I’ve been frustrated by the existing fence and hold-down system on my hollow-chisel mortising machine. It works, but often forces me to add clamps to keep the workpiece stable. And the clamps have to be untightened and repositioned after each square hole I cut. Also, I have to reposition the fence to create mortises that are wider than my largest bit.
I solved these problems once and for all by adding a machinist’s cross-slide vise to the mortiser. The vise holds workpieces firmly and accurately, and can be moved in the X and Y directions by turning two large handles.
First I removed the standard fence and hold-down on my mortiser. Then I drilled holes in the cast-iron table, and bolted down the new vise so it was beneath the mortising bit and square to the mortiser’s table.
The vise steals 5 in. of plunge capacity from the mortiser, but I added most of that back by placing spacers under the post. One is cast iron, which came with the machine as an accessory, and the other is a 1-3/4-in.- thick, shopmade maple block. If you lack the accessory spacer, you can simply make a thicker hardwood block. Either way, you’ll need longer bolts for attaching the post to the base.
The cross-slide vise is a simple fix for a frustrating problem. Now I can create perfect mortises of all sizes, in far less time than before, and I look forward to the process.
—MICHAEL CHAPMAN, Stilwell, Kan.
Illustrations by Dan Thornton
From Fine Woodworking issue #301
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Starrett 4" Double Square
Leigh D4R Pro
Rockler Dust Right 1250 CFM
Comments
yes but you are limited as to the distance from the end of where your mortise must go? I have this set up on my drill press mortise attachment but have it turned 90 degrees so I can use long stock to get to mortises that are further from the end
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