Street price: $320 Motor: 3/4 hp Hold-down: Good Clamping: None Fence: Fair Table: Very good Depth stop: Good Comments: Includes three chisels (1/2 in., 5/8 in., 3/4 in.)
From FWW #178 (July/August 2005): Properly set up and operated, a mortising machine cuts straight, square-sided mortises in relatively short order. The author had eight benchtop models shipped to his shop for a close examination. The Shop Fox has an outstanding lever arm: Its length makes it possible to cut with less effort, and the arm is especially easy to adjust. This model has a microadjustable fence and the greatest plunge depth of those tested. It’s also capable of cutting long or wide workpieces.
This is the saw I want in my shop. For one, it’s easy to use. All of the controls are easy to reach and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is both robust and smooth. The handle works well for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no other saw has. For instance, its hold-down is superb, as it can move to different locations, hinges for a greater range of coverage, and actually holds down the work. In addition, the saw has two points of dust collection, letting it firmly beat the rest of the field. The one downside was the saw’s laser, which was so faint we had to turn off the shop lights to see it. Still, all these pluses in a package that fits tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.
The gauge has a quick and easy method for fitting the guide bar precisely to your tablesaw’s miter slot. This means the gauge can be recalibrated if necessary for continued accuracy. The face of the protractor head can be adjusted square to the table and also square to the guide bar. This ensures accurate cuts, and it, too, can be readjusted if the need arises. The protractor head has stainless-steel knobs and fittings and high-contrast, easy-to-read white numbers and increments.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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Jun 04, 2014
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