Replies

1. 
   Routerman | Jun 03, 2009 12:07am | #1

   Mine.

1. 
   Domer | Jun 03, 2009 12:38am | #2

   I use the Router Wizard from Eagle Jigs. If you go to EagleJigs.com, there are some videos demonstrating it.However, if you have a good fence on your router, that works pretty well. Domer

1. 
   geppetto425 | Jun 03, 2009 01:20am | #3

   Okay, first of all I'm not a production woodworker, I consider myself a hobbyist. Anything over $200 (especially for some plexiglass, aluminum and plywood) seems pretty steep. What I am asking is out of all the mortising jig plans that have been published in the magazines the last few years, is there one that you have built and love to use???Anybody?
   Thanks!

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Jun 03, 2009 02:18pm | #9

   Slightly off-topic and maybe a bit of a hijack, for which I appologize in advance:

   Pat, I notice you discuss/recommend in your jig article several types of router bits for mortising. I've read that end mills, which you don't mention, work well for this job. Any thoughts on that? The reason I ask is that they're easily (and relatively cheaply) obtainable in 6" lengths, making them tempting to try on deep mortises, like on passage doors.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.

1. 
   Routerman | Jun 03, 2009 05:05pm | #11

   End mills are satisfactory but don't bottom cut as well as solid carbide, eject the chip as well nor last as long in wood. Moreover, they're not designed to run at 20K so there may be some balance issues tho I've not heard of any. Steel end mills are so cheap, you might try.

   But,  to be sure, a 2 or 3 fluted up spiral solid carbide cutter made for wood, will out last most mortice cutting tools and they're relatively safe and available in long lengths.

   This length issue is however, an issue with carbide, not so much with steel. The problem: Carbide cutters usually have cutting diameters = to their shanks. As such, a mortice cut to a single diameter will  frustrate chip ejection whence the cutter depth exceeds the flute length. If the mortice is >1 diameter there is less of problem.

   Can mortice.

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Jun 03, 2009 05:11pm | #12

   "a 2 or 3 fluted up spiral solid carbide cutter made for wood, will out last most mortice cutting tools"

   Well, unless you hit a screw. DAMHIKT. ;-)

   Why I asked, I'm in the market to replace my recently departed 3" carbide upcut (see above), and I was thinking of trying out an end mill.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.

2. 
   huntley | Jun 03, 2009 03:02am | #4

   Hi,

   I like both you have listed, Fortune's jig a little more.

   Here is one I made that is similar.

   http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=5174.0

    

   Pete

   
1. 
   Routerman | Jun 03, 2009 03:30am | #5

   What limits the router travel north/south? Eye/hand coordination?

1. 
   huntley | Jun 03, 2009 04:22am | #6

   Roterman,

   Those were progress photos from building the jig, the final product uses stops that ride in the t-slot, and the edge guide is fastened to HDPE t-shaped linear bearings that allow only lateral motion.

   I know it's overly complicated, but this is my hobby, and a release from my AutoCAD shackles during the workweek! It was fun to design and make.

   My design goal was to make a jig that does not eat up any bit length, like the FWW jigs and the FMT do, yet also allow for enough capacity to make doors. I wanted to be able to make deeper tenons than a Festool Domino could make.

   -Pete

    

   ps: recognize something in the pic of the PC310? :)

   
1. 
   Routerman | Jun 03, 2009 05:25am | #8

   Good command of hardware and exquisite taste in subbases too, my hero.

2. 
   bones | Jun 03, 2009 05:01pm | #10

   Might I inquire as to where you purchased your aluminum railing?The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Renaldus Magnus

1. 
   huntley | Jun 03, 2009 05:23pm | #13

   bones,

   http://www.8020.net

   -pete

1. 
   philip_r | Jun 04, 2009 05:50pm | #17

   Bones, check Ebay.  8020 sells a bunch of outlet stuff there.  You'll find great prices.

2. 
   huntley | Jun 05, 2009 04:24am | #20

   Hi,

   Please note that the 8020 aluminum extrusions are not neccessary, you could make a 'channel' for the edge guide fence to ride in - like in Jeff Millers mortise jig in FWW.

    

   
3. 
   TimFlugum | Jun 03, 2009 11:48pm | #15

   Are you willing to share the AutoCAD files? I have the same router. Very fascinating jig. [email protected]

3. 
   huntley | Jun 03, 2009 04:24am | #7

   gepetto425,

   Now I see you want to do curved work, maybe Fortunes jig is the better of the two you mentioned.

   Pete

4. 
   traveller2 | Jun 03, 2009 07:06pm | #14

   My favorite jig is two hand and a good set of chisels.

5. 
   DonC | Jun 04, 2009 08:11am | #16

   To mortise the end of a long board means you have to use a router in horizontal position. I prefer loose tenon and use the easy and affordable horizontal mortise jig published by Woodsmith. 99% of dust is captured and spiral bits run cool. No need to stop and clear out chips. They are sucked out as they are being made.

   It's in Issue 60 something?

   They used to sell a hardware and plan kit too.

1. 
   geppetto425 | Jun 04, 2009 09:26pm | #18

   The only mortising plan offered on their website is only for side cuts, I have most of the magazines and searched them the other day and couldn't find one I liked or anything like the one you mentioned? I'll look again. Thanks for the input though!

1. 
   huntley | Jun 04, 2009 11:20pm | #19

   View ImageIs this the one you are looking for?

   Kind of like a Leight FMT.

   I have this issue of Woodsmith.

2. 
   DonC | Jun 05, 2009 08:25am | #21

   It's Issue Number 67. This excels at cutting mortises in the end of a board. I belong to 2 woodworking clubs. I have reproduced the plans for members and they all love it. I can cut 2 mortises for loose tenon in minutes. No need for a tenon jig for the table saw. I have cut thousands of mortises and the bit rins cool and no dust to sweep up. Industry uses horizontal mortisers too. Anything else suffers in comparison.

   An expensive multi-router is the only equal to this simople affordable mortise jig. I added a 16 threads per inch bolt to the top of the adjustable router lift and can "dial" in 1/16 inch increments with one full turn of the bolt. 1/32 is 1/2 turn, 1/64 is 1/4 turn, 1/128 is 1/8 turn.

3. 
   DonC | Jun 05, 2009 08:26am | #22

   link

   http://books.google.com/books?id=CYy5hoY-tZwC&pg=PA287&lpg=PA287&dq=woodsmith+horizontal+router&source=bl&ots=GKVDgmrMnT&sig=dxB8kFy5WY65qGPxTXLPjje-8os&hl=en&ei=XqwoSuvGK4bwMuub1dsJ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2

1. 
   geppetto425 | Jun 06, 2009 10:45pm | #23

   I made that jig quite some time ago and only used it once, been collecting dust on a shelf. For some reason I didn't like it; wasn't accurate enough for what I needed it for, or I didn't feel safe manually holding the stock. I'll take it down though and re-evaluate it. Thanks!

1. 
   DonC | Jun 06, 2009 11:04pm | #24

    

   this month's issue of FWW has an article about mortise machines. The horizontal machines described are the best and most costly of those reviewed. The Woodsmith jig does the same operation only dirt cheap.

   Issue 67.

6. 
   RickL | Jun 08, 2009 12:00am | #25

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciXplz3SrMk

1. 
   huntley | Jun 08, 2009 01:52am | #26

   That is AMAZING!

   Very fast large mortises.

7. 
   GregoryPaolini | Jun 08, 2009 02:56pm | #27

   I'm kind of partial to the Shop made slot mortiser that was featured in #174.  I've built all sorts of accessories to go along with it.  I can cut 8 mortises in a mitered cabinet door in about 2 minutes, and all the joints for an occasional table in less than ten, including set up.

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Workshop/WorkshopPDF.aspx?id=24110

   Hope this helps

   Gregory Paolini

   http://www.GregoryPaolini.com

1. 
   geppetto425 | Jun 08, 2009 07:48pm | #28

   I guess I missed that one, I'll check it out. Thanks!

1. 
   RickL | Jun 08, 2009 08:29pm | #29

   One of the best DIY ones is the one in FWW #141. Similar to the woodgears version but simpler to make. Also uses frawer slides. It does work well. Adapting the ideas of the woodgears model would be simple. The one in FWW #141 uses a very simple router height adjustement mechansim.