I am looking into buying a new bench top mortiser. I think I have narrowed my choices to the Steel City or the Powermatic bench top models. Is the Powermatic unit worth the extra 170$ for only 1/4 HP without the chisels and the the bits? Does anyone have any preferences or predijuces? Thanks in advance.
We get to soon oldt und to late schmart
Replies
I don't have either, but do have a General (international) mortiser. it is the version without the ability to tilt the head.
Not having used any other, I can't give a comparison, but I like it, it is very sturdy, well made, and all the power not to get bogged down in a cut.
I purchased the Jet. Nice machine, but I'm not completely satisfied.
The table is too basic. The table on the Powermatic has everything anyone could want.
On a couple of jobs I wish I had the extra 1/4 hp. A number of members here rave about the Powermatic's horse power.
Eventually I'll upgrade, but have to wait.
Dorsett
"The table on the Powermatic has everything anyone could want." Mmmmmm, not really IMHO. It lacks to stock-support extensions of the Steel City table.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
They are the same tool. They look like they are even made in the same factory. I have the Steel City bench top machine and it does everything I ask it to do. I cannot believe PM is asking $170 more for the same machine without the chisels. You have to be careful when you buy chisels for either machine. It takes the short chisels not the good ones from Lee Valley. I bought the honing cones from LV and sharpened the chisels before I used them and I cut 1/2" mortises in hard maple with no problem. I liked the General Int. machine, but SC beat it by $200 at the time. I think the motor just has a bigger housing on the PM.
I would buy the Steel City again in a heartbeat. If I did a ton of mortising I would but the PM floor model for $800, but I don't use it on every project. I used to do mortising with a router and I like the SC better.
The Powermatic has the advantage of being "tool-less" for most of the changes and adjustments that are needed. I'm not saying that is worth the extra money, but it is a feature. So, tool-less, bigger motor, Powermatic panache.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I have a review of the Powermatic at the link below with photos and video if that wold help. It is a very well made machine.
One thing about Powermatic motors is that they are rated using a continuous duty cycle. I have yet to get a Powermatic motor that didn't surprise me with how strong it is compared to other manufacturers motors of supposedly the same power. In the case of this mortiser, the Powermatic motor was cruising the whole time, something I like because it can mean a much longer life for it.
http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/pm701rvu.html
Tom Hintz
Because there is always more to learn!
I have the Shop Fox bench top version, have had nothing but excellent results with it. I especially like the swiveling base which allows mortising on the end of long stock. Hope this is of some help, good luck with your decision.
Mortising on the end of long stock?
Are you writing about mortises on end grain w/ a hollow chisel mortiser?
How is that done exactly?Thanks
On my SC you unscrew the mortiser from its base and turn it 180 deg. so that the chisel is clear of the workbench. Because the machine is now tippy you have to either fasten the base to the workbench, or find a way to clamp it down. On a recent thread FG showed a pretty good clamping arrangement.
Jim
Jim,
Thanks for the response.
I've been gone from this website for a good number of years.
It was a totally different set up before I abandoned it.
I've returned, obviously, and don't quite know how to locate specific information--i.e., FG's clamp set up.I think I might be very interested in this since I've begun to make use of floating tenons that include mortises in end grain.Thanks Jim, "you rock."
It's message number 40286.2. The set up is for a Steel City mortiser -- I don't know how other models would adapt.
It's a bit of a job setting up for end-grain mortises, and perhaps only worth the effort if you have a big run of them to do. Do you make your own floating mortises, or do you buy them ready made? The Lee Valley ones I buy (and I rarely use them) have rounded edges made for router-made slots. For one or two M & Ts I just use a hand-held router and a jig much like the one Michael Fortune has in the latest FWW.
Cheers, Jim
I make my own floating tenons. Usually I use scrap of what ever species of wood I happen to be joining. I've made plenty with these. I was won over when I built the Gary Rogowski bed that was featured some years ago in FWW magazine. Since then I've made a few library tables which I use in my home office and a number of other small items--all w/ floating tenons.
Prado, here's the link:http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=40286.2
Again, thanks to Len for sending me the pictures of how he went about this. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thank you kindly.
Hah! Caught you posting my pictures again. ROLF!
What I didn't show you was how I mounted it to do end grain mortises. And sadly I didn't take any pictures. I reversed the head, positioned the mortiser so the head was off the bench and attached a board to the fence that reached the floor. Screwed stop blocks at the bottom and on the right and left. And finally used a toggle clamp to hold the stock. Clear as mud?
I'll sketch it up for anyone that is interested.
As far as the SC mortiser goes. I have only one complaint. The fence positioner is called "Micro-adjustable" It isn't in my book. It moves far to much per revolution.
Len
"On a recent thread FG showed a pretty good clamping arrangement." Courtesy of my friend, Len. Credit where credit is due! ;-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
sfmc,
I have the Jet. Price was an issue because I could purchase it new for $180. I would have liked the PM but just could not justify it. Anyway, whichever machine you get, you might consider doing two things I did with mine to immediately improve its performance.
First off, I gave the chisels a proper sharpening. By this I mean honing all sides dead flat, polishing up the bore, and polishing the drill bit flutes to smoothly eject the waste. This made a BIG difference in both up and down chisel motion in the mortise.
Second, I put together some PVC pipe to form a dust collection wand at the chisel opening. I connected this to my shop vac. By keeping waste out of the way, the chisel cannot clog with chips and overheat.
Anyhow, just my 2 cents worth. Enjoy your new machine!
-Nazard
dust collection on the mortiser--love to see a pix.
Thanks
Prado,
Pictures attached. It's just PVC and a few misc. straps and fasteners. I have a similar setup on my drill press: however; on that one I use a dedicated shop vac and larger pipe. Wish I had done this 30 years ago... between the vac setups and the DC, my shop stays almost sawdust free. This impresses the wife.
-nazard
Thank you kindly Nazard.
I realize that this is not a direct answer to your question, but my shop fox mortiser has sat idle for months - ever since I spent the money and bought the domino- the only time I can think of when I will need the mortiser is when I do a project with "through tenons". Just a thought. PMM
Brought a fisch bench top mortiser and have had nothing but problems with it.Chuck screw stripped out and allowed chuck to spin on the quill C.E.O. of company agreed to replace motor under warrenty.What he sent appeared to be a used motor. wrench marks all over shaft.Cowling all banged up,but dents are from the inside to the outside,yet the fan is not damaged. screws that hold motor together are filled with gunk and a screw driver has been used on them. two of the mounting bolt hole threads are stripped and won't hold. Now they won't return my e-mails or phone calls. If i don't hear from them tomorrow .i will be contacting the Attorney generals office in their state and filing complaint against them.Sorry to hijack this thread, but it seemed like good timing.
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