Replies

1. 
   dgreen | Jul 22, 2008 01:37am | #1

   In a short answer ....yes if you are planning on doing more than one mortising job.

   Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
   -- P.J. O'Rourke

2. 
   ClarkCustoms | Jul 22, 2008 01:49am | #2

   Montanaman,

   If your anything like me your going to need the morticer and the drillpress just about the same time for the project that your working on, which means having to keep removing the mortising attachment to use the drill press then having to reset the mortising attachment back up in the drillpress. Some sceptics will say just make all the mortises first then drill whatever holes are needed once the mortising attachments off the drillpress. Its been my experience that no matter how hard I try I can never(and I mean never ever)make all my mortises at one time then do the same with drilling any  holes that's needed.

    Personally I have a bit of over kill in my shop as to where drill presses  are concerned,I have 2 Delta floor drillpresses and one bench type. I also have a Delta morticer.

    Every time I think about parting ways with one of the drillpresses I decide to start another project that needs multiple sizes of holes and then I get spoiled all over again.

   Sincerely,

   Jim at Clark Customs 

    

1. 
   mike4244 | Jul 22, 2008 02:27am | #4

   You beat me, all I have is a Delta floor dp, old heavy duty craftsmen bench type and a milling machine.I thought I had too many drills.

   mike

3. 
   BruceS | Jul 22, 2008 02:21am | #3

   IMHO they are the pits.   I made a jig for my plunge router.  Use guide bushings and spiral up cut bits and round the tenons.  Changing bushings and bit diameters gives me many options as to the mortise size.  But depth is limited.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

4. 
   Frank Vucolo | Jul 23, 2008 08:57pm | #5

   I found that with a morse taper chuck, it's hard to keep it all together when you try to retract the chisel repeatedly. Every so often you pull the chuck on the retract.

   I'd save the dough and use an alternate method. Other responses have mentioned good ones. Another is to make a series of overlapping holes with a forstner bit, then take a chiesl to square/clean things up.

   Good luck,

   Frank

1. 
   Montanaman | Jul 23, 2008 09:52pm | #6

   Thanks for the reply.  Sounds like until I can jsutify a mortising machine, either the plunge router or forstner bits is the way to go.