Looking for opinions of Benchtop mortisers

[SteveA]

I am a relative novice, but really enjoy woodworking and more specifically making mission style tables and such. Working in redoak 100% of the time, and until now using biscutes, dowels and screws for join pieces together. I am looking now for a benchtop mortiser (already bought LV set) and looking between Powermatic 710 and Steel City machine mostly based on reviews of all units that I have seen.

Anyone have experience with either, and /or any known pros and cons or thoughts about other machines that I should be looking at? Pricepoint of around 400 is not a problem, not sure if I could justify going above that.

Thanking you in advance

SteveA

[mapdude]

Last time I saw a test of Mortiser's in a magazine, the bigger Delta won out. The one with the metal base / fence. I think the model number is

651. I have seen them selling for $250. You might want to save a bit of your $400 and buy some extra bits.

SteveA wrote:

[Charlie Self]

Years ago, I tested these for a magazine, but the improvements in the decade or so since have been list wide, so they are ALL better now. Steel City is making excellent tools, and I very much like the specs of their mortiser, though I haven't tried it. I've got about the same comment on the Powermatic 710. I liked the original ShopFox mortiser a great deal, as I did the Delta. I'd say among those four you shouldn't have a major problem doing what you wish as long as you keep your chisels sharp. I prefer the low RPM (1725) models though they are a bit slower. They burn the wood less often, IME. You'll get some argument: others prefer the power and speed and justifiably say that sharp chisels and good technique reducing burning to almost nothing, regardless of speed. That's true, but we're not always in an ideal situation, chisels get dull and our attention isn't 100%, and...whoops, burn marks that might interfere with sold glue-up and ruin a chisel. So, I'd go low speed. Half a horse is plenty for a hobbyist, maybe more than enough. Three-quarter horse impresses your friends more, maybe, but it is not really essential.

Good luck. Let us know your pick.

[Lew Hodgett]

As a hobbist, can"t justify the space or cost of a dedicated mortiser when a router, an upcut bit and a simple home made jig does such a good job.

If it was a production application, different decision.

Lew

[SteveA]

[The Davenport's]

As I only have one, I can't give a comparison, but the Steel City one that I have is a great machine...heavy enough to stay in place, but not so much that I can't move it around myself.

First job I used it for was to cut 1/2" mortices in birch, I think they were

2 1/2" long and 2 1/2" deep...not thru. Without doing anything to the chisels, they cut quite well on the set-up parts...I did sharpen them a little before making the real parts, but there wasn't actually that much difference as far as I could tell from the pull I used on the handle.

Mike

[GarageWoodworks]

I'll second that Lew. The required jigs are easy to make and the up cut bits are not very expensive.

[Leon]

Regardless of which one you end up with keep in mind that you will need to sharpen and polish the outer sides of the chisel right away. Doing this will reduce your effort in cutting by at least 1/2 and there will be less strain on the equipment.

[pat]

Fixtured well, they (mortices) can be routed with expedition:

***************************************************************************> making mission style tables and such. Working in redoak 100% of the time,

[Brian Henderson]

Years ago, I had a dedicated mortiser and I rarely ever used it. It just sat there taking up space and gathering dust, I used the router and tablesaw for making just about all of the mortise and tenon joints I needed. I ended up selling the mortiser to a friend who, I assume, uses it a lot more than I ever did. Or maybe it's still gathering dust, I should ask,

[Phisherman]

I have been wanting a dedicated mortiser for a long time. Currently I use a Delta mortising attachment to my drill press. The setup takes about 10 minutes or so, then I don't have use of the drill press until I remove it. If I have just a few mortises, I'll make them by hand using a chisel/mallet.

[<marierdj]

As a hobbyist, there is no rational in using a dedicated mortiser. As stated before it will gather dust most of the time. I have one and I use it as I need it. Yes it does gather dust and rust.

I also have two routers, carbide bits, templates, jigs and an array of wood chisels. Depending of what I am doing and when safety is an issue, at time I find it faster to just use a wood chisel or the mortiser machine. When I already have the template and fixture I'll use the router. Sometime, I'll make a template for a specific job. Other time, when making larger project I set up each router for a specific dimension and the mortiser for another dimension. This way I always obtain the same results until the project is completed.

PS, I learned that the array of tools you have is related to the availability of time, space and accessibility of lumber

[Bonehenge (B A R R Y)]

There's also the case of work style and projects.

I've used a router for years on typical tables and chests. It works fine.

However, I've been doing lots of Mission, Craftsman, and Stickley style pieces, as well as custom entry and screen doors recently, that have LOTS of mortises. Some are large and all the way through. The dedicated machine is a Godsend!

I personally didn't see the benefit of the benchtop dedicated machines, but do get lots of use from a freestanding machine. There isn't much a typical benchtop machine can do that a jigged router can't.

Dedicated machines can do angled mortises much better than a jigged router, but less better than a Multi-Router. If the angled mortises are occasional, do them by hand, otherwise a dedicated machine can be worthwhile. If you do mostly angled mortises, check out the Multi-Router.

[SteveA]

I am fortunate to be able to use a shop area at work, where I currently have a DeWalt 10" saw, A Grizzley 6" Parallel Jointer, 12" planner, 12"miter saw with HTC stand, all related power tools (circular saw, jig saw, routers, sanders) 6 tables for glue/stain/assembly areas with an additional 4000 s/f if needed. I recently purchased another 500 b/f of red oak after going through my initial 150 b/f.

Having built around 30 pieces of mission style pieces and preparing my next set of projects that include a mission style love-seat as well and a desk/hutch for my office along with a couple of book shelves. These are the reasons that I am considering the mortise machine. I am looking to raise my skill level another notch and produce nicer pieces, although I still consider myself a beginner, I guess I should quantify that as a beginner in the custom furniture arena.

From the posts I have seen some very nice jigs for the router, but I only recently picked up a plunge router and have yet to even try it out. Of all my power tools, I am the least comfortable with the router when using it for anything other than edge profiling hence the mortise machine.

SteveA

[<marierdj]

I am fortunate to cut threes and have the portable saw mill cutting it to

4/4 and 8/4. Then I let the lumber to air dry for 2 to 4 years. This way I always have a good supply of rough lumber. I do lots of shaker designs and also my own. I appreciate the use to the mortiser machine. I have look at the Multi Router and find it very interesting.

[Swingman]

"SteveA" wrote

A good bench top hollow chisel mortiser will stand you in good stead if you continue on your Mission/ A&C bent. I have a Multi-Router, but still find many uses for my Delta 14-651.

From just looking at it in the showroom, the lower priced Delta model is not worth the money.

[Lew Hodgett]

Remember "Mikey"?

Try it, you'll like it.

Lew

[Edwin Pawlowski]

. I have a Multi-Router, but still find

I don't see the cheap one on their web page now.

I have the 651. Can I justify the money spent? Not really. I had a job to do, had a few bucks in my pocket so I got it. I've used it on a few projects and yes, it does save time and does a better job that drilling and hand chisels to clean it out. Most of us hobbyists can't justify most of the tools we have if ROI is a factor.

[SonomaProducts.com]

ner.com/mortiser.html

[Swingman]

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote

I agree. However, as an under $300 tool, I figure mine has paid for itself a couple of times over doing hundreds, if not thousands, of mortises for A&C spindles ... not to mention its unique ability to serve multi-purposes: