Replies

1. 
   Aftonwood | Dec 21, 2008 08:34am | #1

   cmjames,

   Thanks for pointing out this sale price on the Jet mortiser. I've been considering buying a dedicated mortiser. Do you own one, and if so, how do you like it?

   Jerry

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Dec 23, 2008 03:31pm | #2

   Jerry,

   I bought a used Shop Fox benchtop from Sarge a while back and I really like it.  Two critical aspects I found; keep the chisels razor sharp and setting of the drill/chisel is key.

   Lee Valley sells some excellent chisel/drill sets and their cone shaped sharpening cones work very well.

   Not moonlighting for Veritas, Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   Aftonwood | Dec 24, 2008 12:41am | #3

   Hi Bob,Thanks for the input. I had been considering a drill press mortising kit until I heard from some on this forum that many users aren't too happy with them. Glad I saved that $80 because yesterday I stumbled on an amazing price for the Jet floor model mortiser ($300).Can't wait to get it set up. When you say the setting of the drill/chisel is key, do you mean the amount that the drill projects below the chisel? The manual that came with the Jet sort of breezes by this topic.Thanks,
   Jerry

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Dec 24, 2008 05:47am | #4

   Jerry,

   Yes to the bit/chisel alignment thing.  The bit should be about 1/16th" beyond the end of the chisel teeth on each corner, although with mine anyway that seems to vary with each one, but not by much. 

   I've heard all kinds of issues about that, like screeching chisels & bits.  Maybe it was just the dogs barking, ooops sorry that was a commercial. :-)

   I believe it was in the instructions that came with the Lee Valley mortising chisels.  If memory serves me you can read it on the LV WEBsite for the chisels.  There's a link called Instr. in the pricing info. methinks.

   Still trying to master the sharpening cones though.  Haven't found a reliable way to use them, yet.  Chucking them in a hand brace with the chisels clamped in a wood vise seems to work the best so far.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   Edited 12/23/2008 9:58 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres

1. 
   davidbrum | Dec 24, 2008 06:20pm | #6

   "Still trying to master the sharpening cones though. Haven't found a reliable way to use them, yet. Chucking them in a hand brace with the chisels clamped in a wood vise seems to work the best so far."Hi BobI initially sharpened mine by chucking the cone into my drillpress. I clamped the chisel in a hardwood block, held in a drillpress vice. I made the clamp by drilling a hole in a square piece of wood, then cutting the piece in half lengthwise. I machined the chisel until I got shiny metal all around on the bevel and burrs all the way to the points.Hone off the burrs and you're good to go. I mostly use a 1/4" chisel which has stayed sharp for a really long time after the aforementioned sharpening.The other thing which really helped was honing the inside of the chisel for better chip ejection. I used sandpaper wrapped around a metal rod, chucked into a cordless drill. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.David B

2. 
   EF | Dec 24, 2008 06:44am | #5

   Where did you get it down to $300, I can find $350 after the rebates..$499 before.
   Thanks, Edwardhttp://www.cpojettools.com/products/708589k.html

   Edited 12/24/2008 12:00 am ET by ef

1. 
   Aftonwood | Dec 25, 2008 08:33am | #7

   Edward,I was at 7 Corners Hardware store in St. Paul, Mn. and they had a sign up regarding the mortiser, didn't even have a display model. According to the sales guy it is not an item they plan to stock (they stock the Powermatic version) and wound up with two of these Jets by 'mistake.' I don't know how that can happen but it seemed like too good of a deal to pass up, in fact I bought both of them, thinking that a fellow-woodworker was interested in the 2nd one. Turns out I may have misunderstood his interest and I may wind up reselling the 2nd one, we'll see.Jerry

2. 
   EF | Dec 25, 2008 12:35pm | #8

   THANKS!I'd have got both of them too!
   Edward