I guess i have a good reason to purchase a new mortiser. I have Fisch bench top model that i was using last night to chop several mortises into cherry. The mortises were 1/4″ and about 3/4″ of an inch in depth. I had put a new bit and chisel set on. By the last mortise the motor was smoking and not just a little smoke. The machine had been running for about 1/2 hour. The chissel and bit seemed to effortlessly clear the chips and there was no burning and smoking from the cherry. I am quite surprised that the motor is that week or would go out in that fashion, but i guess i now have a good excuse to get the Powermatic floor model.
Aaron
Replies
The Powermatic Floor Model is a great mortiser in my opinion. I have had mine for about a year. I just cut mortises for a set of two tables in hard maple, and it was effortless. I have not used the tilting table yet, but wanted to get it as I intend for this to be the first and last mortiser that I buy. BTW, the mobile base for the JET Bandsaw fits this machine very well.
Which mobile base manufacture? HTC, Jet. For some reason i cannot find a base for this machine other than a universal base.
It's the HTC made for the JET Bandsaw. It is a lot lower to the ground than the initial one I made with casters, so it doesn't wobble. There is exactly 3/4" of play front to back, so I moved the machine to the front and put a piece of scrap in the back...rock solid.
Why do you need to get a a base for a floor model mortiser? I think I have an old version of that PM mortiser. It doesn't tilt. I could have gotten the base for it but elected to make my own. Having been in the apartment rental business, I had a lot of old bed frames and a couple bar table tops so made the base. I put some castors underneath it. It works good but I think if I did it again that I would make it a little smaller.
For the same reasons I need a mobile base on everything. My shop is small, and I need to be able to move things around. If I had a huge shop with workstations, it would be different. Plus, when I need to mortise a workpiece that is a little bit longer, I need to be able to create room.
Ahah, now I see the word "mobile" in front of base. Someday I'll learn to read. I had to build my base and then make it mobile.
I have a Fisch benchtop too. While mortiser motors don't have to be particularily stong, and I have no complaints in that department with mine, I'm generally disappointed in the machine. The fence and hold-down are weak, fastened to the body only by a press fitting that pulled out early on. The chuck and/or chuck key seem to have been made on different planets -- it's like one is metric and the other is in inches or something, they are so sloppy! (A Fisch rep even gave me a new key when I complained -- no better.) A pretty second rate machine all around IMHO.
I wish I could let the smoke out of mine, so I'd have an excuse, like you now do, to get a good one!
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
I agree, the machine is pretty week all around. I have to clamp the fence down also to keep things from lifting as I retract the chisel. The design on most of the bench top models seem to be inferior, but they are relatively inexpensive machines and if you only do a few mortises and don't mind extra set up and clamping for the machine they serve their purpose. I'm picking up the powermatic today I am really looking forward to the X-Y table and not having to hold stock by hand.
Aaron
Morning Aaron...
I believe you will love the PM floor model mortiser. I have loathed to have one for several years but couldn't justify the price new. So.. I kept an eye on E-bay and local ads from WW clubs for a used. They just don't come up as once you have one there it appears there is little reason to sell it. I still have seen only one being auctioned at a school that dropped it's WW classes, but they wanted almost the price of a new as I suppose they hold there value well.
Two years of frustration till one day I stumbled across a good deal on a new floor morticer. It's not a Power-matic, but sometimes things just don't work out the way you originally thought they would and you have to change boats in the middle of the stream.
I wanted the PM, but took this one for $800 new. The hold downs are not bad at all along with the depth of cut. It is a tad heavy to be moving around at 600 lbs., so I did have to spend $70 extra for a heavy duty base.
I always wanted the PM you purchased but... I suppose this will be the last mortiser I ever purchase as once you have a floor model, not a lot of reason to sell it as I stated earlier. :>)
Have fun with that new PM I wanted....
Sarge.. john thompson
SARGE..That is not a Mortiser! I think that is something they move the rudder with on a Battleship!
Afternoon Will..
I'm working on an appropriate engine and chassis on the side. Look for me at the "Daytona 500" this Febuary. I'll be the only one out there with a chrome steering wheel! ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
I got to get after that new bed-room suite for the lovely or I won't be sleeping in the old bed tonight. I retired @ 60 last Monday and am thinking of getting a job so I can get some rest from what has been requested so far. :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
I retired @ 60 last Monday and am thinking of getting a job so I can get some rest from what has been requested so far.If it were me I tell the 'the lovely' I'll stay home till your sick of me.. You may be back in the shop in a day or two!'or I won't be sleeping in the old bed tonight' OK so tell her she is special and she gets HALF of your time! (:>()...
I'm working on an appropriate engine and chassis on the side. Look for me at the "Daytona 500" Nuke engine at the Indy 500 DO they allow that?
Afternoon Will...
No nukes... but Nike is abundant.......
Off and running as I've got to finish a template for bed post which is a little job I have between engine and chassis engineering. he.........
Sarge..
You don't say if you want to go floor, but if you're OK with a benchtop the Steel City that FG is giving to some lucky guy on another thread is good. I got it because I'd heard good things about the holddown and fence, and they're way better than what I had before. Even the extension wings are cast. Weighs 81 lbs. If you're short of space, like me, there's a spring loaded ratchet arrangement in the handle that allows you to take several short pulls instead of one long, so you can push it back against the wall and still use it. There's a 5 year warranty. I'm not sure about price now, because I practically stole mine on the last day of a wood show. It was assembled but unused, and they knocked $150 off the price, and sent another $50 rebate within the week. Couldn't believe it.
Jim
Well, I just can't seem to move beyond a tool, even a crummy one, until I let the smoke out of it and it don't go no more. ;-)
When that happens, I'll be more than happy to stick with a benchtop, if I can find one that's worth the trouble -- like you, floor space is at a premium. And since I don't know when that'll be, no sense in worrying about it now.
In the meantime, in blatant violation of Rule #1 above, I'm saving my tool $$ for a Sawstop when the contractor's version comes out. My Lovely Assistant (wife) is using the TS more and more now, and I'll sleep better with the extra safety features.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
That is what my shop is missing! The lovely assistant. What tool catalog did you find that item in?
Doug
Sorry -- she's a "one off".
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I encountered one of the legendary types (a Female interested in the wood shop) once but alas she was a bit to young for me ,while legal she was my nieces roommate at college (that would be university for you non US types).
Someday I will find one, of course buy then I will be to old to have much use for one but.... :)
Doug
The thing that really hooked me is that she really likes to play with my ol' woodie. ;-)
Pic attached.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Mike.. You should be ashamed for sayin' that! And be proud she did not hit you.. Looks like she has forearms that could break a nose!By the way she is a beauty!
Sayin' what?
Oh. You thought I meant . . . .
;-)
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
a Female interested in the wood shop.My wife was like that but sure she knew where to find be if I went astray!
Doug, at age 37 you have some time. I just got a call yesterday that a nephew age 55 had gotten engaged for his first time and asked me to sing at his wedding. Yah, going on 75, I haven't sung for a wedding in probably 45 years. I told him, I'd let him know.
age 55 had gotten engaged for his first time and asked me to sing at his wedding.Go for it.. You will get free drinks and a dinner!May your son and his bride be happy foreve!
I have a 'L' Cheepo Jet and the BIT burn on occasion but not the motor.. Do you have it connected to a 100 foot extension cord?
You mean that Bit burn is not pretty much standard on all Mortisers? I thought it went with the territory.
Doug
Bit burn ... standard on all Mortisers? .... went with the territory.I think so but I usually use my routers but I do have a small Jet mortiser that I use on occasion.No expert on using it but I did find that cleaning up the surface of the bit 'twist' helps a bit. Slip stones and a file.. Even with new bits the 'twist' looks like a 'bad' cast iron sand casting job.I think there is a video in here on 'fixin' up your mortiser bits.
No 100' cord. It does seem to me that the machine gave out prematurely, but i never liked it anyway. I do have the new Powermatic, just haven't put it together yet. Tilting table, XY table movement, i think it is a big step up and am looking forward to using it.
Be careful how you set that thing up. When I tried mine out it wouldn't cut worth anything. After looking at it and resetting the depth gauge, you wouldn't believe the difference it made.
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