Replies

1. 
   MarkinNY | Mar 28, 2003 01:27am | #1

   I have the Shop Fox, and have used it on cherry and maple.  It has 3/4 hp and cuts easily with no burning to speak of.  It also aligns smoothly and nicely.  Overall, I find it very user friendly.  I have nothing against Delta, but couldn't find any reviews of their new mortiser before I bought Shop Fox.  In any event, I got my Shop Fox new on Ebay with a 1/2" chisel for $219, plus $25 shipping.

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 28, 2003 03:17am | #2

   Matthew

      Got the Shop Fox. It's closer to a industrial model than any others I looked at. 3/4 HP but it does run at 3450 rpm. I prefer 1725, but the double column and the super deep stroke is fantastic. It has 3 actual setting for heights for the gas shocks. I added a front clamp as on the Genera, (another good choice) with a $9.00 veneer press and its own cabinet.

      The new Delta looks good, but I have not used. Be sure what you get has a long lever like the Fox or General. If not, put a pipe over the existing one for more leverage. All in all, I like the larger advantages of the Fox.

   Good Luck...

   sarge..jt

3. 
   Vibart2 | Mar 28, 2003 04:10am | #3

   I'd say go for the Shop Fox It works great I've used it in Oak cuts clean no burning. The heavy duty motriser of bench top mortisers.

   
   

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   Edited 3/27/2003 9:11:29 PM ET by Bart

4. 
   JAM | Mar 28, 2003 04:13am | #4

    I checked out both of these machines too. I was leaning toward the shop fox then Sarge.made a post saying to  also check out the General. So I did a little research  on the General & ended up Buying the General. It was a little more $$ around $3oo. delivered. Haven't used it too much yet but so far I feel I made the right choice. It seems to be a well built machine capable of doing everything you'd expect it to do. It also comes with 4 chisle& bits. & has a 2 yr warrenty. At least check it out before you make a final choice.

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | Mar 28, 2003 07:13pm | #9

   JMEIRHAEGHE,

   Can you tell me where you have seen the General listed? I've done a search and the only thing I see is the floor model. I looked at the Wilke Machinery web site, but the only general mortiser they sell is the Model 220 -- which is a bit outside my budget at $4,700!

   I also trust Sarge's opinion, so I'd like to check out the General before making a final decision.

   Thanks.

1. 
   JAM | Mar 29, 2003 03:12am | #10

    You might check out either the General web site. They list the benchtop models and have a list of dealers on there site.   also http://www.houseoftools.com  has a pretty fair picture & detailed specs on there site. I boughtr mine from woodworkers depot out of green bay wisconsin. Good luck with your purchase. Joe

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | Mar 29, 2003 06:11pm | #11

   Thanks for the link to General International and House of Tools.

   Actually, I figured out how to view the Shop Fox on the Grizzly Web site. You have to follow one of their links to the 2003 catalog, then go to the index under mortisers. I think they need to fix this so you can get a direct link from the Web listing.

   Anyway, now I can compare the Shop Fox, the new Delta, and the General.

   Thanks everyone for your help.

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 29, 2003 07:06pm | #12

   Matthew

     http://www.general.ca

   That is the General web-site. Go to it and click on distributors. Then click on area ( south Atlantic, Pacific N.W., etc.). That will show you the closest distributors to you. I didn't realize it at the time, but we have one in Atlanta.

   http://www.woodstockinternational.com

   There's your site for ShopFox. Shopfox is owned by the same company as Grizzly, but sell through distributors all over. The SF moritiser is definitely not the same as Grizzly though. It is as a poster stated, the closest to an industrial in a bench. The General is also excellent. I have seen the new Delta with the cast iron fence. It has not improved hold downs (one of the weaknesses of all benchs), but it is a vast improvement over the old.

      If I had to do it again. I could be happy with all three. With a little tweaking they all are excellent. The bottom line would be price shipped to my door. I would give the Fox a very slight edge overall features and sturdiness. Very slight. You should check out all three as taste and judgement differs.

   Homework time...ha..ha..

   sarge..jt

2. 
   TomFerreira | Mar 29, 2003 08:04pm | #13

   Sarge,

   My Delta was free! My wife bought it! ha ha.

   TDF

3. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 30, 2003 01:00am | #15

   Tom

      I got the Fox when all they had left in stock was the floor model. Retail around Atlanta is $235. The General distributor had theirs in stock whcih I mentioned (on purpose of course). They sold me the floor model (never used) for $185 and threw in chisels which the Fox does not come with. ha..ha..

      Yeah, when the price is right, the price is right..

   sarge..jt

4. 
   MatthewSchenker | Mar 29, 2003 10:43pm | #14

   Sarge,

   Thanks for all the help! I'll think of you when the new mortiser arrives. Always nice to know there are such knowledgable people around who are willing to share what they know.

   Thanks,

   Matthew

5. 
   RANGERP75R | Mar 30, 2003 01:09am | #16

   Matthew

      Your welcome. You won't go wrong with any of those 3. BTW, the Fox does not (or didn't come with chisels, so figure about $30 when you calculate).

   sarge..jt

5. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Mar 28, 2003 04:19am | #5

   I have the Shop Fox and am in the totally satified camp.  Until you get into a full floor model, there's not another benchtop out there that can touch it.  I do lot's of cherry with little or no burning on through mortises on 8/4 stock.

6. 
   TomFerreira | Mar 28, 2003 04:45am | #6

   Matthew,

   I have the new Delta and really like it it cuts throughwhite oak really easy and came with a four chisel set. I really like the new cast iron base and fence. they are very substantial. The fence has a nice rack and pinion adjustment which makes setting a breeze. Have not used any other.

   TDF

7. 
   JeffKurtz | Mar 28, 2003 03:33pm | #7

   Do you absolutely need one now?  If not, why not wait until the jury comes in on the new Delta?  Over the past couple years, several of the magazines have reviewed benchtop mortisers and they all have the same complaint: the fence and hold-downs are poor and require modification.  Perhaps Delta has got it right this time.

   Jeff

1. 
   BiotechBill | Mar 28, 2003 07:00pm | #8

   I got my Delta a few months ago and I love it. The fence system is the most significant improvement, very easy to set AND lock down. The hold down has not changed much, but with the lock downs at each end of the fence, there is little or no racking to jam the bit. The chisels that came with it are fine to get started with (I flattened the 4 sides with the sandpaper sharpening system), but I'll probably get some new ones soon.

   Dr. Bill