FW’s February 2005 issue on page 12 contains a Tip from John Jory on improving a mortiser by installing a cross-slide vise. This is an elegant solution to a problem that like him, I have experienced. I procured a cross-slide vise and am in the process of making the modification. However, my mortiser is a Fisch and the posts are attached to the base differently. They are bolted from below. I have to figure out how to elevate the head about four inches, given that condition. It seemed to me that the simplest thing is to unbolt the columns and swap the mounting locations, thus swinging the head back, making that side the new front. Took a few minutes to do. Please see attached photo of a “dry-fit”. I stuck some blocks under the base. A flaw in this approach is the inherent instability of the assembly, as well as the protrusion of the base, behind the mortiser.
I am interested in suggestions on how to make this modification work. One concern is the inherent instability of this approach. All else failing I would make up slabs out of plywood and/or MDF and glue and/or screw them together like in the photo, and then bolt the base of the mortiser in place (stiffness and strength of the assembly base is a concern). Then I would bolt down the cross-slide vise, having ascertained the suitable location for it. The base sheet-stock below the whole thing would be sufficiently large as to discourage tipping over of the whole assembly. If all goes well, I would be done.
Edited 2/13/2005 6:53 pm ET by Alfred
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Photo attached now.
Alfred,
It kinda reminds me of the inherent instability of a radial arm drill press in certain positions...which you do have to bolt down well.
The question in my mind is do you need the flexibility to vary the height of the cutting unit in the future? Also, do you want to breakdown the setup and put away after use? Many times when I want flexilibity in the set up I'll incorporate the front vise of my workbench into the solution...
Your point on bolting down well, is well taken. Still, the arrangement I depicted is weird and I am not happy with it. Meanwhile, I thought of another solution. I would bolt a plate of steel, say 1/4" thick, to those posts from below. That would provide a flange all around that could then be bolted down to riser block of plywood, with suitable counter bores in the plywood to accept the heads of the bolts that would be sticking out of the plate. The riser block would have been previously bolted to the original base. I hope to make up the 4" lost due to the vise, and let the set up be permanent. Should I need a variation in the future, swapping the riser block would be a straightforward operation.
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