Replies

1. 
   cadiddlehopper | Jun 27, 2006 02:21am | #1

   FWW issue #178 for reviews.

   Cadiddlehopper

2. 
   mudman | Jun 27, 2006 05:54am | #2

   I have the Delta 14-651 mortiser and it is a good machine. It is accurate enough, though I never checked it the way I check other tools for squareness or parallelness. "The proof is on the puddin" as we say and it makes perfect mortices. I would really like for the fence to stay parallel to the chisel when adjusted, but those models are considerably more $$$$. It can be bought for under 150 bucks at your local supplier, so that is a good deal. FWW gave it a good review.

   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

1. 
   rover1 | Jun 27, 2006 08:54pm | #3

   Hey Mudman, where did you say you can get that Delta mortiser for $150. Everywhere I've looked has it at between $220-$250.

1. 
   mudman | Jun 28, 2006 06:36pm | #4

   OOPS. You are right. I forgot what I paid. I actually got mine at Rockler a couple years ago and paid $225. I really think that this machine is the lowest end machine you should look at. The models below it are seriously lacking. A complete set of decient chisels is included as well. The cheeper machines tend to not have any or include very poor quality chisels.Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

3. 
   forestgirl | Jun 28, 2006 06:52pm | #5

   Rover, the FWW review will probably help quite a bit.  I've not had the pleasure of picking up a mortiser yet, but memory tells me there's quite a bit of difference between some of those models, and that overall the Shop Fox and the Delta were the best of a not-perfect group.  For quite awhile, the Shop Fox was the hands-down best, but it seems like one or two years ago, Delta beefed everything up, so it may be a tight race between the two.

   Seems like I remember seeing some pretty good shop-made aftermarket improvements on these also, so you might want to scour the various forums for info.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

1. 
   cwalvoord | Jun 28, 2006 07:26pm | #6

   I got the Delta mentioned earlier (model 14-651) a couple of years ago when I had to make a large number of mortises for a bed frame I was building. It took some fiddling around to get the optimal bit setup but once I got an idea of the variables to tweek it worked quite well. The motor is not the most powerful though so I had to take multiple "pecks" at the white oak I was working. Overall I am very satisfied with the machine given its modest price. In general I agree with a common view on this forum that you should buy the best tools you can afford. I just could not justify spending twice the price of the Delta for a tool that gets only occasional use. Also note that this is not the cheapest mortiser Delta offers buf for me it was the best tradeoff.
   Chris

4. 
   Michael | Jun 29, 2006 12:49am | #7

   I would stop and consider how many mortises you plan on doing.  If you're doing only a few, you could get by w/ one of the very basic models (and look forward to cleaning out w/ a good mortiser chisel).

   Some of the mid line, respected units are the two mentioned as well as (although more than your $250 limit) the powermatic bench unit and the general.

   The key isn't in the machine so much, as the only difference for the most part is time spent making the mortise.  The #1 thing you want to do is get a good Mortise chisel sharpening set and slip stones.  I would recommend the cone sharpeners from Lee Valley and a slipstone set from them or Hartvilletool.com.

   I own a PM719A and the only difference between it and a friends Delta really is the speed at which we mortise.  Granted, mine will take 1" bits however I've NEVER had the occasion to try.

   They are really a valuable tool for mission style and reproduction pieces.  G'luck w/ your purchase.

   michael

   ~Michael
5. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Jun 29, 2006 07:03am | #8

   I bough a merchandise display model bench-top for $135. Threw away the table and replaced with phenolic plate. Added a phenolic plate to the fence. Built a base from left over 3/4 MDF. Added a front clamp made with a veneer screw (officially used to make veneer presses) and cut slot in the table on each end to allow small quik-clamps to secure work down.

   It has 3 positions to raise the cutter-head to and will swing for off-table as bolted down to the base for end work. A very long handle that allows great leverage and positive down-force that reduces effort in hard-wood, especially lignum vitae and black locust.

   Cons are, it runs at 3450 rpm and as all bench-tops the chisels that come with them are functional steel at most. Expect to do sharpening often or get a better set.

   But all in all after much consideration....... make mine SHOP-FOX!

   Good luck...

   grinder47.. SARGE

    

6. 
   philip | Jun 30, 2006 01:34pm | #9

   Whatever model you settle for remember it is only as good as the quality of the chisel and augur set, not to mention the set up of those.
   In this neck of the woods I have seen some hollow square chisel sets that were attractively cheap to the inexperienced-quite useless for anything but really soft woods.
   At the other end of the scale I have some Japanese ones-great provided yoy have the correct sharpening sets-these are so hard that the usual countersink type sharpeners can't work-one has to use mounted stones .
   If you get Multico there these have been good for me-they are of industrial quality and sharpenable with the usual countersink type sharpeners.

   Philip Marcou