I need a mortiser

[Bonecarver]

Hey guys I am interested in getting into the frustrating, highly rewarding field of chair making. Specifically rocking chairs. Do I really need a angle mortiser? and if so what type? The General benchtop has an angled head. Will that suffice or do I need a tilt table?

 

[DaveO]

Most rocking chairs I've seen use a round tenon and tapered hole for their spindle joinery. Either that or other methods of joinery. You should PM WalnutJerry a Windsor chair artist or Woodguy, Rocker & Touchwood who are sculptural (Maloof style) rocker artists and see what they and how they do their joinery.
I don't think that a square chisel mortiser is going to be the best machine for chair making, but it is a great machine for other M&T applications. The General with the tilting head is an excellent machine. I have a Delta, that doesn't tilt, and I have used a wedge block to angle the work piece when I've needed angle mortises.
MTCW,
Dave

 

[woodnick]

I thing a mortister like the one pictured would work also. Since I've built it I haven't used my Delta.

 

[Bonecarver]

That is pretty suite. How long did it take you and do you have the Plans?

 

[woodnick]

I worked on it off and on for about a week, but all together it took me about 10 to 12 hours. I'll try and find the magazine it was in and get back to you.

 

[Makinsawdust]

Well, I don't know where walnutjerry is but I can tell you for a fact that he uses a radial drill press set at the correct angle and reamers to do his round windsor mortices. If you need square mortices you'll have to buy one that tilts or jig/rig something up.
Rob

 

[walnutjerry]

Hey guys I am interested in getting into the frustrating, highly rewarding field of chair making. Specifically rocking chairs. Do I really need a angle mortiser? and if so what type? The General benchtop has an angled head. Will that suffice or do I need a tilt table?

In doing the windsor chairs, I have no square mortises-------everything is round so drill bits do the job. I do use a tilting head drill press or a bit and brace for the angled holes.

If you are doing "stick" chairs you may need an angled square mortise. That usually can be accomplished as Dave O stated, with wedges or a dedicated jig.

If I knew exactly what type chair you are doing I may be able to offer a little more help.

Jerry

 

[Bonecarver]

I am interested in making some traditional rocking chairs for my front porch. As you can tell by my ignorance ( with chair design) I was wondering if an angled mortiser was necessary.

 

[walnutjerry]

I am interested in making some traditional rocking chairs for my front porch. As you can tell by my ignorance ( with chair design) I was wondering if an angled mortiser was necessary.

I don't think it would be necessary------------bit and brace and Tbevel were used a long time to drill angled holes.

Jerry

 

[Bonecarver]

Thank you. You just saved my wife some considerable cash. Now the Lathe questions can begin. How big? How Much $$$$?

 

[DaveO]

Thank you. You just saved my wife some considerable cash. Now the Lathe questions can begin. How big? How Much $$$$?[/quote]

You better start a new thread for that. It could be a long one :roll::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Dave