Replies

1. 
   VomSorb | Oct 21, 2004 11:47pm | #1

   Being a fairly experienced mortist myself I can recommend a Delta mortisting machine.

2. 
   CharlieD | Oct 22, 2004 02:08am | #2

   I own the HF lathe that is on sale right now for $179. I got it for that price. The original tool rest was not parallel to the ways, which makes it a serious challenge to turn a straight cylinder; they were great about it, and sent a replacement, but somehow it was the wrong part. So I went to the store, and the gave me the one off their display, which was dead straight. No complaints since. It appears to me that it's exactly the same machine as the Jet for 2x more, except: the switching is much better on the Jet, the paint job is better, and the adjustment levers are WAY better on the Jet. Mine works fine, though, and for 1/2 price, I can live with the differences.

   Good Luck,

   Charlie

   I tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut
3. 
   user-53838 | Oct 22, 2004 03:34pm | #3

   Hello I bought the shop Fox a couple of years ago and have use it a lot look at the Delta, Jet, Grizzly, and a few high end models and the shop seemed to have moore to offer and I am very pleased with it.

   I also bought the Delta cast Iron lathe 14 inch and am very pleased with it  Also bought the duplitor but it had a lot of missing parts that I had to order and finaly got someone would would look up the page number in the manual and look at what I was talking about after 3 tries they got what I needed

4. 
   jc21 | Oct 22, 2004 09:05pm | #4

   Another vote for Delta. Be aware Delta has two models- the 14-651 and the MM 300; the 14-651 is the one you want. imho much improved over the MM300. If your budget is a little richer than mine, General International has a couple worth looking at. More machine than Delta, HF, Shop Fox imho and more money too- $300 to $400 range.   http://www.general.ca

5. 
   KesslerCraftsman | Oct 24, 2004 07:14pm | #5

   Hi Tom,

   I just bought the Shop Fox Mortising machine from Grizzly about 6 weeks ago..purely due to the double-columns and the fact that it's more powerful than the Jet or the Delta.

   Once dialed in, it worked like a champ...I've built 6 tables with 96 motise/tenon joints and 184 mission spindles....and the thing worked wonders..without having to set up the drill press deal....

   Interestingly, I got the same performance out of the cheap 1/2" and 3/8" Taiwanese chisels that I did out of my high-dollar Clico chisels...It'll be interesting to see if that experience holds up for the long term.

   Good luck!

   lp

6. 
   jquinn | Oct 25, 2004 02:56am | #6

   I have the General mortiser (not the tilting head model) - it is very solid and I like it.  More expensive than Delta.