Replies

1. 
   Jamie_Rich | Dec 06, 2001 05:13pm | #1

   *
   I have the Jet mortising machine and it is nearly identical to the Delta. The mortising bits that come with the machine are not very good. A good set of knives improves the machines performance greatly. Also, these machines suffer from a poor work peace hold down. Its ok for soft wood, but I find that when I am working with hard wood the work piece has a tendency to lift off the table as the morticing bit is drawn out. I some times clamp the workpiece in place, however this really slows the mortising process down. I would like to see some ideas on a homemade clamp system.

   As far as which one to get, it’s a coin toss in my opinion. I think when I bought the Jet, it was $20 or $30 cheaper at Woodworker’s Warehouse. I did look at both and like I said before, they seamed almost identical.

   Jamie

1. 
   Hammerfest_ | Dec 08, 2001 10:08pm | #2

   *Jamie--many thanks for the input, I have a Jet milling Machine which is OK for the money paid. I'll probably go the elta Mortsing Machine beacuse I can get it around the corner. Greatly appreciate your opinon.Phil

1. 
   john_hinkle | Dec 11, 2001 03:31am | #3

   *I also am looking for a good mortising machine and wonder if anyone has experience with a General unit? It looked more solid in the store, next to the Jet and Delta, although it was $75 more expensive. Has Fine Woodworking done any product reviews on this? I cannot find one. Thanks.

1. 
   Anatole_Burkin | Dec 12, 2001 10:04pm | #4

   *FWW last ran a review of the benchtop units in June 1996 (No. 118). We did not, however, review the General, which I don't think was available then. My personal experience with these machines is that the 1/2 hp models are OK for mortises up to 5/16-in. For machining a bunch of 3/8-in. mortises, well, let's just say the task will try one's patience. Main issues are power, quality of the hold downs and bits. But the Multico is a cut above the others in terms of how the hold down was designed and the quality of their bits.

1. 
   BS_Wood | Dec 20, 2001 03:32am | #5

   *ok, bite yer tongues. I decided to buy my bench top from Harbor Freight. After looking at the other brands, I realized that they are all made by maybe 2 to 4 different companys and what the heck, the only real difference is that I may have to get my bits elsewhere. Still using the bits that came with it and while it isnt as convenient as a floor model, neither are the others. Not bad for under $130.

2. 
   Alex_Higgins | Jan 07, 2002 02:40am | #6

   *I bought the Jet, which is slightly more powerful, amp wise, than the Delta. It's a great machine. Take my advice, spring for the Clico bits available from Garrett Wade if you want to do through mortises.They cut a very clean square opening. The cheap Taiwanese bits are really only good enough for blind mortises, as the slightly ragged edges will be concealed by the tenon shoulders.

3. 
   J_Mackay | Jan 07, 2002 07:54am | #7

   *In a recent project, I needed to cut more than 1500 mortises in western red cedar. I first bought the Fisch mortiser, but returned it after a few weeks--the bits kept stalling after getting clogged. I replaced it with a Jet mortiser, and I'm very happy with it. A thousand mortises in cedar, and a bunch in mahogany, cherry, and hard maple, and I haven't had a bit stall once. Although I've heard that the Clico bits are superior, I decided to just sharpen the bits that come with the machine. Flattening the outer surfaces of the chisels on a sharpening stone does wonders. You can use a conical stone to sharpen the bevels. The only real problem with the machine is the hold-down--which is almost useless.

4. 
   Alex_Higgins | Jan 10, 2002 10:58pm | #8

   *Ditto on the hold-down, which is inadequate on every machine I've seen, except for the Multico. I saw a good jig design in FWW recently with an aluminum plate replacement table and a De-Sta-Co in line clampto press the work against the fence. I suppose you could rig up a similar hold-down device. I find I need to clamp the work down and tight to the table and fence for every cut if I want a really clean mortise. I have a jig in progress in my head that would satisfy all these concerns, now all I have to do is actually build it! One more note DON'T buy any machine that runs at 3450 RPM, they trash the bits and burn the wood. Stick with a 1750 RPM unit.