Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Oct 19, 2010 07:27pm | #1

   Don't Know

   While I occasionally used some of the mortising machines for a quick trial when I worked at FWW, I don't have enough experience with any brand to say which is best.  You should ask your question in the General Discussion section where you might getting some opinions from actual users.

2. 
   forrestb | Oct 20, 2010 02:16pm | #2

   why not use loose tenons?

   I have no experience with either tool, but I have successfully used loose or slip tenons in the past.  The advantage is that you rout mortises only - no matching tenons.  The loose tenons may be made on one piece of properly thicknessed(?) wood and cut to length.

3. 
   VAM | Oct 22, 2010 11:30am | #3

   FMT and Festool

   I've only used the FMT Pro and found it to do a very good job.  I had no problem cutting mortises or tenons on long pieces.  You normally mount the jig to a sturdy surface and use built-in clamps to hold the pieces being worked on.  There are upper and lower limits to the sizes of the mortises you can make, so check the Leigh site to be sure you can live within these limits.  I had no problem with them. These comments apply only to the PRO as I haven't used the less-expensive Leigh jig.

   Just like using a drill press you need to work carefully to position your pieces on the Leigh jig.  Leigh provides an excellent manual explaining all this.

   And if you're looking in this price range there is also the Festool Domino.  Again check the upper and lower limits on the sizes of the mortises you can make - the limits are somewhat more restrictive than the Leigh.  You will need a system to hold the pieces to be mortised with the Festool and a method to hold the machine itself just right.  You don't want it to tip up or down at all.