HF Mortiser saga

OFWW · 2016-10-23T00:56:12+00:00

A couple weeks ago I bought a HF Mortise price 189 less 20 % Put it together and set it up. It could have put a baby to sleep when it rocked. One corner was about 1/8" longer than the rest. I couldn't tell right of the bat so I used a file then switch to a Makita grinder sat there then solid as a rock. The fence groves were tight, so I hand filed them, now slides smoothly and was seated at the bottom of the groove. Made some Mortise slots, worked great, so I went ahead and took the grease coating off everything then was going through a final checkout and noticed that for some reason the bit shifted about 3/16" to the left on the bottom 2" of the stroke. BAH HUMBUG! Took it back, they only had one badly banged up one left and get this, they were now on sale for 139 bucks. (This week end) So I got a total refund and headed to another place about 15 miles away, they had three in stock. 1 on display 1 box with the back of the cardboard missing, but the Styrofoam looked fine, and one other box that looked really decent. So I bought that one yesterday, 139 less 20% coupon and took it home. Un boxed it, set it up, chucked spun more freely, set up the fence, etc. checked the motor ran fine. Unit sat level out of the box, HURRAY, and then I checked the travel top to bottom smooth, real smooth, no jumping to one side or the other, BUT I noticed on he way down the whole head weave like a drunken sailor. It was real visible, and would never have been able to keep a straight line with boring multiple holes, bummer. Unit #3, took #2 back and picked up the one with the missing back. The lady manager was kind enough to suggest we pull this one out of the box and check the travel, wobble, etc before I took it home. HAPPY DAY! it all looked real good but the wooden platform wasn't near as nice, she went to the back, pulled out a big phillips screw driver so I could swap the plank, she said I could have both fences when I suggest swapping them too. Cool, Score! Took it home, cleaned...

HF Mortiser saga

Oct 23, 2016 22 Replies

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krw 9 years ago

A Multirouter? IIRC, Swinger has one.

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There are various more "reasonable" alternatives (search on "horizontal router"). Of course, you get what you pay for.

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OFWW 9 years ago

Yes, I saw his, rather nice, but I have seen some made of wood, much simpler. I just need to start hunting through my mags n stuff.

thanks.

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krw 9 years ago

There are plans, online, to make your own (I found them with the search above).

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