Tools & Materials
Felder USA - Felder- FD 250 Slot Mortiser
On industrial slot mortisers, the head moves, not the table, and the action is smoother. Also, there are better clamping options and stops. The Felder has a clever fence that locks onto the table at 45º and 90º.
Jul 01, 2009
If you enjoy working with top-end machinery, European manufacturers offer heavy-duty slot mortisers for $3,000 and up. With a larger machine like the Felder FD 250, you encounter a new world of fit, finish, smooth operation, and well-engineered stops and clamps that make the most complex mortises simple, accurate, and repeatable. The Felder’s table is larger and heavier than that of the Rojek, and a model is available that tilts on cast-iron trunnions for regular and compound angles. This mortiser is available for about $3,600. www.felderusa.com.
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Rockler Deluxe Panel Clamp
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Double Sided Tape
A thin woven core makes XFasten tape strong yet not too thick (0.008 in.), and helps it hold powerfully without being difficult to peel off.
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Comments
Having this model FD250 with optional square chisel: one has to have more than one cam clamp to hold the wood firmly; an extra support behind the wood with clamps and jigs also helps to hold the wood steady and avoid out of square holes; the cast iron angle miter bar has a way of riding up when force is applies so the wood is driller at an angle to the table; the cast iron devise has a fragile pin mechanism that easily shears off and Felder may not have one in stock--4-5 weeks order. The availability of different sizes of chisel over 16MM is questionable and the smaller chisels require an odd sleeve that may not be with the chisel you order (someone has removed one of the sleeves. Fitting a 3/4" chisel requires some machine work and fitting. The vacuum system could work better; buy the transport attachment for easy moving$$; buy atleast one 300MM table of aluminum to extend the table at the front due to limited ways to clamp some objects on the small table. Custom Felder step and repeat spacer plates are available--5 weeks. the conversion of the metric spacer plates is not exact so you will not be able to use this devise on certain projects. Purchase 30MM posts longer than the standard Felder cam holdowns so one can put larger product on the table. 20MM threading for the posts. Good machine and needs some operator additional jigs to really do a range of work in a furniture shop. The advantage over the American lower priced mortise machines is the horizontal layout which is great for working with 6 X 6 beams for all the faces of the beam you choose to work. Plan on spending about $6K plus some machine shop custom work. good luck
tilting trunnion for angles; tell me more
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