Any one know of any stateside manufacturers / distributers of slot mortissers? I’ve been looking for anything and all I can find is the Rojek Model.
Would like to know of some other models or brands to compare to. I’ve used several others in shops I used to worked in, but can’t remember what brand they were. Anyone on the East Coast with any helpfull info would be greatly appreciated
Replies
Unfortunately slot mortisers aren't very popular with US manufacturers. I don't know why but they just haven't taken off here. JDS makes a router powered version and I think laguna still makes one. Highland Hardware sells the JDS multi-router and JDS also has a website. I have been toying with the idea of making either a kit, whole machine or just selling plans for one. I just have a few to many hobbies right now and haven't had the time to put into it.
It's too bad that there so hard to find, they are really quite handy tools. I think I may just make my own jig with a horizontally mounted router. Certainly it would be a lot cheaper, but a slot mortisser would be a real work horse in the shop. I'll probably just have to put it on my "wish list" for now. I've been set up in my own shop for about 3 months now, and I think I've invested all I can on the most important tools. Thanks for the info, I'll definitley check out the models you suggested.
Never seen any domestic slot mortisers. You have to look at the big European machine companies like Griggio, Bini, Knapp etc. I've seen them at $2,500 and up. Another option is you find old horizontal mills and convert them. Some even have collet chucks so little is needed to be done to them. Often can be picked up for scrap iron prices...obsolete for the most part but still more than accurate enough for wood.
Thanks for the European model names, I'll give them a look. Thanks for the picture too, looks like a nice solid piece of iron! Some day I'll have a slot mortiser of my own, until then I'll just do it with the router.
If you look back through a few of the threads about hollow chisel mortisers I posted some pics of my homemade version of a slot mortiser. It may give you some ideas on how to build your own. I used linear bearings and it works great. Wish I had done it years ago.
I was pretty impressed with the one that was featured in FWW with the drawer slides. For the money and simplicity I don't think you can beat it. Well...one thing I would add is a hinged table for doing angled mortises. Also SAC makes one and many other European machinery makers do as well. Would you believe they have been making them since the 50's? American wood machinery makers are not the innovators they would like us to believe, but on the other hand most woodworkers seem reluctant to try something new unless their buddy buys one first. Used to work for a tool dealer so I got to see a lot of this firsthand.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled