I picked up two mortise bits at a garage sale – dollar each so could not pass on them. I have a floor model drill press – my question is : is there a way to use these bits without the housing I usually see mounted in the press. I never used hollow bits before –
Thanks,
SA
Replies
In A Word
Nah
Or if you prefer . . . nah dude nah.
Or
Yes but . . .
You could lay out your mortises so you have guide lines, drill the round hole part of this operation using only the twist bit but . . .
The bit is kind of weak and really needs the support of the square component if you don't go slow or if you hit a knot etc.
Then once you get a row of holes drilled in the mortice to be you could chuck up the square part and use it as a square chisel in your drill press chuck:
Leave the drill press turned OFF obviously
For each stroke you are going to have to rely on your guide lines and align the side of the square tool with the line.
There will be chips that clog up the inside of the square bit and mortise and must be removed ( I don't know how often since I have never attempted this) [but ALMOST sounds like something I would try]. Ha Ha Ha
So . . .
No you can't put these in your drill press without the proper attachments . . . . unless . . .
unless you are phobic about using these :
http://japanwoodworker.com/dept.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&dept_id=12789
http://japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&pf_id=11%2E415%2E13&dept_id=13252
New Toys
Thanks Roc !
I didn't think is was going to work out - in the past I've only used regular twist drill bits + clean up with chisel - occasionally the router.
SA
But . . .
When you buy your new mortising machine you will have two nice bits to use in it. Worth the small amount you paid I think. Or maybe you are a member of a local woodworker's club with communal power tools and you now have your own sharp bits you can take and put in the machine.
PS: hopefully you read my post after I switched from my iPad to the desk top and fixed the spelling and added the links. I don't really spaeil like that . Well I do . . . but . . . I have this ultra heavy duty, water cooled , industrial grade spell checker. I hadn't turned on the block heater and the glow plugs early enough so it took a bit to get her warmed up but she's chugging away nicely now.
Apple Dependent ?
Roc
I appreciate your follow up and I know you're practicing spelling, and woodworking at the same time - no worries !
However now that you looked at the post twice why didn't you mention seeing my Brazilian Rosewood stock ?
SA
Besides all the appleling and woodworking at the same time
I am trying to get my eyes open and focused right.
I did admire the plank ! On my end it looks quite brown and so I thought it was walnut.
Not much in the red and black spectrums getting through to my brain yet.
Perhaps more coffee . . . and cake . . . I think . . . YES ! More of both please.
I just got up. I shouldn't really be allowed to have a key board within my reach yet. A minor indiscretion by my guardian.
won't happen again.
: )
(she loves it when I stop pestering her and focus on my key board)
PS: it was the orange juice. That was what I needed.
She just brought it !
WooooLAAAAA ! ! !
I will be fine now.
Hmmmm On closer inspection
An old general who was my customer often opened a conversation/visit with that line.
Your plank will be ever so brilliant once you run a finish plane over it and get rid of those awful powered thicknesser marks. Ever so regular and distracting. Bing, bing, bing, bing, bing.
Two questions :
Any plans for where the rosewood will end up ?
Any name or manufacturer indications on the mortise bits ? They look like better quality bits. Powermatic ?
Bada Bing
The bits say Taiwan - not sure how high quality they are - would be glad to send them to you if you would use them - I'll never use them - give me your address in a private reply -
The rosewood was on the bench because I had cut out a small piece to replace a lost section of a backrest post on a Victorian rocker. It was a glue joint that failed - the piece broke off and was lost. Years ago I purchased several pieces of Brazilian and Indian Rosewood from Constantines in the Bronx. Man - Why didn't I buy out some large quanties from them - thinking back - they had racks and racks of beautiful rosewood boards. I must have about 10 board feet and when it runs out - well I'll be retired by than. Constantines was the best store to go to. They were very nice people who owned it and/or worked there. When they closed it was a bad day for me.
SA
Very Kind Of You
I would have as little use for them as you. I just use the hand tools I left the links to.
I am sure there are plenty of more serious woodworkers than I here that will make good use of them.
PS: sorry to hear about the vendor that closed. I had a magazine shop and a book shop close here , both many years ago now, that hit me pretty hard. The book shop the owners were quite old. Shame the staff could not have taken it into the future from there.
Alternative use
If you are into A&C/G&G-style pieces, how about using just the square chisel to clean up the little square insets for ebony accents?
Arts & Crafts / Green & Green ?
Hey Ralph
Yes some; but my favorite is Herter - Years ago they had an exhibit at the Met - probably 20 pieces or so from around the country that landed in one place for the public to view - Man - I could not get enough - visited the exhibit twice and just stared at the furniture for an hour each time. There is Boulle and Rulhmann also - easy to admire all those cabinet-makers -
The chisels won't go to waste - I'll give them to a neighbor who has a mortise machine attachment -
Good solution
Giving a tool to a friend is always a good solution.
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