. I think that is a problem with all mortisers. You simply can't cut mortises with a dull chisel. But I am ordering a set of industrial chisels and bits that are already sharpened, polished and ready to use. That will make a ton of difference.
I am really glad I opted for this machine. A drill press just isn't designed to cut mortises. And, yes, you can cut them with a router, but in the long run I think you will spend about the same amount of money. That being said, I would opt for the mortiser. Check out www.Grizzly.com
Jim in Mayberry

Jim,

Could you also post the website of the company that you ordered the new set of chisels from ?

Thank you,
Jimmy

sapwood · 04-23-2008, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by jeff...

scrap the drill press attachment idea - try it a couple time and you'll know what I mean.

Ditto that

Gave mine away. Performance was marginal and setup was PITA. IIRC Tom Hintz tossed a couple in the woods behind his house

I have the aforementioned Delta (cast iron base) and it's pretty solid. Paid just over $200 shipped.

Roger

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